US drone strikes publicly criticised by Yemeni cabinet minister

[xchrom]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/22/us-drone-strikes-criticised-yemen-minister


Yemen has witnessed an increase of US missile strikes in recent weeks. Photograph: Yahya Arhab/EPA


A Yemeni cabinet minister has criticised the use of unmanned US drones against suspected al-Qaida militants in Yemen, a tactic that has outraged communities in targeted areas, and urged a move to ground operations to avoid hurting civilians.

Yemen, a country plagued by lawlessness that has been exploited by al-Qaida to launch attacks on Arab and western targets, has witnessed a rising tempo of US missile strikes in recent weeks.

"To have an innocent person fall, this is a major breach," Yemeni human rights minister Hooria Mashhour told Reuters on a visit to the United Arab Emirates, voicing rare public opposition to drones by a member of the cabinet.

The comments by Mashhour, formerly a top activist in the mass unrest that ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh a year ago, reflect growing public unease about the strikes and amounted to rare criticism from within the government.

[malaise]

1. The slaughter of innocents must stop

Rec

[truth2power]

4. I can't get past this (slaughter of innocents). Nor should I....

I thought about it all during the inaugural ceremonies.

A beautiful and intelligent wife. Lovely children who are the exemplars of class, and put those Bush brats to shame. But he murders others' wives and children.

I guess that's supposed to be seen as inconsequential. <sigh>

[EarthWindFire]

2. yea

it definitely must stop...but it will not.

[Bonobo]

3. Ha, try that at the inauguration and burly thugs will drag you off stage. nt

[SidDithers]

5. Or maybe they'll let you do it for only 30 minutes...nt

Sid