Obama outlines rules for armed drone str

WASHINGTON, May 23 (Reuters) - In a wide-ranging speech on

foreign policy on Thursday, President Barack Obama defended his

administration's use of drones to kill terrorists abroad, and in

a nod to concerns, outlined plans to limit the use of such

strikes.

As described in a White House statement, the key elements of

the president's policy for the use of force in counterterrorism

operations outside the United States and outside a war zone are

as follows:

* The United States will not use lethal force when it is

possible to capture a terrorist.

* Lethal force may only be used to prevent or stop attacks

against U.S. persons, never as a form of punishment or in lieu

of prosecution.

* There must be a legal basis for using lethal force.

* The United States will only use lethal force against a

target that poses a continuing, imminent threat to U.S. persons.

* There must be near certainty that a terrorist is present

at the site of the strike and that non-combatants will not be

injured or killed.

* There must be a judgment that the host government cannot

or will not effectively address the threat.

* Decisions to capture or use force against terrorists are

made at the most senior levels of the U.S. government, and

senior national security officials will review the legality of

proposed actions.

* If the United States considers an operation against a U.S.

citizen, the Justice Department will review whether the action

is consistent with U.S. laws and rights.

* Appropriate members of Congress will continue to be

provided with updates when the use of lethal force has been

approved, and congressional committees will be informed when

action has been taken.

(Reporting by Mark Felsenthal; editing by Jackie Frank)

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