The NSA And CIA Collaborate On Drone Strikes

Documents Reveal NSA’s Extensive Involvement In Targeted Killing Program -- Washington Post

It was an innocuous e-mail, one of millions sent every day by spouses with updates on the situation at home. But this one was of particular interest to the National Security Agency and contained clues that put the sender’s husband in the crosshairs of a CIA drone.

Days later, Hassan Ghul — an associate of Osama bin Laden who provided a critical piece of intelligence that helped the CIA find the al-Qaeda leader — was killed by a drone strike in Pakistan’s tribal belt.

The U.S. government has never publicly acknowledged killing Ghul. But documents provided to The Washington Post by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden confirm his demise in October 2012 and reveal the agency’s extensive involvement in the targeted killing program that has served as a centerpiece of President Obama’s counterterrorism strategy.

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More News On How The NSA And CIA Collaborate On Drone Strikes

New Snowden Documents Outline the NSA's Role in the CIA's Drone Program -- Atlantic Wire
Report: NSA and CIA Collaborate on Drone Strikes -- ABC News/AP
The NSA Has A Much Bigger Role In Drone Strikes Than We've Realized -- SFGate/Business Insider
NSA involved in drone program report claims -- AJC
Report: NSA Plays Crucial Role In Drone Attacks -- NPR
Report: Documents show NSA involvement in drone program -- USA Today
NSA worked with CIA on drone strikes: The Washington Post -- Global Post

My Comment: The Long War Journal has a detailed report on how the NSA tracked a key Al Qaeda operative who eventually led them to Osama bin Laden. This is a must read post as well as the one posted by the Washington Post. The above video provides a good summary.