quote:

If another nation was flying drones into our airspace, we'd be beyond hostile.

quote:

ORIGINAL: MrRodgers
Imagine a drone over your neighborhood and it comes in at several hundred MPH stikes the offices of a known military contractor. Evidence confirms it is a Iranian drone possibly bought and fired from Yemen...or who knows where.
a “.....the United States could be on a slippery slope” into a form of perpetual warfare that invites other nations to follow suit and never explain themselves.
“The United States should not conduct a long-term killing program based on secret rationales,” the panel cautioned in a 77-page analysis released by the Stimson Center.
“blow back” from unintended civilian killings in places like Pakistan and Yemen is becoming “a potent recruiting tool for terrorist organizations,”
"..... no indication that drone attacks on suspected terrorists had advanced “long-term U.S. security interests.”
The report also calls for the creation of a nonpartisan, independent commission of specialists to review drone policy and make sure it is not trading short-term gains for longer-term strategic setbacks.
Obama should shut them down now...period.
Here

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri
I do get your point, though, and agree that we need to shut down the drone strikes. If we aren't actively engaged in war, they should probably not be used for military purposes.

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ORIGINAL: joether

Don't be so quick to rule out a tactic....

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ORIGINAL: tj444

quote:

ORIGINAL: joether
Don't be so quick to rule out a tactic....

well,.. you realize that that "tactic" (drones) will be used on Americans at some point in the future, don't you? not just for use against "terrorists" either, any public protest like OWS, any event where Americans exercise their right to free speech, any event where the govt wants to watch you...

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ORIGINAL: joether

quote:

ORIGINAL: tj444

quote:

ORIGINAL: joether
Don't be so quick to rule out a tactic....

well,.. you realize that that "tactic" (drones) will be used on Americans at some point in the future, don't you? not just for use against "terrorists" either, any public protest like OWS, any event where Americans exercise their right to free speech, any event where the govt wants to watch you...

Your the third person I've commented on, that displays either 'almost' or 'total', irrational fear on a subject. Do you belief drones hide just outside your window at night? Waiting until you sleep to sneak into your house and tie your shoe laces together? Or switch your pills for laxatives? Or repaint your house neon-pink and up-chuck-green?

People have as much understanding of drones as they do of the full wording within the Affordable Care Act. Which is to say "barely none" at best. Full on ignorance at worst!

Drones have many physical limitations. They have many mechanical, electronic, and other dynamics that could nullify their ability to operate. Like any military technology, there is usually a counter for it before long. Perhaps a 'Directed EMP blast' Rifle? Sounds Sci-Fi right? Well, so was the B-2 Bomber in the '80s.

You assume the government should not have the right to watch a crowd of people? And who gets blamed when that crowd of people get blown up, because some nutcake infiltrated the group and hates their view's? The Government. On that basis, I do believe the government has a right to observe the crowd. The problem here is not the drones, nor government. Its that a growing number of people in this country are being manipulated, conditioned, and dare I say it, brainwashed to view their fellow Americans with out-right animosity and fear. The ones controlling the drones are US Citizens. Those police officers? US Citizens? Plain-clothed law enforcement? US Citizens. The EMTs, nurses, and medical doctors often called in to help some of the larger demonstrations? US Citizens. Why EMTS? Well, when its 90 degrees and high humidity, not everyone packs spare drinking water. Heat stroke is no laughing matter. And who are the people treating you for your heat stroke? The Government.

For some strange reason, you NEED and enemy. You CRAVE an enemy. You have an addition to make some entity your enemy, otherwise you do not know how to operate. The US Government, in your mind, is that enemy to fight 'tooth and claw'. Without our government, you would most likely not have freedom of speech. Since the US Constitution establishes the framework with which our government is to operate under. Over 238 years, the US Government, composed of tens of millions (and now hundreds of millions) of US Citizens has to grapple with the concept of drones in use. Without a good deal of thought, consideration, education and wisdom what happens? People start listening to the raving lunatics that flail their arms around, run around in mindless circles, foaming at the mouth, and babbling incoherent crap that no one can rationally understand.

