The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

What is Britain's role in the CIA's illegal drone campaign?

The death of two British nationals in Pakistan raises serious questions about UK complicity.

By Samira Shackle Published 19 November 2011 10:49

In the latest casualties from America's hidden war in Pakistan, two British nationals have reportedly been killed by drone missiles.

According to their friends and familiy, Ibrahim Adam and Mohammed Azmir died in a single strike in Waziristan at least three months ago. Both men were suspected of terrorist activity -- Adam had absconded from a control order (yet was still able to leave Britain and enter Pakistan; there is a separate issue), while Azmir's assets were frozen by the Treasury last year as he was suspected of funding terror.

The death of two men already known to UK authorities raises serious questions about the role that the British intelligence services is playing in the CIA's secret war. If Britain provided information about the men's whereabouts to the CIA, it is complicit in this illegal campaign.

The US does not formally acknowledge its drone campaign, but it is thought that it has launched more than 300 strikes since 2004, killing at least 2,000 people. It is near impossible to gain statistics on civilian deaths, although the Bureau of Investigative Journalism has made a decent attempt, finding that at least 392 civilians, including 175 children could be among the dead. The anecdotal evidence certainly disputes the official line that drone attacks keep collateral damage to a minimum. In this week's NS (available on newsstands now) Jemima Khan reports from a conference in Islamabad about the huge human cost:

Barack Obama has argued that the use of drone technology is the best way of targeting militants while minimising civilian casualties. Under his administration, the use of drones has increased tenfold -- it is easier to eliminate terrorist suspects than to detain them. Yet an official US statement claimed there have been no "non-combatant deaths" as a result.

The delegates, tribal elders, the families of victims of drone strikes and Tariq had come from Waziristan to dispute that. They descended on Islamabad -- a riot of beige, with biblical beards -- armed with gruesome photographs of women and children blown to pieces among debris and missile parts stamped with serial numbers and the US flag.

At the conference, Samiullah Jan, 17, just out of college, was represented only by his ID card, retrieved from the rubble of his home. Another teenager, a 16-year-old boy called Saadullah, hobbled in on prosthetic limbs: he had lost his legs and his sight two years earlier. "I used to dream of being a doctor" he told us. "Now I can't even go to school. I'm not even human."

The campaign is illegal, unaccountable, and having a devastating effect on already anti-US public sentiment in Pakistan. A poll for al-Jazeera in August 2009 showed that 67 per cent of respondents "oppose drone attacks by the United States against the Taliban and al-Qaeda targets in Pakistan". A poll in October for the International Republican Institute found that 73 per cent of respondents opposed US military incursions into the tribal areas, while a recent Pew poll found that 97 per cent viewed the attacks negatively.

The campaign has been spurred on and stepped up, in part, because of high profile "successes", like the death of Baitullah Mehsud, the former Taliban commander in Pakistan. But targeted killings should not be the first recourse of a country purporting to uphold human rights and the rule of law. Britain has serious questions to answer about its complicity.

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Tags: CIA Pakistan

More from Samira Shackle

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37 comments

Sun, 2011-11-20 11:23 — swatantra

I would feel uncomfortable about the use of drones. Warfare has advanced so much technologiacally; an armed soldier from the West is virtually a 6 million dollar fighting machine.
And yet that armed soldier cannot beat the poor peasants in insurgencies fighting with handmade devices and 2nd hand old weapons, in the killing fields of the Middle East and Afghanistan and Pakistan.
I just see the irony in the whole awful situation.
I wonder what the great generals of the past like Julius Caesar or Alexander would make of todays modern warfare.

Wed, 2011-11-30 15:50 — Ian5

Jankaas, your preaching to the converted.. I do not, that is why I want to see the all the moderate, educated Muslims take to the streets decrying suicide bombings, mass murder, I'm told they exist..you tell me they exist in Gallop polls. Where are they...Scared of the fanatics, surely not if god is on their side.

I did not write Leviticus, but if your a Christian or Jew, then that's Gods word...and man cannot change it.. No to me its proof that religion is of mans own making...so what if it means killing children,,heck the bibles full of it.

