As retired and former members of the United States military, we urge United States drone pilots, sensor operators and support teams to refuse to play any role in drone surveillance/ assassination missions. These missions profoundly violate domestic and international laws intended to protect individuals’ rights to life, privacy and due process.

At least 6,000 peoples’ lives have been unjustly taken by United States drone attacks in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, the Philippines, Libya and Syria. These attacks are also undermining principles of international law and human rights, such as those enumerated in the United Nations International Declaration of Human Rights, written in 1948 under the guidance of Eleanor Roosevelt with the blood of the atrocities of World War II freshly in mind. The United States is a signatory to this declaration.

Those involved in United States drone operations who refuse to participate in drone missions will be acting in accordance within accordance of Principle IV of the Principles of International Law Recognized in the Charter of the Nuremberg Tribunal and the Judgment of the Tribunal, The United Nations 1950:



“The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him of responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him.”



So, yes, you do have a choice -- and liability under the law.



Choose the moral, choose the legal one.



Signed:



Kelly Dougherty Sgt. – E-5 US Army National Guard 1996 – 2004

Jonathan Engle SFC (E-7) US Army 2004 – 2013

Matthew Hoh CPT US Marine Corps 1998 – 2008

Matt Howard CPL US Marine Corps 2001 – 2006

Aaron Hughes SGT (E-5) Illinois National Guard 2000 – 2006

Barry Ladendorf _______US Navy __________We

Maggie Martin SGT E-5 US Army 2001 - 2006

Ray McGovern CPT US Army 1962 - 1964

Nick Mottern LTJG US Navy 1960 - 1963

Jovanni L. Reyes SSG US Army 1994 – 2005 Active Duty. 2005 – 2007 Reserves

Hannah Roberts LT (03) US Navy 2009 – 2014

Benjamin Schrader E-4 US Army 2001 – 2005

Zachary Wigham SSgt. Massachusetts Air National Guard 2006 -2012

Ann Wright Colonel, US Army (Retired)



