Predator Drones

[TheLionPrince]

What do you think about the United States' use of predator drones? For those not "in the know", the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator is an unmanned aerial vehicle that carries missiles and other warheads to kill enemy combatants mostly in Arabic countries.

Recently, there's been talk about the United States planning to use drones on suspicious American civilians under newly inaugurated CIA Director John Brennan, which was filibustered against Kentucky Senator Rand Paul for 13 hours. So, what are your thoughts on the drone program?

EDIT: Due to DGFone's psot, I have changed the picture of a US Customs Border Patrol drone into a MQ-9 Reaper drone firing a missile. Hopefully, it's a better representation of the issue at the hand.

[Woeler]

As long as it's these guys they're killing, go on for the sake of world peace.

[Regulus]

I don't even understand what the issue is.

Drones are just a replacement for boots on the ground.

Does the US Army go around shooting civilians within our borders? Not that I know of. So why would robotic soldiers do that?

[DGFone]

If the army wanted to kill someone, they would use a Reaper drone, not a Predator.

The domestic use for drones is surveillance. Can it be abused? Just like any other unauthorized tapping, it can. But as for shooting rockets... come on people. The only reason why we use drones in Afghanistan is because they are the easiest way for the government to kill someone over there.

But here at home, where if the White House wants you dead, all they need to do is send a "police officer" to your door, do they really need to start using drones? Absolutely not.

Or to put it this way:

Take a look at the picture. This is a US Customs Border Patrol drone. Note the lack of guns or missiles.

[Azdgari]

I'm not worried about drones creating violence on our home soil.

Our drone use abroad? That, on the other hand, is highly, highly questionable. I fear that when we look back in twenty years we'll realize the gravity of what we've done without holding anyone accountable, least of all the people of America and our democracy.

[Woeler]

[quote="Azdgari"]I'm not worried about drones creating violence on our home soil.

Our drone use abroad? That, on the other hand, is highly, highly questionable. I fear that when we look back in twenty years we'll realize the gravity of what we've done without holding anyone accountable, least of all the people of America and our democracy.[/quote]
Wait, not risking soldiers while killing terrorists is bad...?

[SlayerOfLight]

I am NOT impressed (yet) with those new ''predator drones'' unless they have an impact on the literally endless war against Terrorism. If America is so mighty I still wonder why it takes so freaking long to defeat a bunch of desert rats who don't even have tanks or aircraft. Even with their newest toys I still doubt if it'll put an end to Terrorism.

[Woeler]

I would have made a large glass dish from that area 50 years ago. Would have saved us a lot of nonsense.

[Regulus]

Some models of the Predator drones did carry weapons, before they were renamed the Reapers.

[SlayerOfLight]

[quote="Regulus"]Some models of the Predator drones did carry weapons, before they were renamed the Reapers.[/quote]

Well whatever they are called, let's hope America's new toys will finally take care of the terrorist problem.