We've discussed the justification for using controversial weapons in war, from the atomic bomb to Agent Orange. The latest debate in this unending cycle involves the use of unmanned drones to carry out attacks and assassinations. Watch the video and read the short article that accompanies it:
Are US drones terrorising civilians? - Inside Story Americas - Al Jazeera English
Then post a comment to this posting answering the following questions:
Is the use of drones to assassinate terrorist targets an acceptable tactic? Why or why not?
Also, what fears and concerns could be caused by the increasing use of drones? (Think about how the atomic bomb led to fears of nuclear war.)
Finally, you must respond to a classmates' posting, replying thoughtfully to their opinion and ideas, not simply agreeing or disagreeing.
The use of drones to assassinate terrorist targets are not an acceptable tactic, yes soldiers do not have to "get their hands dirty" but using a drone is not precise enough and there may be many innocent casualties. The increasing use of drones takes away the "human" part of war, some of the fears could be that we could get in a mind set of the Cold War because we could be blown up by the press of a button.
ReplyDeleteMonique Malizia, Period 4
You said that the use of drones is "not precise enough" but, the drones have made successful attacks, and The President said that " most of the attacks have been very precise precision attacks". Yeah, they are taking some civilian lives but they have also been somewhat successful.
DeleteThe use of drones to assassinate terrorist targets is acceptable because even though the drones have killed civilians, this article doesn't seem to mention the successful attacks the drones have made. Over time, the drones will probably be upgraded, they will become more precise with their attacks. War is war, there will always be consequences. Regarding what fears these drones induce, to the people living in Pakistan they fear being killed by the drones. The article mentioned that these drone attacks were not helping American popularity in Pakistan, US fears could include having Pakistan become a dangerous enemy. It could also undermine our national security collaborations and our economic ties, like trade.
ReplyDeleteAlex Seeman, Period 4
The use of drones to assassinate terrorist targets is unacceptable. America is now basically being somewhat like a terrorist by using the drones. The drones weren't precise and harmed civilians. Sure soldier deaths will decrease and all, but what if the drones fell into the wrong hands then we’d be the ones in the terrorizing situation. The civilians fear about when and where the drones will explode. It’s like America and the atomic bombs. Americans feared the bomb and were mentally ill so the stayed in their bomb shelters. But those civilians are afraid the drone will explode so they stayed inside their homes. So basically, we’re solving terrorism by doing something that happened to us, by doing it to them.
ReplyDeleteLisa Yang, Period 4
You said "if the drones fell into the wrong hands then we'd be the ones in the terrorizing situation". I think one of the reasons we are using the drones is to prevent the probability of them falling into the wrong hands.
DeleteThe use of drones by the US to assassinate Pakistani terrorists is not an acceptable tactic. There are way too many civilian casualties involved in these drone strikes. Most civilians are experiencing terrible anxiety attacks and need medical attention for the amount of fear and stress rushing in their minds. Not only are adult civilian casualties happening, children are also being killed. Drone strikes are done with little knowledge about the target. The US does not know all who are being killed by the drones. The increase of drone strikes might lead the Pakistani people to learn more about them and how they work, perhaps even making their own. If that happens then we will be the ones to deal with the fear of them using it for terrorist attacks. Even though the drones are an effective way to assassinate people, it is not being used admirably and harming innocent children and adult civilians instead.
ReplyDeleteAlex Haddad, Period 4
I agree with you, the US can prevent the number of casualties, they just have to remove the drones. Maybe bring them back when they're advanced enough to not cause any or as many deaths of innocent people. The positive aspects of the drones do not cancel out the negatives.
DeleteThe use of drones to assassinate terrorist targets is an unacceptable tactic. America is unaware that there can be a lot of chaous for the civilians if another country decides to counter attack after we put the drones into use. After the attomic bombs, the u.s has been fearing any threats or actual attacks. Everyone was trying to protect themselves by hiding in bomb shelters. The government decided to build more highways to evacuate cities more quickly. The fears that we feared during the atomic bomb is present again, due to the drones.
ReplyDeleteErika Hernandez, period 4
The use of drones to assassinate terrorist is very acceptable. America needs to be a stronger force than the arab or middle east nations. We need to use the drones to defeat the terrorist and stop them and the countries who are making nuclear bomb to help prevent ww2. In the end of the day, the u.s would be the country again who is the top country who will try to make the closest thing to world peace
ReplyDeletereminds of black ops 2. i think we should limit the usage of drones, because the tech of the drones could fall into the wrong hands. I want to live.
DeleteThe use of drones to assassinate terrorist targets is an acceptable tactic. Since terrorists are a threat to the United States, the drones are acceptable because they are a form of National Security. That being said, the drones could only be an acceptable tactic against terrorists. The drones being used killed many civilians and only 2% of main targets, so in this case it was not an acceptable tactic. There are many possible fears because of the use of these drones. Terrorist groups could react with the use of nuclear weapons. Also, terrorists could try and build their own drones and send them to the United States to blow up our civilians.
