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IPTC: Caption
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Obamaâs speech appeared to expand those who are targeted in drone strikes and other undisclosed âlethal actionsâ in apparent anticipation of an overhaul of the 2001 congressional resolution authorizing the use of force against al Qaida and allied groups that supported the 9/11 attacks on the United States. In every previous speech, interview and congressional testimony, Obama and his top aides have said that drone strikes are restricted to killing confirmed âsenior operational leaders of al Qaida and associated forcesâ plotting imminent violent attacks against the United States. But Obama dropped that wording Thursday, making no reference at all to senior operational leaders. While saying that the United States is at war with al Qaida and its associated forces, he used a variety of descriptions of potential targets, from âthose who want to kill usâ and âterrorists who pose a continuing and imminent threatâ to âall potential terrorist targets.â
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IPTC: Copyright Notice
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(C) 2013 Ted Rall, Distributed by Universal Uclick
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