The [Fourth of July] Weekend Desk Report

"The U.S. government [Friday] claimed it has killed between 64 and 116 'non-combatants' in 473 counter-terrorism strikes in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Libya between January 2009 and the end of 2015," the Bureau of Investigative Journalism reports.

"This is a fraction of the 380 to 801 civilian casualty range recorded by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism from reports by local and international journalists, NGO investigators, leaked government documents, court papers and the result of field investigations.

"While the number of civilian casualties recorded by the Bureau is six times higher than the U.S. Government's figure, the assessments of the minimum total number of people killed were strikingly similar. The White House put this figure at 2,436, whilst the Bureau has recorded 2,753."

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"The White House's announcement today is long-awaited. It comes three years after the White House first said it planned to publish casualty figures."

And just coincidentally, the release date fell on the Friday of a long holiday weekend! God bless America, our cool president and our Most Transparent democracy.

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"Since becoming president in 2009, Barack Obama has significantly extended the use of drones in the War on Terror. Operating outside declared battlefields, such as Afghanistan and Iraq, this air war has been largely fought in Pakistan and Yemen."

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"Official estimates show civilians more likely to be killed by CIA drones than by U.S. Air Force actions," the Bureau reports. "The reality is likely far worse."

This is your weekend Must-Read.

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"When it comes to questions of war and peace," Greg Jaffe writes for the Washington Post, "it often seems as if there are two Barack Obamas."

Yes, as with everything Obama. The talker and the doer. Only one of them matters.

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"Then there's the president who, over the last seven years, has sanctioned the largest targeted killing campaign in American history."

Who is the other one?

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116 civilians killed in drone strikes? Here's a list of 212 just in Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/2uLxxbNRlm

— Josh Begley (@joshbegley) July 1, 2016

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Previously on the Beachwood:
* Drones Not Just For Threats Against America Anymore.

* Why Obama Says He Won't Release Drone Documents.

* Obama's Drone Death Figures Don't Add Up.

* Dissecting Obama's Standards On Drone Strike Deaths.

* The Best Watchdog Journalism On Obama's National Security Policies.

* Everything You Wanted To Know About Drones But Were Afraid To Ask.

* Obama Claims Right To Kill Anyone Anytime.

* The Drone War Doctrine We Still Know Nothing About.

* How Does The U.S. Mark Unidentified Men In Pakistan And Yemen As Drone Targets?

* Hearts, Minds And Dollars: Condolence Payments In The Drone Strike Age.

* Boy's Death In Drone Strike Tests Obama's Transparency Pledge.

* Does The U.S. Pay Families When Drones Kill Innocent Yemenis?

* Confirmed: Obama's Drone War Is Illegal And Immoral.

* Six Months After Obama Promised To Divulge More On Drones, Here's What We Still Don't Know.

* One Month After Drones Report, Administration Still Fails To Explain Killings.

* What If A Drone Strike Hit An American Wedding?

* Jon Langford's "Drone Operator" Debuts Again.

* Confirmed: American Bombs Killing Civilians In Yemen.

* Exclusive: Obama's Afghan Drone War.

* Obama Legacy: A Cavalcade Of Absurd Lies About Civilian Drone Deaths.

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Beachwood Sports Radio: Phil Jackson Doesn't Have A TV
Chief Triangle now Chief Pigeon.

Plus: The Blackhawks Are Making Me Dizzy; The White Sox Are Regressing Up To Mediocre; Remembering Da Co-Coach; and The Cubs Are A Crumbling Prison.

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Beachwood Photo Booth: America, Summer 2016, Part 2
Live from a Meijer's in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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Redeeming The (Rapey) Kamasutra
"The book is rapturous about kinky rough sex, and at times suggests that a woman's protests and resistance should be taken as signs of real passion."

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24 Hours With Freeform
Target demographic: Becomers.

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The Week In Chicago Rock
Featuring: Aaron Kelly & Mark Pittman, Boys Like Jason, Aerial Ruin, Akosuen, Mako Sica, Lissie, Warren Haynes (with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra), Jackson Browne, Lowcountry, Soften The Glare, Asphyxiator, The Fray, and Seu.

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The Sound Opinions Weekend Listening Report: "We're barely halfway through the year and already there's an overwhelming amount of great new music to enjoy. Jim and Greg share their lists of the Best Albums of 2016 . . . So Far. Plus, they discuss the 'Stairway to Heaven' plagiarism verdict and pay tribute to Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell."

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Weekend BeachBook

Gymnastics Fans Are Changing How The Sport Is Covered Through Blogging.

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National Fashions Commercial, 1976.

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Chicago And Jazz At Play, Ideally.

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Weekend TweetWood

We knew Holder made no promise on NSLs, but this scoop raises doubts about FBI self-restraint on media surveillance. https://t.co/b40rpu4cby

— Barton Gellman (@bartongellman) July 1, 2016

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Major political news outlets offer interviews for sale at DNC and RNC conventions https://t.co/IBZDuqJwKL by @lhfang

— The Intercept (@theintercept) July 1, 2016

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"How to Turn a 'No' Into a 'Yes'," advised men to violate women's consent during dates, in relationships, and in... https://t.co/ipROJcRMKH

— RapeVictimAdvocates (@rapevictimadv) July 1, 2016

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FYI: James Taylor has no business being anywhere near a stage with Jackson Browne. #WorstJunkieEver

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) July 2, 2016

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The Weekend Tip Line: Monetization machines in pieces on the ground.

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