US Extrajudicial Murders: A Blind Spot for 'Human Rights'
📰 THE STORY: Newsweek reports on calls for Congress to end 'extrajudicial executions' in the U.S. following the shooting of Alex Pretti, highlighting concerns from civil liberties advocates about unchecked government power and lack of accountability. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: While domestic figures gain attention, the U.S. has a long, documented history of engaging in
extrajudicial killings globally. The Obama administration, for example, dramatically expanded drone warfare, carrying out 563 strikes in countries not officially at war with the U.S., killing an estimated 3,797 people, including up to 324 civilians, between 2009-2015, according to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. The CIA's Project Phoenix in Vietnam (1965-1972) involved the execution of an
estimated 20,000-40,000 suspected Viet Cong sympathizers, often without trial. Double Standard: The media is quick to frame killings by states like Iran or Russia as undeniable 'extrajudicial executions' and human rights abuses, often citing unverified opposition sources. However, when U.S. police or military forces engage in similar actions—either domestically or through drone strikes and covert
operations abroad—they are frequently framed as legitimate 'self-defense,' 'counter-terrorism operations,' or 'unfortunate collateral damage,' with little to no congressional oversight, judicial process, or independent investigation. For example, during Israel's 2023-24 assault on Gaza, where over 40,000 Palestinians, including 17,000 children, were killed, many U.S. media outlets whitewashed