ReplyDeleteI think drones is a useful tactic because it saves many u.s. soldiers lives and saves money on other materials that could be used ( guns, ammo, bombs,etc). I fear that if the number of drones increase they may soon fall into the wrong hands. Then it would a drone war. play black ops 2 it helps alot to understand drone usage.
ReplyDeleteI think that the use of drones to assassinate terrorists is an acceptable tactic. The bottom line is that there are less United states casualties. Isn't that the point of war to have less casualties I who usually wins. But there is a part of the fact that there is a increasing number of drones. People may that one may malfunction and kill someone but that could happen in any war.
ReplyDeleteIan Heffley pd. 4
It's true it can end the war quicker and win for us, but it isn't going to help end it. The civilians will only rebel to the tactics will be angrier. Will we really win the war after it ends, or will it cause more wars?
DeleteLisa Yang Period 4
I think that the use of drones to assassinate terrorists is an acceptable tactic. It's better then a normal ground war because of less United states casualties. Although there is a chance of having civilians casualties it is worth it because it is a war there will be some sort of inocennt lives lost. I am not promoting the killing of innocents.
ReplyDeleteEven if the drones do not kill civilians. They could scare them enough to try and rebel against US forces anyway civilians can
DeleteLess casualties is always a good thing. A groud war causes many US casualties and many civilian casualties, at least drones would not cause US casualties.
Delete-Johan Aschan-Santana
The use of drones is an aceptable tatic; its war its not a fair fight because there is no such thing as a fair fight in war. the less causualties can still be acheived but a bomb is a bomb you cant tell it to just affect one person or a group of people only.
Delete-jared mangapit
I think DoD and the CIA drone programs should use another method to eliminate enemy targets. That will not effect the Pakistani people.So the civilians do not take hostile action against the US or fear the US.
ReplyDeleteBut thats the only way to atleast make them weak. It would prevent them from attacking back.
DeleteJuan Arias Pd.4
What you're saying is true. Nothing is worth killing innocent people over.
Deletekilling innocent people is never a good thing but sometimes you have to take the risk to catch or kill these terrorist who seem to cause massive destruction to our homeland and still pose a threat to us.
DeleteI think that the use of drones is a great way to assasinate terrorist. It's a great way because it would cause less damage to people. If by any chance the terrorist try to attack back on ground, we would be prepared on supply. But there would be one concern and its that if we keep throwing drones to each other, it can start a nuclear war.
ReplyDeleteJuan Arias Pd.4
Even though we have a lot of supplies, it would be difficult to defeat the terrorists and the countries that attack after the drones are put into use. The drones are not that persice and could cause deaths of many civilians. Erika Hernandez pd 4
DeleteWhat they are doing is totally wrong because the drones are just hovering over towns with normal people and not getting anything done but giving innocent people health problems. We are in their country and we should not prevent them from doing things like funerals or gatherings.
ReplyDeleteI don't completely agree with you because the drones aren't "not getting anything done." This isn't true because 2% of the drones' kills have been on important targets. Although that is not a lot compared to the large number of civilian casualties, there is a threat of terrorism that needs to be stopped. Also, it's not like they haven't caused any large amounts of civilian casualties in the U.S. before.
DeleteI dissagree with you because the drones are very effective to get things done. we strike with precision and we get out. No need to use the lives of soldiers or resources. The damage to the civillians is a small price to pay opposed to what could happen if we send troops.
DeleteU.S. drones are not terrorizing innocent civilians. According to president Obama, "Actually drone attacks have not caused a huge number of civilian casualties. For the most part they have been very precise, precision strikes against the al-Qaeda…". If the president of the United States stated that the method has been precise and effective, i don't think we should have any worries. The primer job of the government is to protect and ensure the safety of its citizens and those efforts should not be criticized but appreciated. As we have observed the history of many wars, there is no rule or fairness involved. I don't think the United States should try to put into consideration the lives of the civilians of other countries, we have our own civilians to worry about! It is very probable that the enemy would use those weapons on us without hesitation if they had the technology anyways.
ReplyDeleteThe use of drones to assassinate terrorists is an acceptable tactic. Less US soldier casualties is a good thing and drones allows that. While the killing of innocents is a terrible thing, it doesn't change the fact that it is an exceptional tactic at taking out threats.
ReplyDelete-Johan Aschan-Santana Pd 4
I agree, it has many benefit such as less casualties and the effective way to take out terrorist
DeleteI agree as well, but I also believe that the research of our targets needs to be more thorough, so we can prevent so many civilian casualties.
