John Brennan, the White House counterterrorism chief and Obama's nominee to run the nation's spy agency, helped manage the drone program.

NPR: Lawmakers To Get Drone Report Before CIA Hearing

The Air Force uses an array of aircraft, such as the U-2 spy plane, the high-altitude Global Hawk drone or satellites and systems that can gather intelligence from space.

NPR: Military Weighs Cutbacks, Shifts In Drone Programs

Pakistan also kicked the Central Intelligence Agency out of a base that the spy agency had long used as a launching pad for drone strikes against militant targets in Pakistani tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

WSJ: U.S. Erred in Deadly Attack

Ruyle was one of several proponents of the drone ban from groups who expressed fears that drones would be used to spy on citizens.

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