The Obama administration finally admitted that a fourth American citizen was the victim of a drone strike, apart from the other three killed in both Pakistan and Yemen since 2009.
In explaining why this information was revealed, Attorney-General Holder, in a letter, wrote, “Since entering office, the President made clear his commitment to providing Congress and the American people with as much information as possible about our sensitive counterterrorism operations. To this end, the President has directed me to disclose certain information that until now has been properly classified. The administration is determined to continue these extensive outreach efforts to communicate with the American people.”
This new case involves an individual by the name of Jude Kenan Mohammed who was one of the conspirators who was said to have been planning to attack a U.S Marines base in Quantico, Virginia. However, before he could be arrested, he managed to escape to the tribal areas of Pakistan – where he was killed in a drone strike.
This announcement comes on the eve of a national security speech that Obama wants to make to Congress and the American people with the theme being to demonstrate more transparency when it comes to his policy of counterterrorism.
What is also expected from his speech is to reiterate his priorities towards national security be it homegrown terrorists, killer drones or even prisoner at Guantanamo Bay. What is for sure is that there will be no new policy pronouncements.
The White House, until now, has not offered any specifics to what the President might address especially concerning certain pressing questions that have given their foreign allies mixed signals for a few years now.