Topic: Lethal Drones

Representative Jim Himes criticized the Trump administration for lethal strikes against drug-running vessels in the Caribbean, labeling them "illegal killings." Himes questioned the legal authority of the military to use lethal force against non-terrorist actors without Congressional approval. The discussion compares these actions to the Obama administration's use of drone strikes and the My Lai massacre prosecution of Lieutenant Calley.

Ukrainian officials confirmed to ABC News that the U.S. provides specific coordinates for the majority of strikes conducted with HIMARS rocket launchers. This reveals a deeper level of operational involvement by the U.S. military than previously acknowledged. Meanwhile, Russia continues to launch waves of drone and missile strikes targeting Ukraine's power grid.

The Obama administration released a fact sheet regarding the Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) on the use of lethal force in counter-terrorism operations outside active hostilities. President Obama defended the 2011 drone strike on U.S. citizen Anwar al-Awlaki by comparing him to a sniper firing on a crowd. Critics argue that the administration attempted to kill al-Awlaki as early as 2009, well before the specific allegations used to justify his eventual execution were established.

The Pentagon issued a new directive regarding autonomous weapon systems. While news reports claimed the policy "forbids" lethal robots without human control, the hosts analyze the document to show it actually provides a framework for developing such systems. They highlight the deceptive reporting that made Human Rights Watch appear to "applaud" a policy they actually want to see banned.

In a CNN interview with Ben Swann, President Barack Obama was questioned about his personal role in approving targets for the drone "kill list." Obama defended the program as a "sacred duty" to keep Americans safe, while refusing to disclose the specific criteria for lethal force.