Damning verdict on Obama from British MEP

"The US drone strikes have no consent from the Government of Pakistan, no transparency in their choice of targets and no legality in this conflict."- this was the damning verdict from British MEP, Sajjad Karim, after the European Parliament's high level hearing on US drone strikes in Pakistan.

Pressure has been mounting daily against Barack Obama's excessive use of drones and today's event was highly critical of the American President's 'War on Terror', which has seen drone strikes take place every four days during the President's first two years in power.

The hearing, which proved to be highly popular, was chaired by Sajjad Karim MEP, Conservative Legal Affairs spokesperson. Other speakers included:

- Pakistan's Ambassador to the EU, H.E. Munawar Bhatti;
- Liberal Democrat European Spokeswoman on Justice and Human Rights, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP
- Deputy Director of international charity Reprieve, Hilary Stauffer;
- Researcher from Amnesty International, Mustafa Qadri

Sajjad Karim, Chairman of the Friends of Pakistan group which organised the hearing, spoke after the event. He said:

"Today's hearing in the European Parliament raises further questions of the legality and morality of American drone strikes in Pakistan.

"US drone killings in Pakistan casts an even darker shadow with the Pakistani government explicitly stating that they did not give consent for the attacks.

"The Ambassador of Pakistan clearly stated the position of his country in today's public hearing. And it is telling that a nation as great as the USA was not here to make clear its position".

The Ambassador of Pakistan to the EU, Munawar Bhatti, echoed the British MEP's sentiments and reiterated the unlawful attacks in his country. During the hearing he said:

"We are opposed to the drone strikes. And we have consistently condemned the drone attacks.

"We regard the drone strikes as illegal in international law, counter productive and a violation of Pakistan sovereignty and integrity."

The British MEP went on to highlight the negative effects of the drone attacks. He said:

"The alarming rate at which innocent civilian lives are being lost due to US drone strikes is going against the grain of America's 'War on Terror'. It is an adverse foreign policy; instead of protecting America, it is provoking its allies.

"The drone strikes are a big issue. They are an election issue. People in Pakistan are unified in opposing the strikes. It begs to question 'how conducive are these strikes?' 'Where does it leave the standing of the US in the international community?'"

The issue of legality and transparency was a key concern for many of the speakers as well as issues of counter productivity.

Hilary Stauffer, deputy director of Reprieve, was critical of the use of signature strikes by drones which often attack people based on certain suspicious movements. She said at the hearing:

"No one knows what makes you a target (to signature strikes). That is why no one (in drone strike areas) is going about their daily lives."

Ms Stauffer went on to say:

"The US is writing international law to suit their own needs."

London MEP, Baroness Sarah Ludford, made it clear that not all drones were at fault. She said:

"It is not drones in themselves; it is weaponised drones which are the problem. There are legitimate uses for drones in other circumstances."

Sajjad Karim MEP closed the hearing with a call to the international community to address the situation immediately. He said:

"We are entering a new era of war where autonomous drones are becoming key players in the battlefield. If we do not address guidelines and legislation for this modern era of warfare then our future looks very bleak indeed."

Anna van Densky

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