hundreds of fighters have been killed but it maintains that they have been civilian casualties well david stern is a senior policy analyst at think tank new america and he says that u.s. drone strikes in somalia appear to be targeted less specifically than in other campaigns. so one thing that is critical regarding the counter-terrorism campaign in somalia is that it's become in many ways air campaign in support of somali forces and in defense of a number of u.s. advisors on the ground level it's a lot different from what the counterterrorism strikes in pakistan that became many people's vision of drone strikes was there wasn't in the ongoing conflict in the same way it was more of a targeted killing campaign of high profile al qaeda and taliban leaders although also in that campaign there was sort of a move towards broader getting wrapped up in an existing conflict the united states should absolutely do more oversight particularly congress on what the u.s. is doing and the costs of it strikes it is worth noting in comparison to other combatant commands or other campaigns such as a covert one i

our assessments found that no afrikan airstrike resulted in any civilian casualty or injury and david stern is a senior policy analyst at the think tank new america and he says u.s. drone strikes in somalia appear to be targeted less the civically that in other campaigns. so one thing that is critical regarding the counter-terrorism campaign in somalia is that it's become in many ways a air campaign in support of somali forces and in defense of a number of u.s. advisors on the ground level it's a lot different from what the counterterrorism strikes in pakistan that became many people's vision of drone strikes was where wasn't in the ongoing conflict in the same way it was more of a targeted killing campaign of high profile al-qaeda and taliban leaders although also in that campaign there was sort of a move towards broader getting wrapped up in an existing conflict the united states should absolutely do more oversight particularly congress on what the u.s. is doing and the costs of its strikes it is worth noting that in comparison to other combatant commands or other campaigns such as a cove

david stern and so we just read that u.s. military statement saying there have been no civilian casualties in their drone strikes in somalia amnesty says that's not true because they've got proof so what is the mandate under which u.s. forces operate drones in somalia or do they pretty much do what they want. so u.s. drones are operating in somalia under united states. counterterrorism authorities under u.s. law and in partnership with somalia for with regard to the question of civilian casualties there has been a number of disputed reports and pass on civilian casualties africa as you mentioned disputes any existence of civilian casualties and somalians in recent years so sam is the report is going to be a major step forward to as such saying whether that is true and it's really questionable whether that can really hold given the vast escalation in strikes over the past couple of years yet and despite that escalation in drone strikes against al shabaab the evidence seems to suggest it's not having much effect on the armed gr

that hundreds of fighters have been killed maintains that there have been zero civilian casualties david stern of the new america think tank says u.s. drone strikes in somalia pits be less targeted than elsewhere. so one thing that is critical regarding the counter-terrorism campaign in somalia is that it's become in many ways an air campaign in support of somali forces and in defense of a number of u.s. advisors on the ground that looks a lot different from what the counterterrorism strikes in pakistan that became many people's vision of drone strikes was there wasn't in the ongoing conflict in the same way it was more of a targeted killing campaign of high profile al qaeda and taliban leaders although also in that campaign there was sort of a move towards broader getting wrapped up in an existing conflict the united states should absolutely do more oversight particularly congress on what the u.s. is doing and the costs of it strikes it is worth noting that in comparison to other combatant commands or other campaigns such as a covert one in pakistan africa has been extremely forthcoming with

stern. testy? difficult, whatever the word is? we don't know. whether it isa the word is? we don't know. whether it is a chemistry thing, personality, we saw davidessful in europe. he looked the part, lots of friendly handshakes with sarkozy and company until they weren't. but it isa and company until they weren't. but it is a natural evolution of as you say a stronger, firmer hand. 0nce it is a natural evolution of as you say a stronger, firmer hand. once we at least know what we have signed up for... at the moment it is playing chicken, no deal still vaguely on the table because otherwise the thinking is you can't make a deal at all but at least we will know what we are dealing with, what we are coming to the table with. let's move on to other matters. time is relatively tight, but not hugely so. tony, teenager stabbed in "far right" terror attack. this was an incident that happened in stanwell. a19—year—old was attacked by a man with a knife and a baseball bat. —— a 19—year—old. he was shouting racist slogans. the police have taken the unusual step of negotiating —— saying that this is terrorism. because of what this man was allegedly shoutin