{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-presses-administration-somalia-strategy", "Rep. Omar Presses Administration on Somalia Strategy", "2021-07-23", "2021", "2021-07", "Democrat", "House", "MN", "Ilhan Omar", "O000173", "omar.house.gov", "omar", "https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "I am writing today to request more information on the airstrike that the United States carried out on July 20th, 2021, in Somalia. I know that your Administration is undergoing a review of the drone program, and I appreciate the seriousness with which you have approached the vexing legal, moral, and policy problem of the ongoing drone program.\n\nPublic reporting on Tuesday's strike indicates that the White House has rejected requests for other drone strikes in Somalia since you took office, but that AFRICOM assesses the White House didn't need to approve this strike because it was justified by \"collective self-defense.\"1\n\nAs you know, \"collective self-defense\" is a term with variable meanings in national and international law, and especially in the context of your ongoing review of airstrike authorities, its use merits further explanation in this case. This is also an important and timely matter since it seems suggestive of your Administration's broader approach to airstrikes in Somalia.\n\nI have been deeply engaged on this question throughout my time in Congress, not only focused on the legal merits of individual strikes, but on how our militarized counter-terrorism approach to Al-Shabaab fits into our overall strategy and policy towards Somalia. In that respect, it is noteworthy that this week also saw reporting on the family members of Somali civilians killed by airstrikes conducted under the Trump Administration being unable to contact U.S. authorities or receive the condolence payments for which Congress has repeatedly appropriated funds.2\n\nUnder the Trump Administration, airstrikes in Somalia increased dramatically with no apparent gains in either weakening Al-Shabaab, advancing Somali security and stability, or pursuing American interests in the region. On the contrary, the increase in strikes corresponded with an almost doubling of terrorist attacks on civilians committed by Al-Shabaab. It is critical that we realize we are not going to simply drone the Al-Shabaab problem to death, and that any kinetic action is part of a broader strategy focused first and foremost on the security of Somali people and the stability of the Somali state.\n\nI request a prompt response to the following questions. I am happy to make myself available for a classified briefing if necessary.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-presses-administration-somalia-strategy"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9585167281329632, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}