12/2/2013: Is the use of Unmanned Military drones ethical or criminal? http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/video/2013/dec/02/unmanned-military-drones-battle-ethical-video-debate
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles, more commonly referred to as drones, is one of the most controversial elements of modern warfare. Aircraft of this type have no human pilot onboard and can carry several missiles and rounds of ammunition.
From a military perspective, I feel this weapon is ideal. It can eliminate targets, cause damage and indulge in active warfare without loss of any personal. Ever since the introduction of UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) into modern combat, The U.S army has reduced its casualties while simultaneously increased its effectiveness and success rates of military missions. However, the strategy used by the CIA, as discussed by Peter Lee of the Royal Air force, are “naïve” as they apparently fail to make the distinction between combatants and non-combatants during their missions. An example of such an instance is in December 2013, a U.S drone strike in Radda (capital of Yemen), killed several members of a wedding party. There are countless examples of such civilian casualties out of which the frightening majority is children.
Peter Lee, being part of the Royal Air force of Britain, has actively taken part in drone missions. He states that these aircrafts have the technologies to make distinctions between and target people sitting one meter apart from fifteen hundred meters above. If these vehicles do posses this ability, why isn’t the CIA taking more care in their operations? People argue that it is easier to attack a larger area when given the opportunity to kill a terrorist. In my opinion this is shear laziness as Peter Lee confirms that the British army simply wait for the target to be isolated and then attack limiting civilian casualties. I feel, the methods carried out by the CIA in said operations should be altered and should follow the example presented by the British army since the CIA do carry out a majority of the drone operations worldwide. The techniques they use to carry out operations, in my opinion, needs serious reconsideration as I feel civilian casualties can never be justified.
From a political perspective, the use of drones in my opinion is very disputed. First of all it can be considered an encroachment on the country’s sovereignty. To fly into another country without its permission is not only unethical but also dangerous. Currently, this technology is a western tool and in the right hands. There are at least twenty other countries developing drones, which in the future could be used for warfare between each other. If regulations for permission are not established now, drones could have a serious role to play in the future of hostility between nations.
The eternal problem of all military technology is that if in the wrong hands, it can be used disastrously. Shouldn’t countries that use drones set an example and also lay ground for rules so that their use cannot be abused in the future?
Hey Rashid,
I found your post on drones to be quite interesting! I personally knew little about drones until I listened to that podcast a week ago in our last class lecture. Right now, I feel that the United States should not be using drones as frequently as it does. With drone bases in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Pakistan, I find it unfair that the United States finds it appropriate to invade a country and utilize its geographic positioning to its advantage. If a foreign country were to invade the United States and position similar bases, I’m certain the United States would not tread lightly in response. But I guess the United States military feels that it can be comfortable given that it is the strongest military in the world.
I think the United States should wait for the drone technology to be more efficient.
Could drones turn out to be the next nuclear weapon? I agree with you that some ground rules should be laid down quickly before drones are developed in the wrong hands. Already drones are being used to invade countries, if the U.S. were to be invaded, which has never happened before, another war could start, and scarily on our own soil.
What if drones are used for civilian use? My professor thinks one day we will all be walking down streets with personal drones recording our every movement. It would be like everyone walking down the street with a gun, maybe it would deter as from shooting. Or maybe someone unsound would abuse their drone.