Why the U.S. still needs drones in its counterrorism arsenal

This success, veiled by the secrecy of the U.S. operations but nonetheless very real, must be part of any evaluation of the tragic deaths of two hostages, including American Warren Weinstein, in a Jan. 15 drone strike. President Obama rightly apologized for the failure to detect the hostages inside a structure targeted by a drone and promised a review.

One consideration in such a review could be whether drone strikes not targeted at specific individuals — known as "signature strikes" — are still justified in Pakistan. Since Obama tightened procedures for drone attacks in 2013, their numbers have decreased dramatically; outside monitors have counted only about two dozen in Pakistan in the past year, with civilian casualties in the single digits. Nevertheless, it was a signature strike that killed the two Western hostages, as well as four Al-Qaida militants. Such attacks do not require a finding that the targets pose an imminent threat to the United States, though they must still involve a judgment of "near certainty" that no civilians will be killed.

A second consideration is whether drone strikes must still be carried out by the CIA or should be transferred to the Pentagon's Joint Special Operations Command. Obama has said turning over the operations to the military is desirable, and we agree: That would result in more transparency and oversight, and it would allow the CIA to focus on what should be its overriding mission of gathering intelligence, rather than conducting military operations. CIA control over drones in Pakistan, and the accompanying secrecy, has been seen as necessary to preserve cooperation with Pakistani authorities. Yet now that U.S. drone attacks have been widely publicized, and Pakistan has launched its own aggressive campaign against the jihadists on its territory, that may no longer be necessary.

What shouldn't be up for review is whether drone attacks will continue to be a weapon in the U.S. counterterrorism arsenal. It's true that the strikes have generated a backlash in public opinion, especially in the Muslim world.

Nevertheless, there is little question that drones are the least costly means of eliminating militants whose first aim is to kill Americans. "If we were not engaged against the terrorists," CIA Director John Brennan said recently, "I think we would be facing a horrendous, horrendous environment." He's right.

FROM AN EDITORIAL IN THE WASHINGTON POST