And anyway modern society kills hundreds of children each day, just not in the sight of the West. Hunger, disease, poor water, neglect, wrong sex.

Sun, 2011-11-20 12:26 — gerry (not verified)

Samira - the use of drones against militants/terrorists/insurgents (whichever you prefer) is 100% right, given the awful, lawless failed state which is Pakistan..

Remember, Samira, that Pakistan is playing a double game here, backing/supporting/financing/arming certain Islamic terror groups against Afghanistan and India..all the while getting billions from the US to "fight against terror groups"!

Its great that British terrorosts are being despatched by the drones - why bleat about it? They have 72 willing virgins waiting in their perfumed Islamic garden centre!

Sun, 2011-11-20 13:26 — Luddite (not verified)

Chir0n: British troops should not be in Afghanistan, but they are!! So we should support our troops. Any 'British' and i use the term loosely 'citizen' that actually fights or conspires against our troops are traitors... and therefor are no longer our concern.

Sun, 2011-11-20 14:04 — jankaas (not verified)

@gerry

"Samira - the use of drones against militants/terrorists/insurgents (whichever you prefer) is 100% right, given the awful, lawless failed state which is Pakistan.."

what a pathetic immoral piece of illogic. use of drones is exactly as "100% right" as IEDs used by the locals. why you can't see that is beyond me, unless you are incapable of empathy.

"They have 72 willing virgins waiting in their perfumed Islamic garden centre!"

oh dear. an uneducated Muslim, with no access to information, believing this is one thing. but you are able to research this claim for yourself. and if you did you'd find out it is a spurious piece of propaganda.

more fool you for swallowing this nonsense and repeating it as if it's true. it does make you look rather silly though, don't you think?

Sun, 2011-11-20 14:09 — jankaas (not verified)

@Luddite

"Any 'British' and i use the term loosely 'citizen' that actually fights or conspires against our troops are traitors"

you're not fooling anyone you Islamo-Fascist-Sharia loving-scum. but thanks for allowing Control Centre to ping your last post. we have a fix, the drones are launched. pls ask your neighbours to move away from the area immediately, you are about to be terminated for the good of freedom, democracy, and Christian decency.

and because you are an irritating little hate merchant.

Tue, 2011-11-29 14:12 — jankaas (not verified)

Ian

"Its a short cut, don't you get it...."

yes that is exactly true. and yet as with all holy Books, the message is far from clear, because it is far from clear under what conditions a person is committing suicide AND murder (i.e. suicide bomber) and being a 'proper' martyr (i.e. on the battle field).

and there's the rub. the people who are sold the simplistic myth that "all martyrs go to paradise" are not sophisticated/educated enough to realise this is not the whole story. and in fact they could be jeapordising their chance of paradise.

you then mention Romans; St Paul tried was an excellent fantasist.

Leviticus; please pull the other one. if those words of God are to taken seriously then all rude children should be killed, and those who have sex during menstruation are to be banished from their communities.

and those examples illustrate the issue i keep coming back to. these Holy Books are full of nonsense, and text is readily manipulated.

now why on earth should you and i echo those selective interpretations as being a complete and accurate representation of that religion?

Tue, 2011-11-22 23:32 — Human (not verified)

@john woods
Why on earth would you spread mainstream media garbage like that? Its an image created by the media that all muslim's are evil. If you want to believe it, then go ahead by all means, but you are only inciting hate, which is what the elites want.

You see, they encourage people to hate muslims in the media... in turn the muslims end up hating everyone else who believes those lies. This is what the mainstream garbage-can wants to happen... so the goons in westminster and the whitehouse get their excuses to play bomb-games.

Stop believing in this propaganda, and less people will be killed.

Sun, 2011-11-20 19:52 — gerry (not verified)

Oh Jankaas - Islam's stormtroopers, their thousands of suicde bombers exactly do believe that..by blowing themselves and infidels up they are "martyrs" and will immediately go to heaven to sit with Allah in a perfumed garden, being serviced by 72 willing virgins (female)..

