Stimson Center Events Stimson Center Events

Featuring

Larry Lewis, Former Advisor, U.S. State Department

Dan Mahanty, Director, U.S. Program, Center for Civilians in Conflict

Rachel Stohl, Senior Associate and Director, Conventional Defense Program, Stimson Center



In the new report, With Great Power: Modifying US Arms Sales to Reduce Civilian Harm, a joint project from the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) and the Stimson Center, authors Dan Mahanty and Rachel Stohl evaluate gaps and opportunities to mitigate the risk of harm for civilians in places where the US sells conventional weapons.

Featuring:
Waleed Alharari, Head of New York Office, Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies
Luke Hartig, Executive Director, National Journal's Network Science Initiative
Alex Moorehead, Director, Project on Counterterrorism, Armed Conflict and Human Rights, Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute
Rachel Stohl, Senior Associate, Conventional Defense Program, Stimson Center

In the first nine months of his administration, President Trump has demonstrated a willingness to resort to the use of lethal force in response to a variety of global security challenges. Since taking office, the Trump administration has increased the use of armed drones in counterterrorism operations outside of declared war zones.

The use of armed drones remains one of the most controversial aspects of U.S. counterterrorism policy. Though the Obama administration introduced several initiatives to increase transparency of the U.S. drone program near the end of its tenure, the Trump administration is rolling back some of these policies. Thus far, the Trump administration has relaxed some policies guiding the use of force and delegated more strike authority to the military and may seek to broaden the CIA’s role in conducting lethal strikes. These actions have raised concerns about the levels of secrecy surrounding the U.S. drone program and renewed questions about transparency, accountability, and effective oversight of U.S. lethal operations abroad.