Who was Obama trying to bomb with drone strikes

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided suggest that Obama's drone strikes primarily targeted al-Qaeda and its affiliates in countries such as Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia ^[1]. The number of strikes during his presidency is reported to be around 563, resulting in the deaths of between 384 and 807 civilians ^[1]. The Obama administration's use of drone strikes was a key feature of its foreign policy, particularly in the context of counter-terrorism ^[2]. It is also noted that the president had largely kept silent about the drone strikes until a speech at National Defense University, where he aimed to strike a balance between arguing that terrorism threats will remain and that the structures built up in response cannot remain in their ad hoc manner for the long term ^[2]. Additionally, the sources highlight the contrast between the administration's response to the deaths of Western civilians and those of non-Western civilians ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some sources do not provide direct information about Obama's drone strike targets, instead discussing the geopolitics of oil and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on the global oil market ^{[4] [2]}. These sources do not contribute to the understanding of who Obama was trying to bomb with drone strikes. Furthermore, the analyses provided do not offer a comprehensive view of the motivations behind Obama's drone strike policy, with some sources focusing on the number of strikes and civilian casualties, while others discuss the geopolitical context ^[1]. The sources also lack a detailed examination of the long-term effects of the drone strikes on the targeted countries and communities ^[1]. Alternative viewpoints, such as those from the targeted countries or communities, are not represented in the analyses provided ^[1].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement asks who Obama was trying to bomb with drone strikes, but the sources suggest that the targets were primarily al-Qaeda and its affiliates, rather than a specific individual or group ^[1]. This framing may benefit those who seek to downplay the complexity of the issue and the potential consequences of the drone strikes ^[1]. On the other hand, the sources that highlight the civilian casualties and the contrast between the administration's response to Western and non-Western civilian deaths may benefit those who seek to criticize the Obama administration's drone strike policy ^[3]. The lack of context and alternative viewpoints in the analyses provided may also contribute to a biased or incomplete understanding of the issue ^{[4] [2]}.