Mohammed Atta, he of 9/11 infamy, performed ritual Islamic genital-washing before boarding his death plane, in order to be ready for his heavenly reward.

It is you who are uneducated Jankaas..this is what many many Muslims all over the world believe, because their holy book says so..

This is why they are so very much a clear and present danger to the rest of us...

One query though: do female suicide bombers get 72 male virgins in paradise, or are their virgins female too? And if they are female, then that is certainly an Islamic abomination...

Fri, 2011-11-25 11:08 — jankaas (not verified)

@Ian

"Jankaas, the Koran may ban suicide per se, but it glorifies martyrs, and they get their reward in heaven do they not,,, you a very selective little apologist."

apologist? what for pointing out the error in the propaganda you have swallowed hook line and sinker?

i have no idea where you get your information from regarding the Koran, suicide and martyrdom. can't be much cop though as you repeat myth and spin as if they were fact.

this Guardian article makes a good digestible fist of what is wrong with your favoured propaganda;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2002/jan/12/books.guardianreview5

once you've read it i do hope you can stop yourself from propagating a myth, and lest we forget it is a myth that inspires fanatical Muslims to do harm, and makes westerners look dumb when we try and confirm it as fact.

just in case you still don't 'get' me; i don't like religion of any kind, and the Muslim faith is particularly backwards the way it is currently practiced. but that does not mean we can be lazy and repeat nonsense if we think it may suit our purpose. doing so makes us as ignorant as the illiterate poor sods who are told the lie they will get 72 virgins in paradise.

Tue, 2011-11-22 01:28 — charlesfrith

CIA and MI6 are thick as thieves. Scummy f**kers pretending they do good. The truth will emerge and history will be astonished. Not all their minions are evil but much more than most perceive.

Tue, 2011-11-22 02:14 — BDKuhn (not verified)

Britain has always been complicit in US illegal war activity. What's new about this? It looks to me like business as usual.

Sun, 2011-11-20 20:59 — Luddite (not verified)

jankaas.. thanks for the warning.. but you have already being clocked...
don't you just love the Internet...... don't worry in your case it will not be a rocket from the gods, but a knock on the door..

Sat, 2011-11-19 12:43 — Sharif

Drones attacks are illegal, immoral and shameful. More worrying aspect is that the world media does not highlight this message. Is it hypocrisy?
Yes, terrorism is evil and needs to be fought, but if it involves killing innocent souls, then that is criminal. Or may be racist. US would never use such methods in Europe. Atom bomb in Japan was Ok, drones attacks in Pakistan is also fine. Attacking white apartheid regime in South Africa is not OK. Man these people were white.

Mon, 2011-11-28 15:25 — Ian5

Jankass, sorry not replying sooner, but has life to live....I get my information on the koran from an English translation of the koran. I gave you direct quotes from it. sorry don't think the guardian is a primary source do you.

Sat, 2011-11-19 13:05 — Luddite (not verified)

The death of two British traitors in Pakistan raises serious questions about Labour's complicity with traitors in our realm.

Wed, 2011-11-23 13:27 — jankaas (not verified)

@gerry

"It is you who are uneducated Jankaas..this is what many many Muslims all over the world believe, because their holy book says so.."

oh dear. go on then gerry, where in the Koran does it say a martyr will receive 72 virgins?

seriously mate, you need to provide evidence and not just show yourself as naive as illiterate terrorists who have been lied to.

"One query though: do female suicide bombers get 72 male virgins in paradise"

nope. the Koran actually forbids suicide etc, so most likely their 'reward' will be 72 gerry clones droling all over them for eternity, unable to provide them with anything of substance......

Wed, 2011-11-23 13:30 — jankaas (not verified)

@Luddite

"jankaas.. thanks for the warning.. "

you're welcome, even though you didn't deserve it.

"don't worry in your case it will not be a rocket from the gods, but a knock on the door.."

do your worst inferior one. i double dare you.

