Obama Drones Speech: Anwar al-Awlaki Would Have Been Detained but Had to Be Taken Out

Congress was briefed on the strike against Anwar al-Awlaki, the American killed by a drone strike in 2011. President Obama detailed the terrorist activities al-Awlaki helped coordinate and support against American citizens as proof of why he was targeted.

He reiterated that he does not condone the targeting of any American, but claimed that al-Awlaki was targeted only after exhausting means of capture and detention.

He outlined that force is not the only solution against radical ideology, resulting in a "perpetual war" which will be self-defeating.