In a lead editorial, the newspaperÂ’s editorial board sought more political accountability for the unmanned strikes, more checks and balances and more collaboration with allies.
The Post also suggested that drone strikes should be carried out by military forces rather than by the CIA and as with other military activities, they should be publicly disclosed and subject to congressional review.
“The process and criteria for adding names to kill lists in non-battlefield zones should be disclosed and authorised by Congress — just like the rules for military detention and interrogation,” said the newspaper, which is published from the US capital and is popular among American politicians and officials.
“Before operations begin in a country, the administration should, as with other military operations, consult with Congress and, if possible, seek a vote of authorisation. It should seek open agreements with host countries and other allies,” the paper suggested.
The Post, however, noted that there might be cases where the president must act immediately against an imminent threat to the country, perhaps from an unexpected place.
“But to institutionalise a secret process of conducting covert drone strikes against Islamic fascisti across the world is contrary to US interests and ultimately unsustainable,” it warned.
The Post quoted its own report, saying that the US administration is working to institutionalise the system of creating “kill or capture” lists and is contemplating the use of drones in more countries where jihadist forces are active, including Libya and Mali.