And david price. We will start with david yepsen. Previously, he had a 34 year the morethe des and register. Moines register. He has also done graduate work in Mass Communications at iowa state and earned a masters degree from drake university. Was a fellow for the harvard political school. Theed a study group on nations president ial selection processes. He has also appeared on a number therograms commenting on iowa caucuses. During his career, he helped cover nine president ial campaigns in iowa. Please welcome david. [applause] mr. Yepsen thank you. A lot im thinking about. First of all, i want to thank the Hoover Library and the other policy institute for organizing this session. I have long thought that iowa was a little behind the curve in chronicling the history of this event. I spent some time in New Hampshire, and of course their primary process has been around longer than the iowa caucuses, but they have been much more diligent about writing and recording the history of New H
Good evening, some people regard death by drone as a Necessary Evil of our post9 11 world. The way we have to do business against an enemy we cant see, including, sometimes, americans who have switched sides. Others see the use of drones by the United States as nothing more than execution by air, without due process, no court, no charges, no trial, and relatively little oversight. Whats beyond dispute is this, drone attacks have become a huge weapon for this country. And this president has made unprecedented use of them. Nbc news has obtained a government document that lays out the legal argument to justify the president s use of drones to kill al qaeda suspects, including, in some cases, u. S. Citizens. Our National Investigative correspondent Michael Isikoff broke the story and has our report. Reporter drones have been called president obamas weapon of choice. During his four years as commander in chief, u. S. Military and cia drone strikes have accelerated in an unprecedented pace.
Good evening, some people regard death by drone as a Necessary Evil of our post9 11 world. The way we have to do business against an enemy we cant see, including, sometimes, americans who have switched sides. Others see the use of drones by the United States as nothing more than execution by air, without due process, no court, no charges, no trial, and relatively little oversight. Whats beyond dispute is this, drone attacks have become a huge weapon for this country. And this president has made unprecedented use of them. Nbc news has obtained a government document that lays out the legal argument to stify the president s use of drones to kill al qaeda suspects, including, in some cases, u. S. Citizens. Our National Investigative correspondent Michael Isikoff broke the story and has our report. Reporter drones have been called president obamas weapon of choice. During his four years as commander in chief, u. S. Military and cia drone strikes have accelerated in an unprecedented pace. Mo
Targeting american citizens, including anwar al awlaki. Born in new mexico and killed in yemen in 2011. He allegedly directed the socalled underwear bomber, who tried to blow up an airliner over detroit in 2009. But awlaki was never charged with a crime. Nbc news has obtained this confidential 16page Justice Department memo that concludes lethal strikes against u. S. Citizens who are operational leaders of al qaeda are a lawful act of national selfdefense. We only take these kinds of actions when theres an imminent threat, when capture is not feasible, and when we are confident that were doing so in a way thats consistent with federal and international law. Reporter but the memo appears to allow greater leeway than the administration has publicly acknowledged. It says an imminent threat does not require the United States to have clear evidence that a specific attack on u. S. Persons and interests will take place in the immediate future. The aclu is challenging obamas drone policy and i