Fact check: Did George W Bush's administration use drones for targeted killings before 2008?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, George W. Bush's administration did use drones for targeted killings before 2008. The evidence clearly establishes that drone operations began during the Bush presidency:

• The first targeted killing with a drone occurred on November 2, 2002, in Yemen during the Bush administration ^[1]
• Drone strikes in Pakistan began on June 18, 2004 under Bush's presidency ^[2]
• The Bush administration was responsible for 51 drone strikes before the end of his presidency ^[2]
• Multiple sources confirm there were 57 strikes under Bush, with the pace of drone attacks accelerating in the second half of 2008 at the end of his term ^[3]

The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point confirmed in 2011 that drone strikes began during the Bush administration, initially targeting a relatively short list of senior al-Qaeda operatives ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important contextual information about the broader scope and evolution of the drone program:

• The US began targeted killings against suspected al-Qaeda members after the 9/11 attacks as part of a broader campaign ^[5]
• Targeted airstrikes occurred in multiple countries: Somalia since 2006 and Yemen since 2002, though not all sources specify whether these were drone strikes ^[6]
• The drone program significantly expanded under Obama, who conducted ten times more strikes than Bush ^[3]
• The program was part of the broader Global War on Terror initiated by the Bush administration ^[7]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation, as it is posed as an inquiry rather than making a claim. However, there could be underlying assumptions that need clarification:

• The question's framing might suggest uncertainty about whether Bush used drones before 2008, when historical records clearly establish that drone operations began in 2002 ^[1]
• The focus on the 2008 cutoff date might reflect a common misconception that drone warfare primarily began under Obama, when in fact it was initiated under Bush and then dramatically expanded under Obama
• Some sources mention strikes without specifying whether they were drone strikes, which could contribute to confusion about the timeline and scope of drone operations ^{[3] [6]}