Senior administration official: Holder’s letter to Rand Paul implies no change to our drone policy

Hotair ^

[chessplayer]

An important footnote to the filibuster heard ’round the world. At first blush, this seems mundane: Paul’s interest was in limiting drone strikes on U.S. citizens on U.S. soil, not overseas where all of the actual drone warfare (so far) is conducted, so of course it hasn’t changed current drone policy. But what about future drone policy, which may or may not involve strikes on American soil? Turns out it … hasn’t changed that either.

“Sen. Paul’s 13 hours on the Senate floor won’t have any practical effect on our policy and how we’re going after terrorists on a day-to-day basis,” a senior administration official told Yahoo News on condition of anonymity.

But didn’t Paul wring a letter out of Obama’s top lawyer, Attorney General Eric Holder, in which he effectively promised that Americans who aren’t lining up to take a shot at the Capitol with a grenade launcher (to paraphrase the senator) are safe?

In a word: No…

During his 13 hours on the Senate floor, Paul repeatedly asked whether Obama believed he had the authority to kill an American, on U.S. soil, who was not “actively attacking” America…

“Dear Senator Paul,” Holder said in a 43-word letter. “It has come to my attention that you have now asked an additional question: ‘Does the President have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil?’ The answer to that question is no.”

Holder didn’t use the phrase “actively attacking.” And administration officials privately agreed on Friday that “not engaged in combat” was the key phrase going forward. None of them agreed to define the expression on the record.

[George from New England]

As Michael Savage repeatedly cites ...

The Enemy Within

[EQAndyBuzz]

“Holder didn’t use the phrase “actively attacking.” And administration officials privately agreed on Friday that “not engaged in combat” was the key phrase going forward. None of them agreed to define the expression on the record.”

What is “is?”

[Timber Rattler]

And administration officials privately agreed on Friday that “not engaged in combat” was the key phrase going forward.

Several FReepers on one of the filibuster threads caught this weasel language as soon as Holder's letter was published and said that it was only a matter of time before the Chicago Outfit clarified it.

[Iron Munro]

Obama administration terrorist suspects:

- Military Vets

- Gun Owners

- Christians

- People who don’t want to live in cities

- Citizens opposed to Trillion Dollar rapid transit boondoggles

- Climate Change deniers

- Home Schoolers

- Preppers

[MasterGunner01]

Question: How do you know Eric Holder is lying?

Answer: His lips are moving (followed by a written statement).

[cld51860]

You forgot: Americans who fly Old Glory every day. That would be me.