The Assassination Complex

Inside the Government's Secret Drone Warfare Program

De: Jeremy Scahill, The Staff of The Intercept, Jeremy Scahill - introduction, Glenn Greenwald

Narrado por: George Newbern

“A searing, facts-driven indictment of America’s drone wars and their implications for US democracy and foreign policy. A must-read for concerned citizens” (Library Journal, starred review) from bestselling author Jeremy Scahill and his colleagues at the investigative website The Intercept.

Drones are a tool, not a policy. The policy is assassination. But drone strikes often kill people other than the intended target. These deaths, which have included women and children, dwarf the number of actual combatants who have been assassinated by drones. They have generated anger toward the United States among foreign populations and have even become a recruiting tool for jihadists.

The first drone strike outside a declared war zone was conducted more than twelve years ago, but it was not until May 2013 that the White House released a set of standards and procedures for conducting such strikes. However, there was no explanation of the internal process used to determine whether a suspect should be killed without being indicted or tried, even if that suspect is an American citizen. The implicit message of the Obama administration has been: Trust, but don’t verify.

The Assassination Complex reveals stunning details of the government’s secretive drone warfare program based on documents supplied by a confidential source in the intelligence community. These documents make it possible to begin the long-overdue debate about the policy of drone warfare and how it is conducted. The Assassination Complex allows us to understand at last the circumstances under which the US government grants itself the right to sentence individuals to death without the established checks and balances of arrest, trial, and appeal—“readers will be left in no doubt that drone warfare affronts morality and the Constitution” (Kirkus Reviews).

Very frightening book

A chilling look at what our country has become since 9/11 - and how much further into the sewer of totalitarianism we are now likely to go.

America, this is the cancer on your soul

Americans and others who wish to be informed on the abject failure of the war on terror and US Foreign Policy, extra judicial murder abroad, targeted assassinations and unlawful violations of 4th Amendment rights domestically, the book gives all the details on th unsustainable way the American intelligence apparatus is harming us all.

Excellent alternative to radio on long drives

I thought this review was optional but then it requires twenty words to submit, oh.

Drone Warfare

After reading this truly enlightening book, its blatantly apparent why we are losing our longest war, our country's assets and what few allies we had in the world. The President has been disingenuous with us and the Military Industrial Complex is leading us down the primrose path.

Powerful

It's a must-read for any person concerned with knowing the truth about American interventionism abroad.

Disclosing what everyone knows but does not talk about

It's a well written overview of the secret assasination programs ran by western governments... On first glimpse.
However, it is much more than that:
When you actually sit down and think about it -- which, the book makes a good job of; it is not so much about pointing the finger at administrations and playing the blame game; rather, It's more about "How do you adapt to the new definition of terror, in this era?l"
+ What are the correct definitions of "terror" and "terrorists"? How do you distinguish the good and bad?
+ Once you establish the good and bad, which methodologies should be used to fight?

It's clear that the 20th century definitions of liberty, justice and democracy no longer work in this century, with the current global dynamics.
Does it make sense trying to pursue these "ideals", all the while constantly chasing loopholes to tackle the new era's dynamics?
It amy sound like an oversimplification; however, it is rather simple:
What we are seeing is technology advancing much quicker than the law.
New technology emerges, gets utilised, law always lags behind -- valid for all areas, including warfare.
Once "packaging" is improved, everyone gets used to it, objections cease to exist.
We just need more time.
All whistleblowers do is to draw attention to this process.
Once the lawnakers catch you, blown whistles will be rendered obsolote.

Biased overview of US military use of drones

Fairly biased but lots of good information. The afterword was very opinionated but the message is conveyed.

well put together

a must read/listen for if more peek l people knew the the truth this scum leading this country would all be in jail. Makes me sick to be American with leaders like this.

Somewhat repetitive. Could have been shorter

Chapters seemed to rehash the same material. Delivery was good, but overall the middle drifted before an ending that deserves more examination

good information for people new to Deep State stuf

enjoyed the book as something to introduce to people who think the government is good.