After leading the way in remotely-operated warfare—killing terror suspects and insurgent leaders with drones—the White House is now trying to push for international guidelines on drone use. In an interview with Reuters, former White House National Security Council spokesperson Tommy Veitor said that the Obama administration wants to set the legal standards for drone use as Chinese and Russian drone programs begin to reach the capabilities of systems like those of the Predator and Reaper in the US.

"People say, 'What's going to happen when the Chinese and the Russians get this technology?'" Veitor told Reuters. "The president is well aware of those concerns and wants to set the standard for the international community on these tools."

Some of this decision may be driven by legal considerations at home. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled Friday that the Central Intelligence Agency could no longer simply refuse to confirm or deny that it kept records of drone strikes. The CIA is now required by law to "explain what records it is withholding, and on what grounds it is withholding them," as American Civil Liberties Union Legal Director Jameel Jaffer said in a written statement on the decision. And there has been increasing pressure from Congress for the White House to be more accountable for drone operations. This includes the recent filibuster of new CIA director John Brennan's nomination by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, brought on by concerns over the potential use of drones to kill terror suspects within US borders.

Caitlin Hayden, who replaced Veitor as spokesperson for the National Security Council, also spoke with Reuters. "We are constantly working to refine, clarify, and strengthen the process for considering terrorist targets for lethal action," she said. "We are establishing standards other nations may follow."