Drone Shift Alters Relations Overseas

From The Wall Street Journal:

With one heavily lawyered word change, the Obama administration redefined U.S. drone policy in a way that limits future strikes to terrorist groups that directly threaten Americans, rather than groups threatening U.S. allies and interests more broadly.

The alteration was made in a secret policy-guidance document signed earlier this week by President Barack Obama. The guidance, according to administration officials, narrows the use of lethal force to targets that threaten "U.S. persons." Previously, the White House had said America would go after groups or individuals who threaten "U.S. interests."