DeleteTimothy White PD:4
Using drones to assassinate terrorist targets is not acceptable. The drones have killed innocent civilians more than once. These drones aren't exact and have really bad consequences. Even with the amount of drones the US has already put in place, citizens living under them are very afraid and developing PTSD. This is much like the fears of nuclear war US citizens had. If the US puts out more drones, the people dealing with them will only be more susceptible to post traumatic stress disorder, severe anxiety, etc. The drones are harming more than helping. It's better if US troops track down terrorists themselves, because this will stop putting so many innocent peoples health and lives at risk.
ReplyDeleteRebecca Malaga
I completely agree with you. Drones are in fact effective but so far they are only destroying the lives and mentality of innocent civilians.
Deletei agree because i kills alot of people.
DeleteAmanda DaSilva pd.4
I don't think the use of drones to assassinate terrorist is a good tactic. Yes, it has killed civilians lives, but they have also been successful in there attacks. i think that the use of drones is needed, because we are in a war, and like someone else said "war is war" and we will do whatever we have to do to protect our country. Eventually, the drones will become better and be more precise with there attacks; that will probably stop the killing of innocent lives. In the article, Obama does say that " Actually drone attacks have not caused a huge number of civilian casualties. For the most part they have been very precise, precision strikes..." Which somewhat proves that not that many civilian live shave been taken.
ReplyDeleteAman Tune, Period. 4
The use of drones to assassinate targets is an acceptable tactic. Even though the use of drones has killed a lot of innocent lives it's a good why to attack because its fast and lots of soldiers lives are saved. The fears of using the drones is that then other countries will start making them and using them without good reasons for attacking. If a lot of countries start using them then wars would start every where fast.
ReplyDeleteBlanca Angel, period.4
Using drones to assassinate terrorist targets is acceptable.One of the reason is acceptable is because U.S. government is saving money and natural resources. Meaning that if they had a different tactic like sending troops then the result will be increasing money in Military Aid and use more natural resources to create military equipment. Also putting in risk soldiers lives. Even though the use of drones have not have 100% accuracy in target it can safe U.S soldiers lives. The fears are that by increasing the number of drones it will create more countries against U.S. because they will that they are being an Imperialist country and it may cause more attacks from Terrorist like 9/11.
ReplyDeleteJonathan Garcia,Pd.4
I don't agree that the reason that the government is using drones is to save money and natural resources. The most important reasons for using drones are to reach people who are in remote areas and not to put U.S soldiers lives in danger. Drones are not cheap each predator drone costs $4.03 million and the whole predator drone program costs $2.38 billion. I do agree with you that the U.S should be careful in how it uses its drones because there is a danger that innocent people can die.
DeleteBlanca Angel, p.d 4
Using drones isn't the greatest idea because yes, if the area where the target is extremely dangerous for soldiers to get to it's good to use but no because it's going to kill so many people.
ReplyDeleteIt might kill innocent people but overall their will be less deaths.
DeleteIan Heffley Pd 4
It might kill innocent people but to stop terrorist attack just once with the drones technology could save more people in the future if we America defeat the terrorist and use drones attack.
DeleteThe drone system is acceptable, but it needs to be upgraded in a sense. Even though we don't particularly know who is connected to a terrorist group, we know that they are probably smart enough to hide from drones and everything. If we put some more effort in figuring out who is s high value kill and where to find them, then there will be nothing to worry about
ReplyDeleteTimothy White PD:4
Using Drones is not the best idea because the targetted area was very difficult and dangerous for the soldiers to go and get to. its acceptable to use but at the same time no because it kills alot of people.
ReplyDeleteAmanda DaSilva Pd.4
I think the use of drones are apporpiate and efficient in the situation with terrorist as long as the civilains are protecte and the process and we also have to think about the possiblity of being attcked in future genertatins of the other countries and their advanced technology.
ReplyDeleteThe use of drones to assassinate terorists is acceptable. one reason is that we can eliminate a target without the loss of men.
ReplyDeleteanother reason is that we can accomplish the mission with only the use of the drone. We don thave to waste our resources on the men that would go instead of the drone. Another reason that it would be better to use drones is because they are effective. they are very precise weapons and dont cause a messs like civillian casualties. With the drones we would get a lot more done.
I beleive that the drone stytem is acceptable for the United States to use. I beleive it is acceptable because they are terroist. Terroist are capable of doing anything and destroying anything. So us americans need to find a way to protect ourselves and or defend ourselves.
ReplyDelete-Janeth A.;period 4
I most dwefintly agree.
ReplyDelete-Janeth A.
the use of drones are acceptable. Even though they may risk the lives of innocent people it is for a good cause. These people have planned and were still probably planning to tear our country into pieces.
ReplyDeleteThe use of drones is somewhat acceptable. It risks the lives of innocent civilians yes. But if the leader of that country cared about them, they wouldn't harbor terrorist in their country.
ReplyDelete