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National Security

The Drone War's Bottleneck: Too Many Targets, Not Enough Pilots

Much of America's military campaign in Iraq and Syria is conducted by drones. NPR's Scott Simon talks with U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh about the shortage of drone pilots.

The Drone War's Bottleneck: Too Many Targets, Not Enough Pilots

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Report Questions U.S. Policy On Overseas Drone Strikes

An unmanned U.S. Predator drone flies over Kandahar Air Field, southern Afghanistan, in 2010. A new report questions the U.S. policy of using armed drones abroad to carry out attacks on suspected terrorists. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP hide caption

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Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

The Two-Way

Report Questions U.S. Policy On Overseas Drone Strikes

The Stimson Center concludes that targeted killing operations may have protected Americans at home, but come at a heavy price abroad.

U.S. Citizen May Be Targeted With Drone Strike: Reports

A U.S. drone in the sky over Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP hide caption

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Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

The Two-Way

U.S. Citizen May Be Targeted With Drone Strike: Reports

Multiple news outlets are reporting being told by U.S. officials that the Obama administration is considering whether to try to kill a U.S. citizen who has allegedly joined al-Qaida overseas. The individual, whose name has not been released, is alleged to be planning attacks against Americans.

Report: Memos Unmask Pakistan's Approval Of Drone Strikes

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met with President Obama at the White House on Wednesday. Dennis Brack/pool/Getty Images hide caption

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Dennis Brack/pool/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Report: Memos Unmask Pakistan's Approval Of Drone Strikes

The Washington Post says CIA documents and diplomatic memos expose one of the worst-kept secrets of recent years: That while they condemn them in public, Pakistani leaders privately endorse U.S. strikes aimed at terrorists in their country.

U.S. Drone Strikes Violate International Law, Reports Allege

Last month, protesters in Multan, Pakistan, expressed their anger about U.S. drone strikes. S.S. Mirza/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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S.S. Mirza/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

U.S. Drone Strikes Violate International Law, Reports Allege

On the eve of a White House visit by Pakistan's prime minister, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have released reports critical of U.S. policy.

On 'Morning Edition': NPR's Philip Reeves discusses the Amnesty International report on U.S. drone strikes

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Reports: Obama To Limit Drones, Urge Action On Guantanamo

An American flag flying over Camp VI, where detainees are housed at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay. Bob Strong /Reuters /Landov hide caption

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Bob Strong /Reuters /Landov

The Two-Way

Reports: Obama To Limit Drones, Urge Action On Guantanamo

The president is set to deliver Thursday what's being billed as a major address on national security. Officials are telling news outlets that he'll be addressing two controversial topics: The use of drones to kill suspected terrorists; and the closing of the Guantanamo Bay detention center.

From 'Morning Edition': Dina Temple-Raston reports

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Death By Drone, And The Sliding Scale Of Presidential Power

An unmanned drone armed with Hellfire missiles is shown over southern Afghanistan. A Hellfire missile fired from a drone was used in 2011 to kill an American in Yemen who the Obama administration says was an al-Qaida leader. Another American died in that attack, and a 16-year-old American was killed in a separate drone strike. Lt. Col. Leslie Pratt/AP hide caption

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Lt. Col. Leslie Pratt/AP

It's All Politics

Death By Drone, And The Sliding Scale Of Presidential Power

The controversy over President Obama's targeted-killings-by-drone policy is a reminder that the default position of presidents in times of crisis is to side with national security over civil liberties. That instinct has been true throughout history, and has been acted on by liberal presidents and core conservatives.

Drone Program Under Scrutiny As CIA Nominee Testifies

John Brennan, President Obama's nominee to head the CIA, prepares to testify at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The Two-Way

Drone Program Under Scrutiny As CIA Nominee Testifies

The Obama administration has relied heavily on its drone program, but prefers not to talk about it. Yet drones and interrogation practices came under scrutiny as CIA nominee John Brennan testified before a Senate committee.