The Effects of the U.S. Drone Program in Pakistan and Afghanistan
The drone strikes were successful in killing high-level leaders of the Taliban and al Qaeda. But few are.
On average, only one out of every seven U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan kills a militant leader. The majority
of those killed in such strikes are not important insurgent commanders but rather low-level fighters,
together with a small number of civilians.
In total, according to analysts, less than two percent of those killed by U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan and
Afghanistan have been described in reliable press accounts as leaders of al Qaeda or allied groups.
<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dMEm9fLGRu0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The drone strikes were successful in killing high-level leaders of the Taliban and al Qaeda. But few are.
On average, only one out of every seven U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan kills a militant leader. The majority
of those killed in such strikes are not important insurgent commanders but rather low-level fighters,
together with a small number of civilians.
In total, according to analysts, less than two percent of those killed by U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan and
Afghanistan have been described in reliable press accounts as leaders of al Qaeda or allied groups.
<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dMEm9fLGRu0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
