This article, although quite long, is completely worth reading. While it focuses on one individual who controlled drones for the United States Air Force, it also addresses the larger of issue of the United States using drones in fighting the War on Terror. I have to admit that after reading this article I strongly questioned the merits and constitutionality of our use of drones; what's your take?
Is the use of drones the best way to fight terrorists, seeing as it allows us to directly confront the enemy without actually having to mobilize soldiers. Or, is the use of drones a glaring example of the U.S. stretching the limits of our power and serious infringing upon other governments around the world.
Read this article, it's surprising, revealing, and just incredibly interesting.
I'm not quite sure if I can still comment on this one, but seeing as there aren't any December ones so far, I figure I'll give it a shot. This article was so powerful and amazingly well crafted. There was so much going on from a moral standpoint for me. I thought I was completely opposed but hearing about the girls in the trunk and the helplessness of the "Eye of Sauron" incident was a turning point. I no longer completely oppose the use of drones, but the use of weapon drones still seems unbearable. These "tools" scare me. The comments on Bryant's story illustrate that people think that it take the emotion out of killing but it seems that it isn't so. When it takes the soldiers out of harms way, it makes it easier for politicians and war-makers to engage in conflicts that are not necessary to national defense. War is ugly and sending drones to kill makes it no less ugly, only easier. The more removed we become from violence, the more effortless it will become. This technology is deadly to us in the wrong hands, but in our hands it is deadly to others. All in all, I still oppose the use of weapon drones. They may save the lives of our soldiers for now but when the tables are turned and they are being used on us, no lives will have ultimately been spared. In all honesty, I don't think that this is an issue of legality but morality. This is wrong. But are surveillance drones immoral, too? That's more difficult for me to say. The line is not as clear. In the end I would say that surveillance drones may be a necessary evil. Invasion of privacy is never good but when these are being used to save lives and not end them, perhaps they help. Additionally, I believe that however drones are being used, the people need to be informed. Government of the people, by the people, and for the people includes the people, not just the leaders of the people...Well, that's my take on the matter. Hopefully it's not too offensively biased.
ReplyDeleteI think drones can be a great alternative to soldiers fighting on the ground in the war. However, it is scary to think that someone thousands of miles away can control an airplane that is capable of blowing up buildings in a matter of seconds. How long will it be until other countries reach our level of drone technology? I think it is a good use of power for finding terrorists, however, I don't think we should intervene in countries that we aren't at war with. We also need to better train drone operators to prevent the horrors that have already occurred. The article contained very shocking information about the true life of drone operators. I think we should keep using drones, but we need to make sure they're used appropriately.
ReplyDeleteI take both sides on the debate about drones. While I think that using drones to fight in the current war that the United States is involved in and future wars is somewhat a good idea solely because it would save lives of soldiers who defend the country, I also believe that drones are very unnerving. It makes me think of Wall-E, and how machines surpass the abilities of humans, while humans that are left after apocalyptic events get around on hover seats and gain weight. Not only are we stretching the limits of our power here, we are also showing subtle hints of laziness in that we don't want to fight our own battles anymore. I think that once more nations around the world discover this futuristic battle tactic, we're kind of screwed. I agree with Ben when he says it could be very useful for tracking terrorists, but it's downright scary that this machine could be faulty and blow up the wrong building or kill innocent civilians.
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