See It/Shoot It : The Secret History of the CIA’s Lethal Drone Program

369 Pages·2017·3.277 MB·English

by  Christopher J. Fuller

SEE IT/SHOOT IT
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see it/shoot it
The Secret History
of the CIA’s Lethal
Drone Program
Christopher J. Fuller
New Haven and London
Published with assistance from the foundation established in memory
of Calvin Chapin of the Class of 1788, Yale College.
Copyright © 2017 by Christopher J. Fuller. All rights reserved. This
book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, including illustrations,
in any form (beyond that copying permitted by Sections 107 and 108
of the U.S. Copyright Law and except by reviewers for the public press),
without written permission from the publishers.
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2016954414
ISBN 978- 0- 300- 21854- 1 (cloth : alk. paper)
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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(Permanence of Paper).
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgments vii
A Note on Language x
List of Abbreviations xii
Prologue: “Let Him Sleep” 1
Introduction: “The True Watersheds in Human Affairs Are
Seldom Spotted” 9
1 “The Hamlet of Nations”: The Rhetoric and Reality of the
Reagan Administration’s Counterterrorism Policy,
1980–1985 22
2 “Let’s Find a Way to Go after Them”: The Fadlallah Affair and
the Achille Lauro Hijacking, 1985 63
3 “We Have to Find a Better Way to Send a Message”: The CIA’s
Counterterrorism Center, from the Eagle Program to the
Predator Drone, 1986–2001 88
4 “Talking about Capturing bin Laden”: The Clinton
Administration and the Legal Architecture of Lethal Force in
Counterterrorism, 1993–2000 129
vi CONTENTS
5 “Ninja Guys in Black Suits”: Alternative Counterterrorism
Tools, 1993–2008 178
6 “The Only Game in Town”: The Strategy and Effectiveness of
the CIA’s Lethal Drone Campaign, 2009–2012 209
Conclusion: “It Sends Its Bloodhounds Everywhere” 247
Notes 255
Index 333
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to express my deepest appreciation to Kendrick Oliver for
his invaluable support in the writing of this book. From his tutelage and
professional support during the research phase of the project, to the timely,
clear, and constructive comments during the book’s writing up, there is
no doubt that this project would not have come to fruition without his
help. Additionally, I benefited hugely from the input of Mick Jardine,
whose careful reading of the book’s first draft provided a number of
nuanced contributions on the contentious language of terrorism and
counterterrorism. My thanks also go to Helen Spurling, who has been
both a supportive colleague and an invaluable friend throughout this
project, offering limitless enthusiasm and encouragement as well as a
generous supply of champagne at every milestone.
Early drafts of chapters from the project’s manuscript were presented as
papers at a number of conferences, including HOTCUS in both
Northumbria and Reading, BAAS in Exeter, and two thought-p rovoking
sessions at Surrey’s Center for International Intervention. The astute ques-
tions, perceptive comments and helpful recommendations that resulted
from these meetings helped to sharpen the arguments made in a number
of the book’s chapters, for which I am thankful to my colleagues and peers.
I am also extremely grateful to my editor, Erica Hanson, and her colleagues
at Yale University Press, in particular Otto Bohlmann, whose diligence and
guidance helped ensure this book maintained the lucidity and coherence
necessary to make this complex subject accessible. Furthermore, I would
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viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
like to thank the anonymous reviewers, whose learned recommendations
ensured the book met the rigorous standards such a contentions topic
demands. It goes without saying that any faults that remain in the book
are my responsibility alone.
Closer to home, I would like to thank my mother, Joan, and father,
Charles, for instilling an appreciation of the benefits of hard work and
delayed gratification—something that has come in incredibly handy during
the lengthy process of bringing this research project to fruition. I am also
grateful to my sister, Jennie, for helping sharpen my rhetorical arguments
through our exchanges as kids. Most important of all, I am completely
and utterly indebted to my wonderful wife, Carys. She has shown remark-
able patience throughout this project—a virtue those who know her well
will be aware does not come naturally to her—as long hours often kept
me away from home or buried away in our office. During this time Carys
has provided invaluable support. When I needed to talk ideas through,
she was my intellectual sparring partner, playing devil’s advocate for the
more contentious arguments. I am particularly indebted to Carys for her
contribution to the book’s Prologue, where her superior storytelling skills
helped refine my clumsy attempt to unleash my inner novelist. Her willing-
ness to tolerate my lengthy discussions on counterterrorism, her good
humor, and her shared interest in spiced rum have all been indispensable.
This fortitude has been made all the more remarkable since January 2014,
with the arrival of our adopted son, Leo. The fact that I was able to
complete this book within the original time frame despite the addition of
a toddler in our lives is entirely due to Carys. Leo’s arrival transformed
both our lives, but it was my wife who had to make the most significant
changes to raise our boy, something for which I will be eternally grateful,
and enamored. She has been a remarkable partner and mother.
Finally, I owe a debt to my young son, Leo, just for being his charming
and fun- loving self. Studying terrorism, its causes and consequences, and
the efforts of those who face the daunting task of trying to prevent it can
be draining. The extent of the violence, brutality, and sheer ruthlessness
those who seek to use fear and intimidation as a form of power can erode
one’s faith in humanity. Following long days of exposure to the sights and
descriptions of such brutality, it has been life- affirming to have the joy of
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix
sharing a home with a young child whose innocence and good nature
restore that lost faith. Such an environment serves to remind me of what
it is those engaged in the challenging and often thankless task of counter-
terrorism are dedicated to protecting. It is my hope that this book, through
its critical appraisal of counterterrorism methods past and present, can help
in some small way to ensure that we do all we can to protect our societies,
while at the same time not being forced to sacrifice the natural human love
and kindness Leo so wonderfully demonstrates.