Mon, 2011-11-28 16:55 — jankaas (not verified)

"Jankass"

and we were getting along so well....typo i trust?

"I get my information on the koran from an English translation of the koran. I gave you direct quotes from it."

the problem is not that the Koran states there will be 72 virgins in paradise. i accept that is the case 100%. however, and this is crucial, no distinction is made between martyrs and all other Muslims.

so the Koran states that ALL muslims will get the same deal when they die. not exactly the great motivator for martyrdom as it is currently peddled, no?

i think this fact is completely ignored by the press. either through ignorance, or for a more fervent anti-Muslim sentiment.

it is quite similar to some Christian groups claiming that homosexuality is against the will of God. problem is that nowhere in the Bible does it say so explicitly.

Wed, 2011-11-23 13:35 — swatantra

Using drones is a cowardly way of fighting a war, as cowardly as suicide bombing.

Sat, 2011-11-19 15:06 — Chir0n

@Luddite. In this country, we work on the presumption of innocence. People need to be charged, tried and convicted of a crime before they can be punished. It's the same in America.

The people being killed by these drone strikes haven't even been charged - they are merely suspects. Surely, if the west is to live up the the democratic standards it claims for itself and is attempting to impose on other nations, it shouldn't be killing people SUSPECTED of crimes, because that is murder.

Thu, 2011-11-24 15:24 — Dave (not verified)

I'm not going to get too worried about the killing of 2 bloodthirsty men. The guys wanted war, and they found it, they had talked of bringing jihad to Britain, they went to the frontline and where killed by a drone, no great loss to mankind there.

I agree with some of the comments above about drones, however, surely they are the least of all evils, as they bring minimum risk to loss of life, same as the Taliban equivalent the IED.

@swatantra

I'll tell you what Julius Caesar would do in this situation, he would put every Muslim and Christian to the sword, and have you all convert to worshipping the Roman God: Jupiter.

Thu, 2011-12-01 17:04 — jankaas (not verified)

"Jankaas, your preaching to the converted.. I do not"

sorry Ian, but your posts do repeatedly echo selective interpretations as being representative. not being petty here, just factual. and it is important to call the claim that "martyrs will receive 72 virgins" as at best misleading and at worst propaganda.

as you now do appear to accept that fact that the koran states ALL muslims will receive this gift i hope that in the future you will not repeat the myth so popular in our tabloids.

"I want to see the all the moderate, educated Muslims take to the streets decrying suicide bombings, mass murder, I'm told they exist..you tell me they exist in Gallop polls."

sorry but it's not me but Gallop who discovered 93% of Muslims polled in 32 countries thought 9/11 wrong. again you must stick with facts, not propaganda.

and as far as wishing to see moderates protest? it's rare, for reasons you outlined probably, but it does happen;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1189577/Muslim-extremists-anti-w...

and this link may surprise you, it did me;

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/06/moderate_muslim_cler...

ttfn

Thu, 2011-11-24 15:38 — swatantra

Caesar was much wiser than that. Pax Romanica: do as you please, worship your idols and prophets and dye yourself in blue, as long as you pay your tribute to Rome; if you don't only then will we put you to the sword. It would have been impossible to run the Empire otherwise.
But the Romans had a sense of honour, they usually fel, on their swords if they messed up big time; these days you have to wait and wait and wait for resignations.

Mon, 2011-11-28 18:24 — Ian5

Jankaas, Its a short cut, don't you get it....if these religions did not make suicide a major sin, surely there would be regular mass suicides...martyrs get in early, so to speak. heck would you want life on earth when you can have heaven. As a martyr you can take your own life...and a few infidels with you.

Actually the bible does condemn both male and female homosexuality try 1st Romans for a start, as its normally stated only the old testament that holds references. for the good old stand by try Leviticus 20:13 and that is the word of GOD...

