Drone attacks have been a point of contention for the Obama administration as well as the U.S. anti-terrorism strategy at large. A significant number of Americans, including the lawmakers, seem opposed to these. The Air Force started releasing drone strike data on its website back in October, but has removed that data now.
The decision to publish drone strike data on Air Force’s website was apparently made to let the masses know more about Air Force’s operations in other countries. It was also meant to give a clear view of the frequency of these drone strikes.
However, it would seem that revealing these details didn’t exactly fare well. In fact, the more drone strike date becomes available over time, the more it is effectively used by human rights activists to criticize the government due to the extra-judicial nature of such attacks.
Air Force Times has now reported that the drone strike data has been removed from Air Force’s website. Data was being posted until January this year but in February, mere empty boxes were posted. Not only that, the data of the drone strikes in the past months has also been quietly removed from the website.
What has prompted this change of policy, one is forced to wonder. While posting that data was meant to ensure better transparency, what could have been the motive to remove that data at all?
Source: AF Times
Courtesy: The Verge
[ttjad keyword=”blackberry”]
