Pentagon, CIA asked to count, compensate Pakistan drone victims http://www.irna.ir/ENNewsShow.aspx?NID=30310448&SRCH=1

The Washington-based Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC) has called on the US Department of Defense (DoD) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to count and compensate civilians harmed by US drones in Pakistan.  “The US has a duty to know where it has caused civilian harm, including whether it was caused by close air support or unmanned aerial vehicles,” said Sarah Holewinski, CIVIC’s executive director. “Let’s say civilian casualties skyrocket. Why the spike? How can the problem be fixed? Without good data, the US is operating with blinders on. After ten years at war, the US should know better.”  The statement came days after two U.S. pilotless aircraft targeted a tribal jirga in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan and killed 44 innocent people.

The strike prompted strong condemnation by Pakistani army chief and government leaders who sought apology from the U.S..The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) this week released the results of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request: an official statement from the DoD confirming it does not compile statistics about the total number of civilians killed or injured by drones.“There are US systems in place, imperfect as they are, to compensate an Afghan harmed by a US convoy or small arms fire. But not a Pakistani harmed by a drone. Why are their losses treated differently?” said Holewinski. “This makes no sense, and worse, it disrespects civilians, leaving them to suffer with no recognition or help.”