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<br clear="ALL"><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;text-align:center"><span style="font-size:36pt;font-family:Georgia,serif">Sen. Paul Issues Final Letter to Brennan Questioning Government Drone Authority<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:20pt;font-family:Georgia,serif">Intends to filibuster nomination if answers are not given</span></i><i><span style="font-size:20pt;font-family:Georgia,serif"><u></u><u></u></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow',sans-serif">WASHINGTON, D.C. –</span></b><span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow',sans-serif"> Sen. Rand Paul today issued a third letter to John Brennan, President Obama’s nominee for director of the Central Intelligence Agency.</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow',sans-serif">Sen. Paul’s previous inquiries dispatched to Mr. Brennan (found<span> </span></span><a href="http://paul.senate.gov/files/documents/Brennan1.pdf" style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow',sans-serif">HERE</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow',sans-serif"><span> </span>and<span> </span></span><a href="http://paul.senate.gov/files/documents/Brennan2.pdf" style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow',sans-serif">HERE</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow',sans-serif">) have gone unanswered by Mr. Brennan and the Administration, and Sen. Paul has<span> </span></span><a href="http://paul.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=705" style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow',sans-serif">declared</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow',sans-serif"><span> </span>he will filibuster the nomination of Mr. Brennan until his concerns over the legality of using drone strikes inside the United States are answered.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow',sans-serif">In the letter, Sen. Paul states: “The question that I and many others have asked is not whether the Administration has or intends to carry out drone strikes inside the United States, but whether it believes it has the authority to do so. This is an important distinction that should not be ignored.”<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow',sans-serif">Below is the full text of the letter, sent on Wednesday, Feb. 20, to Mr. Brennan.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow',sans-serif"> </span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow',sans-serif">LETTER:<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
<div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">February 20, 2013<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"> <u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">John O. Brennan<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">The White House<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">Washington, DC 20500<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"> <u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">Dear Mr. Brennan,<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"> <u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">In consideration of your nomination to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), I have repeatedly requested that you provide answers to several questions clarifying your role in the approval of lethal force against terrorism suspects, particularly those who are U.S. citizens. Your past actions in this regard, as well as your view of the limitations to which you are subject, are of critical importance in assessing your qualifications to lead the CIA. If it is not clear that you will honor the limits placed upon the Executive Branch by the Constitution, then the Senate should not confirm you to lead the CIA.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"> <u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">During your confirmation process in the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), committee members have quite appropriately made requests similar to questions I raised in my previous letter to you—that you expound on your views on the limits of executive power in using lethal force against U.S. citizens, especially when operating on U.S. soil. In fact, the Chairman of the SSCI, Sen. Feinstein, specifically asked you in post-hearing questions for the record whether the Administration could carry out drone strikes inside the United States. In your response, you emphasized that the Administration “has not carried out” such strikes and “has no intention of doing so.” I do not find this response sufficient.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"> <u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">The question that I and many others have asked is not whether the Administration has or intends to carry out drone strikes inside the United States, but whether it believes it has the authority to do so. This is an important distinction that should not be ignored.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"> <u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">Just last week, President Obama also avoided this question when posed to him directly. Instead of addressing the question of whether the Administration could kill a U.S. citizen on American soil, he used a similar line that “there has never been a drone used on an American citizen on American soil.” The evasive replies to this valid question from the Administration have only confused the issue further without getting us any closer to an actual answer.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"> <u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">For that reason, I once again request you answer the following question: Do you believe that the President has the power to authorize lethal force, such as a drone strike, against a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil, and without trial?<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"> <u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">I believe the only acceptable answer to this is no.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"> <u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">Until you directly and clearly answer, I plan to use every procedural option at my disposal to delay your confirmation and bring added scrutiny to this issue and the Administration’s policies on the use of lethal force. The American people are rightfully concerned, and they deserve a frank and open discussion on these policies.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"> <u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"> <u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">Sincerely,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"> <u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">Rand Paul, M.D.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">United States Senator<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> <u></u><u></u></div>
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<div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow',sans-serif">###<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;text-align:center">
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</div></div></blockquote></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div>-- <br>Robert Naiman<br>Policy Director<br>Just Foreign Policy<br><a href="http://www.justforeignpolicy.org" target="_blank">www.justforeignpolicy.org</a><br>
<a href="mailto:naiman@justforeignpolicy.org" target="_blank">naiman@justforeignpolicy.org</a><br>
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