In a surprising bipartisan move Congressmen Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Ron Paul (R-TX) and Rush Holt Jr. (D-NJ) introduced H. Res. 819, a resolution of inquiry to compel Obama to release documents which he reportedly uses as the legal justification for the use of drones to assassinate people abroad, including United States citizens, without trial.
According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Obama’s drone strikes have killed more than 3,000 people including as many as 1,105 innocent civilians since 2002.
Obama says that according to the White House Office of Legal Counsel, when the United States conducts such an attack, it is legal. And, if that is true, Obama should have no compulsion to withhold that “legal” justification from Congress or American citizens.
Congress has the sole authority under the Constitution to declare war and as such should be informed of know how the use of force abroad is being used, especially against U.S. citizens. According to Kucinich: “Our strikes are creating a legal precedent that the world will emulate. From Iran to China, other nations are very close to developing comparable technology. If Congress doesn’t act to ensure proper oversight and legal authority for the use of this technology, the consequences could be dire for the American people.”
Under the parliamentary procedure of a Resolution of Inquiry, the resolution must be sent to committee and considered under expedited rules.
