The Effects of Drone Strikes:
Even if there was a way to precisely identify targets from those that were civilians and only hit those targets; then I would still say there needs to be heavy regulation on the use of drones. The primary reason for this is simple: desensitization, for all the hype that video games get for desensitizing the youth; it is really these drone pilots who are becoming desensitized. Constant killing of people by pressing a button on an Xbox controller (yes that is what they use to control some of the drones, because of the ease for pilots to adapt to the controls) and be responsible for ten or fifteen deaths.
At least during the bombing campaigns where pilots were in the cockpit and released their load, they watched them fall and watched what they destroyed; they could not look away. If we are to take a life, then we should be held to do it honorably eye to eye face to face. There is nothing honorable about a society that hides behind a monitor screen.
At least during the bombing campaigns where pilots were in the cockpit and released their load, they watched them fall and watched what they destroyed; they could not look away. If we are to take a life, then we should be held to do it honorably eye to eye face to face. There is nothing honorable about a society that hides behind a monitor screen.
The Delay:
Also, something that is not mentioned in many reports is the time it takes for a command to be followed by the Drone. Since the pilot could be in the United States and the Drone is operation in Afghanistan or Iraq there is about a thirty second delay between when a command is given and when one is received. The button below will take you to an article in which a Drone Pilot is interviewed on the toll it takes piloting a military drone.
Double Tap:
Drone Pilots use what is referred to as "double tap." This used to be more prevalent among terrorist organizations as a way to inflict the most damage. Though the United States has quickly become quite partial to the method as well. How it works is when people come to aid those who had been attacked the Drone Pilot will release a second missile in the hopes to kill anyone coming to aide the wounded.