Fact check: How many civilians were killed in Obama's bombing campaigns in Pakistan and Yemen?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, civilian casualties from Obama's drone campaigns in Pakistan and Yemen varied significantly depending on the source and methodology used for counting:

Independent Organization Estimates:

• 384 to 807 civilians were killed across Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen during Obama's two terms according to multiple sources ^{[1] [2]}
• The New America Foundation specifically reported 245 to 303 civilians killed in Pakistan from 2004 to 2018 and 115 to 149 civilians killed in Yemen from 2002 to 2020 ^[3]
• Independent estimates suggest civilians comprised 7.27% to 15.47% of all deaths from U.S. drone strikes in these regions from 2009-2016 ^[3]

U.S. Government Estimates:

• The Obama administration estimated significantly lower numbers: 64 to 116 civilians died from 2009-2015 from drone strikes outside Iraq and Afghanistan, while claiming 2,372 to 2,581 militants were killed ^[4]
• Obama conducted 563 strikes in Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen - ten times more than Bush ^[1]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial contextual elements:

• Legal implications: Amnesty International stated that CIA drone attacks in Pakistan were responsible for unlawful killings, some of which could amount to war crimes ^[2]
• Policy framework: The Obama administration operated under the Presidential Policy Guidance (PPG) document, which established the policy framework for drone strikes ^[5]
• Transparency issues: There was significant criticism regarding Obama's initial silence on drone strikes and lack of transparency about the program ^[6]
• Geographical scope: The question focuses only on Pakistan and Yemen, but Obama's drone program also included Somalia, which is consistently mentioned in casualty figures ^{[1] [2]}
• Timeframe discrepancies: Some data sources cover periods extending beyond Obama's presidency (2004-2018 for Pakistan, 2002-2020 for Yemen), making it difficult to isolate Obama-specific casualties ^[3]

Who benefits from different narratives:

• U.S. government officials benefit from lower casualty estimates to justify counterterrorism policies
• Human rights organizations and anti-war activists benefit from higher casualty figures to criticize drone warfare
• Military contractors and defense industry benefit from continued drone operations regardless of casualty debates

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question, while factual in its framing, contains potential limitations:

• Geographical limitation: By asking only about Pakistan and Yemen, it excludes Somalia, where significant drone operations also occurred under Obama ^{[1] [2]}
• Lack of comparative context: The question doesn't acknowledge the dramatic increase in drone strikes under Obama compared to previous administrations - the sources note Obama conducted ten times more strikes than Bush ^[1]
• Missing definitional clarity: The question doesn't specify whether it seeks official U.S. government estimates versus independent organization counts, which differ by hundreds of casualties - government estimates of 64-116 versus independent estimates of 384-807 ^{[4] [1]}

The question itself appears neutral but may inadvertently focus attention away from the broader scope and legal implications of the drone program by limiting the geographical and contextual scope of inquiry.