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.
Survivor of President Obama’s First Drone Strike Speaks Out
HeadlineJan 26, 2016