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.

[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.

[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.

[Regulus]

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

[SlayerOfLight]

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

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

[DGFone]

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

Not quite. True, the Predator was the first drone to test out firing of weapons, but that was only because there were no other drones available. When it was shown that a drone can successfully launch a missile, the Reaper was created. Now, Predators might carry defensive weapons, but if the mission specifically calls to shoot at someone, a Reaper is used.

[Regulus]

Still, they're basically the same thing, and for the purpose of this topic, I'd say it's sorta irrelevant.

[Azdgari]

Wait, not risking soldiers while killing terrorists is bad...?

...391 – 780 civilians were killed out of a total of between 1,658 and 2,597 and that 160 children are reported among the deaths. The Bureau also revealed that since President Obama took office at least 50 civilians were killed in follow-up strikes when they had gone to help victims and more than 20 civilians have also been attacked in deliberate strikes on funerals and mourners, tactics that have been condemned by legal experts."

Even by itself, those statistics are rough (They're also among the most generous to America: many reports show significantly higher percentages, with one study claiming as many as 50 Pakistani civilians were killed for each militant in 2009). Considering the effect it has on the Pakistani people, it's only worse. The only terrorists they see are the ones dropping bombs on civilians. How is that supposed to foster peace and goodwill towards America?

The strategy doesn't do it for me. There's got to be a better way. We're just feeding the cycle.