Drone warfare

[d-ray657]

It appears that the use of drones for not only intelligence gathering, but also as precise killing machines, has become part of the standard operating procedure for national security agencies. I find this worrisome for a couple of reasons.

First, this is just another example of our technological capability advancing far quicker than our ability to review the ethics of such advances. We can kill with far less risk of our soldiers being killed. Warfare becomes much more an exercise in assassination than in battlefield conflict. From an egalitarian standpoint, perhaps we should applaud that it is the instigators of war that are paying a greater price than those following orders. On the other hand, a missile with an individual's name on it sounds a lot more like murder than military conflict. Under what circumstances, if ever, is it appropriate to sentence someone to execution without that person having the opportunity to confront his accusers and defend himself?

Another concern is the tentative nature of our technical superiority in this field. The more of the drones that are built - and the more people that become involved in their manufacture and deployment - the greater chance there is that the technology will change hands. Are we prepared to deal with those who are less "ethical" than ourselves having the capability of drone warfare?

Regards,

D-Ray