Problems of Military Drones
The United States’ battle against terrorism forces this nation to exert violence upon its enemies. However, peace in foreign countries will not be achieved if America risks the lives of innocent civilians to assassinate its criminals overseas. Therefore, America must eliminate the use of drones in international strikes.
Those in support of using drones conclude that they bring the least consequences to this nation. They will say that using drones for global attacks allows the US to reduce its military damage and protect its troops from danger (Foust). In addition, they argue that the cost of military drones is lower than the cost of sending regular airplanes and actual soldiers to worldwide nations ("Shaving Costs"). Finally, supporters of drones will share their belief that drones are able to strike accurately and reduce collateral damage to civilians around its area (Foust). Those who profess these ideas do not consider the terrible risks and the dangerous affects that drones place on their target lands and the pathos citizens that reside there.
By using drones in worldwide assaults, the US sets a dangerous example to the many other nations with similar technology. Because America sends military drones instead of actual troops into areas like Pakistan and Yemen, it runs the risk of allowing its enemy countries to conduct similar strikes against its very own home front (Benjamin). While the US, UK, and Israel are the only world powers that currently contain armed drone machines, the US’s frequent uses of these modernized arsenals will influence other nations into building their own military drones to threaten our nation’s security in the upcoming years (Mulrine). This is already seen in countries like ...
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...t officials from the Obama’s administration have reported to the public that civilian casualties could be as low as single digits (SIHRCRC). Meanwhile, journalists and even eyewitness accounts prove the statement to be completely inaccurate through data gathered from the targeted countries. The US should not be a country that risks the lives harmless citizens. By killing innocent people, America creates many foreign enemies and violates the principle of security it is suppose to defend.
Terrorism is a huge danger to both the US and the world in general. Yet, America cannot combat this threat by gambling the lives of those in need of security and protection. America’s use of drones in attacks on foreign soil puts innocent people in danger and cannot continue. By removing international drone strikes, the US will be making a correct step toward a more peaceful society.
Controversy has plagued America’s presence in the Middle East and America’s usage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) contributes vastly to this controversy. Their usefulness and ability to keep allied troops out of harm’s reach is hardly disputed. However, their presence in countries that are not at war with America, such as Pakistan and Yemen, is something contested. People that see the implications of drone use are paying special attention to the civilian casualty count, world perspective, and the legality of drone operations in non-combative states. The use of drone technology in the countries of Yemen and Pakistan are having negative consequences. In a broad spectrum, unconsented drone strikes are illegal according to the laws of armed conflict, unethical, and are imposing a moral obligation upon those who use them. These issues are all of great importance and need to be addressed. Their legality is also something of great importance and begins with abiding to the Laws of Armed Conflict.
In the article ‘’Confessions of a Drone Warrior’’, published in the GQ in October 22, 2013, by Matthew Power, the author talks about a drone pilot’s experience after working with military drones for 6 years. In this article, the main point the author is trying to prove is that flying military drones is not some kind of video game, it’s as real as it gets, even though the pilot doesn’t actually take part in combat. It can change people. During his service, the Airman First Class Brandon Bryant killed 1626 people. It’s terrifying, considering that the pilot had to watch every person die. His job was to monitor people(normally high-value targets in Afghanistan) from the sky and when he got the command to kill from the authorities, he fired a missile
In this paper, I will examine how drone strikes are instituted in America’s foreign policy and their effectiveness against terrorist organizations. Although drone warfare might seem effective and thus desirable for many people, the civilian casualties that it causes increase anti-American sentiment in the region. This sentiment creates a backlash that in fact helps terrorist groups regain their leader, recruit new members, and facilitate revenge, making drones a counterproductive foreign policy
Imagine sleeping in your own bed knowing that a few houses down the street lived a terrorist who was planning on doing something extreme. Would you be okay with a drone strike where he lived knowing it could possibly kill you and your family as well as many other innocent people? What about knowing that it hit the target and that there was one less terrorist who could cause harm to innocent people as well? The pro-drone strike article “Why Drones Work: The Case for Washington 's Weapon of Choice (Byman). In contrast the anti-drone strike article argues, “Drone strikes are an unethical violation of human rights” by (Friedersdorf). That drones do not just affect targets but also communities and all the people who live here.
Firmin DeBrabander’s "Drones and the Democracy Disconnect" appeared in the September 2014 magazine The New York Times. The article in this paper shows DeBrabander aiming to convince his readers that the United States is gradually becoming a warring nation with fewer and fewer warriors and few who know the sacrifices of war. "Drones represent the new normal, and are an easy invitation to enter into and wage war indefinitely." DeBrabander tries to explain to his audience on what’s going on with the Drones and the ISIS, but fails to do so.
The moment I received the prompt to explore just war theory, the first controversial topic containing strong arguments on both sides that interested me was that of drone warfare. As tensions rise between countries and technology improves, the possibility of advanced warfare among nations seems imminent as drones are deployed in replacement of soldiers. The purposes of these unmanned drones in present day are primarily intel collection and target acquisition, which usually leads to extermination of known and presumed threats to the dispatcher. In the United States, when it comes to the topic of using drones within foreign countries, most of the citizens will agree that it is an efficient way to remotely deal with immediate threats to the country.