'Drone' as a technology can be used for a good purpose and a bad purpose. A drone could be used to monitor a crowd, not to collect information of 'who is there'; but used as an aid to protect those people from harm by others trying to sneak into the center of them. A drone could be outfitted with scanning equipment to help farmers regulate the limited resource of H2O on their property; Or scanning people's faces to catalog them for future harassment. You look at this technology through ignorant and negative lenses. Your limited viewpoint is your fault. Not mine, nor anyone else and least of all, the US Government's.

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ORIGINAL: joether

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri
I do get your point, though, and agree that we need to shut down the drone strikes. If we aren't actively engaged in war, they should probably not be used for military purposes.

Problem is logistics.
Something happens. The drone crew can have that bird up in the air in under 30 seconds, while getting their mission from the commanding officer(s) in the same room. A sniper team has to suit up, bring the right gear, go to a briefing, get in the vehicle and haul off down the road. A drone is a harder target to see then what ever transport the sniper teams will use.
A drone can be on station and dealing with a threat with very minimal risk to US Military personnel. Compare that to a sniper team. They have to get there, set up, acquire the target then flee the area for extraction. All sorts of things can go wrong.
What happens if either is eliminated before, during or after the completion of the mission? Well, we hear about the drone's destruction from CNN. While those two snipers? They will be in an 'extended hotel stay' for a few months if not years.
Don't be so quick to rule out a tactic....

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri

quote:

ORIGINAL: joether

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri
I do get your point, though, and agree that we need to shut down the drone strikes. If we aren't actively engaged in war, they should probably not be used for military purposes.

Problem is logistics.
Something happens. The drone crew can have that bird up in the air in under 30 seconds, while getting their mission from the commanding officer(s) in the same room. A sniper team has to suit up, bring the right gear, go to a briefing, get in the vehicle and haul off down the road. A drone is a harder target to see then what ever transport the sniper teams will use.
A drone can be on station and dealing with a threat with very minimal risk to US Military personnel. Compare that to a sniper team. They have to get there, set up, acquire the target then flee the area for extraction. All sorts of things can go wrong.
What happens if either is eliminated before, during or after the completion of the mission? Well, we hear about the drone's destruction from CNN. While those two snipers? They will be in an 'extended hotel stay' for a few months if not years.
Don't be so quick to rule out a tactic....

That all depends, Joether. It depends on what the situation is. Near constant drone coverage of an area is certainly not the same as sending in the drones in response to something. We're sending in drones in response to something that happened almost 13 years ago.

I think we might need to tighten up the definition of a "threat," too. Or, maybe only use them (outside of active military fighting) for "imminent" threats.

The President has already had the determination made, that US Citizens can be targeted outside the US.

quote:

ORIGINAL: PeonForHer

quote:

If another nation was flying drones into our airspace, we'd be beyond hostile.

Comprehensive, ongoing trauma, it seems:

"Interviewees described emotional breakdowns, running indoors or hiding when drones appear above, fainting, nightmares and other intrusive thoughts, hyper startled reactions to loud noises, outbursts of anger or irritability, and loss of appetite and other physical symptoms. Interviewees also reported suffering from insomnia and other sleep disturbances, which medical health professionals in Pakistan stated were prevalent."

http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2012/09/25/drones-causing-mass-trauma-among-civilians-major-study-finds/

quote:

ORIGINAL: blacksword404
Out? In? To a man who can sanction the killing of his own countrymen without a trial. What difference does geography mean? Dead is dead. And no trial is no trial.

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quote:

ORIGINAL: tj444
really? has the NSA and what it & the govt has illegally done not shown you what the f'n future will be? there are police depts. now wanting drones & state laws are now being passed on its use by them.. If there is anyone that is ignorant look in your own mirror..

quote:

ORIGINAL: tj444
"U.S. law enforcement is greatly expanding its use of domestic drones for surveillance. Routine aerial surveillance would profoundly change the character of public life in America. Rules must be put in place to ensure that we can enjoy the benefits of this new technology without bringing us closer to a “surveillance society” in which our every move is monitored, tracked, recorded, and scrutinized by the government. Drone manufacturers are also considering offering police the option of arming these remote-controlled aircraft with (nonlethal for now) weapons like rubber bullets, Tasers, and tear gas."

https://www.aclu.org/blog/tag/domestic-drones