CHANGE MY MIND: What Do You Think of Obama's Drone War?

CHANGE MY MIND: What Do You Think of Obama's Drone War?
FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2010 file photo, an unmanned U.S. Predator drone flies over Kandahar Air Field, southern Afghanistan, on a moon-lit night. A U.N. expert on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 launched a special investigation into drone warfare and targeted killings, which the United States relies on as a front-line weapon in its global war against al-Qaida. The civilian killings and injuries that result from drone strikes on suspected terrorist cells will be part of the focus of the probe by British lawyer Ben Emmerson, the U.N. rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights. His office announced the investigation in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2010 file photo, an unmanned U.S. Predator drone flies over Kandahar Air Field, southern Afghanistan, on a moon-lit night. A U.N. expert on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 launched a special investigation into drone warfare and targeted killings, which the United States relies on as a front-line weapon in its global war against al-Qaida. The civilian killings and injuries that result from drone strikes on suspected terrorist cells will be part of the focus of the probe by British lawyer Ben Emmerson, the U.N. rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights. His office announced the investigation in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

A Justice Department memo obtained this week by NBC News revealed that U.S. citizens who engage in terrorist activities anywhere are fair game for drones:

The President has the authority to respond to the imminent threat posed by al-Qa'ida and its associated forces, arising from his constitutional responsibility to protect the country, the inherent right of the United States to national self defense under international law, Congress's authorization of the use of all necessary and appropriate military force against this enemy, and the existence of an armed conflict with al-Qa'ida under international law. Based on these authorities, the President may use force against al-Qa'ida and its associated forces.

The leaked memo immediately brought to a head the controversy that has been gathering throughout the Obama presidency on the use of drones. Liberal Democrats have long condemned the policy, and many conservative Republicans have come to join them with this latest revelation.

Where do you stand?

In our ongoing popular feature, "Change My Mind," HuffPost challenged former Bush staffer David Frum, now a Daily Beast/Newsweek contributor, to debate foreign policy guru Steve Clemons, of The Atlantic, on the statement: "Obama's drone policy is a threat to American liberty."

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot