Nomination of the Drone Assassin John Brennan as Director of the CIA

President Obama has nominated current Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John Brennan to replace former CIA Director David Petraeus. Brennan has been a quintessential player in the drone program working hand in hand with the president to establish his notorious “kill list”. The drone program has killed at least 2629 people, of which 213 were confirmed militants and 331 were confirmed citizens (87 of which were children) according to a report by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.[1] Some estimates put the ratio of civilians killed to militants as high as 49:1, or 98% civilian deaths.[2]

Brennan’s nomination was delayed in early February due to Code Pink protestors at his confirmation hearing.[3] In mid February the senate panel delayed the hearing again as the awaited more information on the drone program that he oversaw. Committee Chair Dianne Feinstein repeated a demand to see all nine classified Justice Department memos on the supposed legal basis for targeted killings of U.S. citizens, only two of which had been released.[4] The panel then voted to delay the vote a second time, again citing the release of the drone memos.[5] After the senate panel finally approved Brennan’s nomination senator Rand Paul said that he would filibuster it on the senate floor,[6] which he then did for almost 13 hours. His concern was mainly over an American could be targeted domestically by the program, to which Eric Holder responded indirectly yes.

The public has no explanation of the legal basis for the drone killings. The drone program has already targeted and killed American Citizens abroad outside of a warzone, the victims were Anwar al-Aulaqi and his 16 year old son in Yemen. By doing so depriving them both the right of due process of law and habeas corpus.[7]

What’s equally concerning about Brennan are some of his statements on Iran. He was virtually echoing calls by the intelligence community before the move was made to go to war with Iraq. He even believes that Iran has not made the decision not to weaponize, despite the findings of 16 US Intelligence Organizations that say otherwise.[8]

The nomination of Brennan as Director of the CIA is a terrible choice. We do not need the person responsible for the wildly illegal drone program heading the intelligence committee. Brennan would make America less secure with the continuation of policies that he has been instrumental in implementing by creating more hostility abroad and breeding anti-American sentiment. Senator Rand Paul is to be commended for his attempts to delay the process and raise awareness, though I believe they fell short of what was needed, a veto.

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[1] Steadman, Ian. "'Naming the Dead' aims to give a voice to civilians killed in drone strikes." Wired.co.uk. http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-02/05/naming-drone-victims (accessed March 8, 2013).

[2] Taylor, Robert. "Predator Drone Strikes: 50 Civilians Are Killed For Every 1 Terrorist, and the CIA Only Wants to Up Drone Warfare." Policymic. http://www.policymic.com/articles/16949/predator-drone-strikes-50-civilians-are-killed-for-every-1-terrorist-and-the-cia-only-wants-to-up-drone-warfare (accessed March 8, 2013).

[3] Goodman, Amy. "Headlines for February 08, 2013." Democracy Now. http://www.democracynow.org/2013/2/8/headlines#281 (accessed March 8, 2013).

[4] Goodman, Amy. "Headlines for February 14, 2013." Democracy Now. http://www.democracynow.org/2013/2/14/headlines#2144 (accessed March 8, 2013).

[5] Goodman, Amy. "Headlines for February 28, 2013." Democracy Now. http://www.democracynow.org/2013/2/28/headlines#2282 (accessed March 8, 2013).

[6] Goodman, Amy. "Headlines for March 06, 2013." Democracy Now. http://www.democracynow.org/2013/3/6/headlines#362 (accessed March 8, 2013).

[7] Jay, Paul, and Michael Ratner. "Brennan Hearings: What is the Legal Basis for Drone Targeted Killings?." The Real News. therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=767&Itemid=74&jumival=9651#.UTlddxmoHk1 (accessed March 7, 2013).

[8] Jay, Paul, and Lawrence Wilkerson. " CIA Appointee's Statement on Iran Echoes Tenet on Iraq." The Real News. http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=767&Itemid=74&jumival=9681#.UTldYRmoHk1 (accessed March 7, 2013).