“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him” (G.K. Chesterton). A soldier is a soldier no matter what. If they fight behind a screen, on the front line, or from a controller as long as they’re protecting this country, the people in it, and the people fighting for it they are honorable. Some think that because one does their fighting from a remote control drone means that they have no understanding of war, and in some ways that is true, but they are still taking someone’s life when they choose to press that button just like the solders on the front line takes someone’s life when they pull the trigger. Both people are fighting the same fight: they love the country they are defending the people in it they just do it from different standpoints. Drones
Since 2002, internationally there have been concerns regarding drones in the air. The concerns have not diminished even the slightest because the United States has not made any progress in its drone policy (Giacomo, 2016). Instead of a shortage of these aerial vehicles, the opposite has occurred, there has been an increase use of drones by the United States armed forces. Although official data of the deaths of civilians by drones is not given by the U.S. administration, there are other organizations that have given out information regarding the casualties of civilians; this includes Amnesty International Investigation (Walsh and Mehsud, 2013) and Bureau of Investigation Journalism (“Transparency in the Drone Wars”, 2016). The Obama administration
Do the Advantages of Drones Outweigh the Negatives? “The first recorded use of attack drones occurred on Aug. 22, 1849 when the Habsburg Austrian Empire launched 200 pilotless balloons armed with bombs against the revolution-minded citizens of Venice.” (Brett Holman, 2009). Today drones are launched from allied countries, and are remotely controlled by pilots in the United States. Since drones are remotely operated, ground troops and aircraft pilots risk of getting hurt is minimized.
One of the latest and most controversial topics that has risen over the past five to ten years is whether or not drones should be used as a means of war, surveillance, and delivery systems. Common misconceptions usually lead to people’s opposition to the use of drones; which is the reason it is important for people to know the facts about how and why they are used. Wartime capabilities will provide for less casualties and more effective strikes. New delivery and surveillance systems in Africa, the United Air Emirates and the United States will cut costs and increase efficiency across the board. Rules and regulations on drones may be difficult to enforce, but will not be impossible to achieve. The use of drones as weapons of war and delivery and surveillance systems should not be dismissed because many people do not realize the real capabilities of drones and how they can be used to better the world through efficient air strikes, faster delivery times, and useful surveillance.
...only imagine how hazardous this world we live in become. Amongst countries this can become an international competition to make drones to be used as a factor. When other nations see this particular country is using some type of technology to improve their military system then they would want part of it as well. The drone practice can cause to escalate if other countries adopt to this new technology for their own reason of protection. There will be no turning back because the government of that country would take advantage of these drones to use it towards the citizens instead of using for “terrorist”. The use of these drones is definitely immoral and unethical but some may argue that the of drones as protection against “terrorist” even though as we can see it kills innocent people, creates more terrorists, causes psychological disorders, and violates privacy. (Cole)
Every day the world is evolving, different types of technology are being made for different kinds of uses. Some people in the army want to use drones to carry out different types of missions, in other places in the world. Using will help soldiers carry out missions, quicker, easier, and much more efficient. 60% of Americans agree on the usage of drones for army purposes. Many people say that the army should not use drones because drones will increase the number of terrorists, drones can kill and injure innocent civilians, and that drones will “...allow the United States to become emotionally disconnected from the horrors of war” (ℙ8, Drones). There are many advantages with having drones aid military bases, because
For example in the essay the author states “ Nothing symbolizes this trend better than the rise of drones...military which rely on their cameras...to their targets”(Houtryve, 450). This quote explaining that as the years go forward the military's use of drones increases and is extremely common to see now as part of the military. Drones such as predator drones are being used by the army to patrol their territory and spy on terrorist. Even though most of drones being used that military are unarmed some are now able to shoot at terrorist. This technology development is leading the military to execute wait more operations and drones in the military are being developed to shoot at designated targets without the humans will. In the image showing the wedding (Houtryve, 452), is just another example of how drones are being use to execute task by the military and strike terrorist from the sky without putting any soldiers at risk of dying. However an argument can be made that with how the U.S. is developing drones it is only a matter of time till other countries start using drones like how our military does. The counter is that no matter what technology other countries develop the U.S. will always be the most advanced and ahead in terms of our military since the U.S. is so invested in
Living in the digital age where we enjoy the various fruits of latest technological tools and advancements, then at the same time we cannot escape from their hidden or apparent harms. Also, it is a fact that some gadgets supported by these technological advancements are much capable to bring destruction and disaster then construction and convenience. The same goes for the Drone Technology which since past 200 years is being used to create turbulence at the global level. It has proved to be a powerful investigator and bomber at the same time. Drones are specifically associated with military actions and the countries having used them for surveillance purposes include UK, USA, Italy, Japan, Austria, Australia etc. The list of victim counties or nations is much bigger in contrast. Some prominent victims of Drone Air Strikes include Congo, Venice, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. However, it is also an undeniable fact that the massive production and usage of Drones got multiplied in the 21st century.
They seem like there are completely beneficial for all the population of the world. The military have less deaths because of the safety of pilots, science has grown with increasingly great knowledge and the hobbyist is now outside instead of playing video games. While the problem is that people feel with the development of drones, their privacy will be out the window, literally. The drone could spy on them, is their worry (4). While the number of drone uses has increased in the past few years, the rules and directions have not. Some people want to see direct and clear guidelines and laws for the use of these computers with