Thu, 2011-11-24 15:30 — Ian5

Jankaas, the Koran may ban suicide per se, but it glorifies martyrs, and they get their reward in heaven do they not,,, you a very selective little apologist. The evidence you ask for on this point...Qur'an (4:74) ,Qur'an (2:207) and to allow them to accidently kill other people, even Muslims..Qur'an (17:33) oh and for icing on the cake, there are even verses that can give perpetual youths or boys????

052.024
YUSUFALI: Round about them will serve, (devoted) to them, young male servants (handsome) as Pearls well-guarded.
PICKTHAL: And there go round, waiting on them menservants of their own, as they were hidden pearls.
SHAKIR: And round them shall go boys of theirs as if they were hidden pearls.

Sat, 2011-11-19 17:26 — Amjad Ali khan (not verified)

Britain's role in the CIA's illegal drone campaign is very simple. They think its fine. They dont care for human lives. But i have to say that they atleast are better the the
Pakistan Govt because Pakistan Govt is complicit in this illegal act.

Sat, 2011-11-19 17:33 — Buckskins (not verified)

Kill the traitors where you find them by any means possible. I don't care what nationality they are. No mercy.

Sat, 2011-11-19 17:33 — Luddite (not verified)

These drone strikes must be having the desired effect if not. WHY would these jihadist appeal to their friends at the New Statesman? SUSPECTED are you taking the piss... How many murder's have these attacks prevented?

Sat, 2011-11-19 17:46 — Luddite (not verified)

Amjad Ali khan. You lot are a bit like the Germans during WW2.. you think you can go around bombing and murdering innocent people and complain when good people go around bombing and killing murderers...

Thu, 2011-11-24 16:05 — Ian5

Shame Ceasar had to die then, and Pax Romanica, hounour more in its breach than its observance.

"Boudica's husband Prasutagus, ruler of the Iceni tribe who had ruled as a nominally independent ally of Rome, left his kingdom jointly to his daughters and the Roman Emperor in his will. However, when he died, his will was ignored — the kingdom was annexed as if conquered, Boudica was flogged, her daughters were raped, and Roman financiers called in their loans."

Sat, 2011-11-19 18:33 — Coleridge (not verified)

There is nothing illegal or immoral about the drones. They are marvelous weapons of humanity that have served very effectively to cull the islamofascist scum. The drone should be awarded the Noble Peace Prize.

Tue, 2011-11-22 16:45 — SiDevilIam

I am not an expert in British foreign policy. However, I am an expert in American foreign policy and I can prove it.

Britain has always thrown their foreign policy out the window and found it convenient to accept US foreign, sort of instant, Oops, Ready-to-eat, army meal.

I always admired the English history. The history replete with many eminent writers, philosophers, politicians, prime ministers, musicians, Oops, composers, painters, and leaders of men.

I am sad to say, from that highest level of admiration, I am coming down to the following.

What was (fictional) Sancho Panza to the Don Quixote, is what Britain (foreign policy) is to the USA. A second banana, a side kick, a talking wooden dummy.

...and I am Sid Harth@sidileaks.net

Tue, 2011-11-22 17:12 — Buckskins (not verified)

SiDevilIam

Tue, 2011-11-22 17:13 — Buckskins (not verified)

What are you smokin?

Tue, 2011-11-22 17:25 — john woods (not verified)

When are we gonna start burning the mosques?

THE PROPHET MOHAMMED FUCKED CAMELS UP THE ARSE

Sun, 2011-11-20 10:12 — jankaas (not verified)

what a fucked up world. we are supposed to think that roadside IEDs are cowardly and evil, but drone attacks guided from a control centre 1000's of miles away is a brave and just thing to do.

yeah right....

oh btw it has been decided by the powers that be that Coleridge, Luddite and Buckskin are terrorist insurgents, part of a Islamo Fascist Sharia loving cabal.

they honestly are, i've seen the files, we have some signed affidavits from known informers in Pakistan, who received lots of money for this valuable information.

they will be neutralised any day now. their addresses are of course known, there is no place to hide. if you live near them, move the hell out of their way. drones are already being prepared.

who cares if this intelligence is right or wrong, a few more deaths for our democracy and freedom don't matter.

just die already.