Following the attacks on the twin towers on September 11th, 2001, citizens around the world live in constant fear of terrorist attacks. This fear affects both our mindsets and how we live day to day. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle’s, or drones, provide a plausible reality to reducing the threat that terrorism poses around the world. Through surveillance and the ability to not be easily detected, drones make our troops safer because they are out of harm’s way. With advancements in technology, drones are able to study and accurately carry out missile strikes that eliminate suspected terrorists and high-risk targets in the middle-east and around the world. Drone warfare should be conducted by the United States military due to the war on terrorism, reduction
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While operating in the combat zones, drones strikes have killed between 669 and 887 militants, only 87 results in civilian casualties (Billitteri). Even though civilians have been killed, “dozens of highly skilled al Qaeda commanders, trainers, bomb makers, and operatives have been taken off the battlefield” (Mantel). Every effort into training, operating, analysis, and executing have been made to ensure that every strike is beneficial to protecting citizens around the world from terrorism. While collateral damage will always exist in war, by preventing future acts of terrorism we can hope to avoid large scale terrorist attacks that takes the countless lives of several more civilians than those compared to drone strikes. Further advocating the threat Al Qaeda poses on America, Jeh Johnson the Secretary of Homeland Security stated, “AQAP … has made repeated efforts to export terrorism to our homeland” (“Drones”). Warfare is evolving by precisely targeting threats; drones protect both citizens domestically and allow for the increased safety of our …show more content…
With the argument against the use of drone strikes, critics state that the operators of drones feel as if they are playing a video game and only see the lives of other humans as blips on a screen. With an interview of the former senior air force commander, he stated, “We were used to looking at photographs, listening in to enemy transmission’s which, you know – abstractly lives are on the line and you never handle it cavalierly, but you didn’t get that intimate contact” (Woods). Removing our soldiers from boots on the ground missions does to an extent disconnect them emotionally, but at the gift of them not losing their life. Around 4% of soldiers operating drones are at risk for PTSD, this is compared to 12-17% of soldiers who were exposed to combat situations. (“Drones”). The mental health of troops is worth far more than the lack luster attitude that some troops may poses towards the enemies. After all these targets that are properly, and sufficiently analyzed before eliminated are seeking to harm others through acts of violence and terrorism. Moreover, “Using drone strikes against terrorists abroad allows the United States to achieve its goals at a fraction of the cost of an invasion in money, manpower, and lives” (“Drones”). Roughly 1% of the United States military budget went towards drones in
While operating in the combat zones, drones strikes have killed between 669 and 887 militants, only 87 results in civilian casualties (Billitteri). Even though civilians have been killed, “dozens of highly skilled al Qaeda commanders, trainers, bomb makers, and operatives have been taken off the battlefield” (Mantel). Every effort into training, operating, analysis, and executing have been made to ensure that every strike is beneficial to protecting citizens around the world from terrorism. While collateral damage will always exist in war, by preventing future acts of terrorism we can hope to avoid large scale terrorist attacks that takes the countless lives of several more civilians than those compared to drone strikes. Further advocating the threat Al Qaeda poses on America, Jeh Johnson the Secretary of Homeland Security stated, “AQAP … has made repeated efforts to export terrorism to our homeland” (“Drones”). Warfare is evolving by precisely targeting threats; drones protect both citizens domestically and allow for the increased safety of our …show more content…
With the argument against the use of drone strikes, critics state that the operators of drones feel as if they are playing a video game and only see the lives of other humans as blips on a screen. With an interview of the former senior air force commander, he stated, “We were used to looking at photographs, listening in to enemy transmission’s which, you know – abstractly lives are on the line and you never handle it cavalierly, but you didn’t get that intimate contact” (Woods). Removing our soldiers from boots on the ground missions does to an extent disconnect them emotionally, but at the gift of them not losing their life. Around 4% of soldiers operating drones are at risk for PTSD, this is compared to 12-17% of soldiers who were exposed to combat situations. (“Drones”). The mental health of troops is worth far more than the lack luster attitude that some troops may poses towards the enemies. After all these targets that are properly, and sufficiently analyzed before eliminated are seeking to harm others through acts of violence and terrorism. Moreover, “Using drone strikes against terrorists abroad allows the United States to achieve its goals at a fraction of the cost of an invasion in money, manpower, and lives” (“Drones”). Roughly 1% of the United States military budget went towards drones in