Continuing U.S. missile strikes on terrorism suspects in Pakistan.

• Author: Crook, John R.

During the early months of 2009, the press reported multiple strikes by missiles fired from unmanned U.S. drones (1) on the suspected locations of Al Qaeda leaders and other suspected militants in remote regions of Pakistan. (2) At the beginning of January 2009, a strike by a missile fired from a Central Intelligence Agency drone reportedly killed two senior Al Qaeda leaders, a man suspected of overseeing a massive September 2008 truck bomb attack on the Hyatt Hotel in Islamabad and his deputy. Both were sought by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their alleged role in the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. (3)

The strikes continued after President Obama assumed office, although public concern has mounted in Pakistan at the associated civilian casualties. (4) Two were reported in late January, (5) and additional strikes against Taliban leaders, foreign militants, and militants opposed to the Pakistani government were reported in February, March, and early April. (6) In a news briefing in late February, CIA Director Leon Panetta, while not providing details or even confirming CIA involvement in the attacks, said that they had been successful and would continue. (7) Press reporting suggests that, while the government of Pakistan publicly criticizes the attacks, it has privately sanctioned them and allowed U.S. drones to operate from bases in Pakistan. (8)

(1) Christopher Drew, For U.S., Drones Are Weapons of Choice in Fighting Qaeda, N.Y. TIMES, Mar. 17, 2009, at A1.

(2) John R. Crook, Contemporary Practice of the United States, 103 AJIL 161 (2009).

(3) Eric Schmitt, 2 Qaeda Leaders Killed in U.S. Strike in Pakistan, N.Y. TIMES, Jan. 9, 2009, at A7; Joby...