This article was originally published by Mennonite World Review

War crimes

Would it go beyond the pale to ask if our president is a war criminal? According to the blog, “Pray for U.S.,” as of March 18, 2013, President Obama had killed 204 children by drone attacks. On average, Obama killed one child every other day in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. One example of Obama’s wanton and reckless killing of children and civilians occurred on Dec. 17, 2009, in Al Majata, Yemen, where 44 civilians, including 22 children between the ages of 1 and 17, were killed, as reported by the Yemeni government. In this attack the U.S. was able to confirm the death of only one terrorist, and he was not the one they were looking for. Among the dead were the Louqye children: six daughters, aged 1, 3, 4, 6, 9 and 15; and at least two sons, aged 4 and 13. Also killed were the Nassar children: five daughters, aged 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9. Besides the deaths of these children, five of the dead women were pregnant. Entire families have been wiped out in strikes authorized by Obama. A final note in the “Pray for U.S.” blog: “We are not at war with Yemen, Pakistan or Somalia. It is illegal for Barack Obama to be carrying out drone strikes in these nations. These acts are war crimes, plain and simple, and deserving of prosecution and punishment.”

E. Daniel Riehl
Lititz, Pa.

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