Drone Strikes
What Are Drones?
Drones are "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" capable of delivering precision guided missiles to targets up to 1800 miles away. Compared to most aircraft, drones are relatively small (approximately 29 feet long with a wingspan of 49 feet). Drones are also equipped with a camera, and are controlled remotely from an operator on the ground. Since they are unmanned, drones greatly reduce the risk and cost of requiring a pilot.
What Are Drones Used For?
The CIA uses drones to conduct targeted killings of Taliban members and other militants.
Drones are "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" capable of delivering precision guided missiles to targets up to 1800 miles away. Compared to most aircraft, drones are relatively small (approximately 29 feet long with a wingspan of 49 feet). Drones are also equipped with a camera, and are controlled remotely from an operator on the ground. Since they are unmanned, drones greatly reduce the risk and cost of requiring a pilot.
What Are Drones Used For?
The CIA uses drones to conduct targeted killings of Taliban members and other militants.
The Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan, where most drone strikes occur
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Pakistan
Since 2004, the Special Activities Division of the CIA has conducted hundreds of drone strikes in northern Pakistan. By the end of Obama's first term in office, the CIA had conducted 44 drone strikes in Pakistan, killing approximately 400 people. In the years following, the number of strikes increased dramatically, and by 2011, the CIA had conducted over 240 drone strikes in Pakistan. The Obama Administration maintains that the drone program is classified, and thus they are unable to reveal specific information about the targeted killings. Consequently, when such a program is classified, serious accountability and human rights dilemmas emerge.
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Human Rights
When it comes to drone strikes, the UN Human Rights Council is fears that the United States has not taken proper accountability and precautionary measures in conducting these targeted killings. According to Philip Alston, “the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is running a programme that is killing a significant number of people, and there is absolutely no accountability in terms of the relevant international law.”
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The Future of Drones
Going into the 21st century, the CIA must recognize the potential dangers of wielding such a powerful network of drones. With such a network, the CIA could hypothetically kill anyone on its “target list” from a remote location halfway across the world, effectively dehumanizing the entire process of assassination. The CIA must be sure to follow UN guidelines, while simultaneously maintaining a level of secrecy that gives it an advantage over terrorist organizations. The CIA must also be cautious of overusing drones. The purpose of employing drones in Pakistan is to defeat terrorist organizations operating in the area but excessive use of drones may increase the already growing anti-American sentiment in the region. Will drones make America too powerful for its own good?
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