Brennan says drones are necessary to 'stop plots, prevent future attacks.' Brennan: Drones 'necessary'

President Barack Obama’s top counter-terrorism adviser used the anniversary of the Osama bin Laden’s killing to mount a a broad public defense of the ethics and efficacy of military drones.

The drone programs, which have been widely reported but rarely discussed by administration officials, were acknowledged by Obama during a Google chat in January in what many national security observers believe was an accidental moment of candor.


But John Brennan, assistant to the president for homeland security and counter-terrorism, expanded at great length in a speech at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, calling the drones an integral part of prevention.

“We are not seeking vengeance. Rather, we conduct targeted strikes because they are necessary to mitigate an actual ongoing threat — to stop plots, prevent future attacks, and save American lives,” Brennan said.

Brennan’s remarks Monday follow an appearance on Fox News Sunday, where he defended the use of drones, telling host Chris Wallace that “we are doing it in full consent and cooperation with our partners internationally.”

The sudden candor about the drone programs comes from President Obama himself, according to Brennan.

“President Obama has instructed us to be more open with the American people about these efforts,” Brennan explained. “The United States Government conducts targeted strikes against specific al-Qaeda terrorists, sometimes using remotely piloted aircraft, often referred to publicly as drones. “

Critics have long-contended that the program, which uses removed controlled vehicles for surveillance, pursuit and assassination, is problematic it lacks both oversight and due process of law.

Brennan laid out the administration’s rationale for the program, arguing that the programs are limited, legal and ethical.

“The President expects us to address all of the tough questions,” Brennan said. “Is capture really not feasible? Is this individual a significant threat to U.S. interests? Is this really the best option? Have we thought through the consequences, especially any unintended ones? Is this really going to help protect our country from further attacks? Is it going to save lives?”

Touching briefly on Attorney General Eric Holder’s finding that the targeted killing of American citizens who are involved in al-Qaeda is legal, Brennan said that the administration’s strategy is a smarter use of American power and resources than large-scale invasions and nation building.

“As we’ve seen, deploying large armies abroad won’t always be our best offense. Countries typically don’t want foreign soldiers in their cities and towns. In fact, large, intrusive military deployments risk playing into al-Qaeda’s strategy of trying to draw us into long, costly wars that drain us financially, inflame anti-American resentment and inspire the next generation of terrorists,” he said.

Brennan’s speech was part of a larger push by administration officials to publicly remember the death of Osama bin Laden — and to leverage Obama’s national security record into a successful campaign issue in an election against a Republic with little national security experience.

Brennan announced that some of the documents seized during the raid of bin Laden’s compound a year ago will be unclassified and posted online by West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center soon.

And he emphasized that al-Qaeda was in the final throes of a battle against the United States and her allies.

“When we assess the al-Qaeda of 2012, I think it is fair to say that, as a result of our efforts, the United States is more secure and the American people are safer,” Brennan said. “With the help of targeted strikes we have turned al-Qaeda into a shadow of what it once was. They are on the road to destruction.”

This article tagged under: Terrorism

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John Brennan