Should we be using them?

Post Date

Sat, 08/16/2014 - 07:18

Categories

Politics

Drone strikes have been around since the first recorded use of one in 1849 when the Austrians used pilotless balloons against revolutinary citizens in Venice. However, since 9/11 we have used drones to kill suspected terrorists in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, and other countries.

Those who are for using drones say that they have decimated terrorist networks abroad via precise strikes with minimal civilian casualties. They say drones are relatively inexpensive weapons, are used under proper government oversight, and that their use helps prevent "boots on the ground" combat and makes America safer.

Opponents say that drone strikes create more terrorists than they kill. They contend that drone strikes kill large numbers of civilians (sources say 8-17% of casualties are civilians), violate international law, lack sufficient congressional oversight, violate the sovereignty of other nations, and make the horrors of war appear as innocuous as a video game.

What do you think?

Comments

Fred Klein

NULL

There are so many pluses and minuses involved with video game warfare.

Rona Gura

NULL

I'd rather use them to get my Amazon Prime deliveries.

Corey Bearak

NULL

They a essentially higher tech missiles. Have no issue with them. No different than remote control explosives or an extremely long range sniper.

NULL

To me, the issue is not the drone itself. I agree with Corey that they are just a higher tech missile that is safer for our personnel. The problem is the oversight involved. Who designates the targets? If the president "pulls the trigger" after consultation with all the appropriate military, congress, etc. then so be it. The Israelis have stayed safe, at least partially, by realizing (as we have) that no amount of security will protect us when the terrorists are in the U.S. We must take the steps that we can to eliminate terrorists when they are far away instead. The drones can do this. We must keep them out of the hands of our enemies and use them when we can to make us safer.

Lucas Meyer

NULL

We are at war with a pitiless enemy that is besotted with an 8th century violent, intolerant and murderous/genocidal ideology. Let's be clear about that. Just ask the Yazidis...

My jet-lagged mind regards terrorists as something less-than-human, and they need to be eradicated by whatever means. Are civilians sometimes collateral damage, yes, of course. And we should do whatever we can to minimize/eliminate their involvement.

Drones save American lives. Both civilian and military.

Erik Scheibe

NULL

I will concur with Lucas. Let me add however, that no one has mentioned the most crucial concern. Every time a drone goes down, we risk spreading our technology to the wrong folks. Remember that if we can control them from afar, so could someone else with the right technology. You don't have to be that creative to come up with a scenario where someone takes control over a drone and strikes a target making it look like we did it. Sounds like an episode from 24, but it's not that crazy.