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January 26, 2016

Survivor of President Obama's First Drone Strike Speaks Out
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A survivor of the first drone strike ever launched by President Obama
has spoken out in an interview with The Guardian, saying: "If there is a
list of tyrants in the world, to me, Obama will be put on that list by
his drone program." The strike hit the home of then 14-year-old Faheem
Qureshi's family in North Waziristan on January 23, 2009. It was
President Obama's third day in office. The strike permanently blinded
Qureshi in his left eye. He spent 40 days in the hospital recovering
from burns and lacerations from shrapnel. Two of his uncles and his
21-year-old cousin were killed in the strike. The strike was reportedly
targeting top Taliban and al-Qaeda commanders, but available evidence
suggests it instead hit the wrong target. Members of Qureshi's family
were part of a pro-government peace committee.


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