Do you think US drone strikes provide clear benefit to its citizens relative to the cost (financial and human)?
If yes, then I don't think you can fairly blame Obama, Trump or Biden for civilian casualties. If you want robots to do war for you, frequent civilian casualties are built into the system.
19 Sep 21
@wildgrass saidWell we COULD use F35s but you don't like them
Do you think US drone strikes provide clear benefit to its citizens relative to the cost (financial and human)?
If yes, then I don't think you can fairly blame Obama, Trump or Biden for civilian casualties. If you want robots to do war for you, frequent civilian casualties are built into the system.
19 Sep 21
1 edit
@wildgrass saidI suppose it’s about the cost in American lives if you choose boots on the ground but I don’t know if that strategy is any less deadly for innocent civilians than the drone option.
Do you think US drone strikes provide clear benefit to its citizens relative to the cost (financial and human)?
If yes, then I don't think you can fairly blame Obama, Trump or Biden for civilian casualties. If you want robots to do war for you, frequent civilian casualties are built into the system.
I think there is no turning back from remote warfare techniques and the use of robotics + AI.
But one sure way of cutting back on civilian casualties is to not go to war unless you are faced with an existential National threat rather than thinking you have to hunt down and kill anyone who may mean you harm.
@wildgrass saidDrone strikes are just another tool of war, no different than tank and artillery attacks.
Do you think US drone strikes provide clear benefit to its citizens relative to the cost (financial and human)?
If yes, then I don't think you can fairly blame Obama, Trump or Biden for civilian casualties. If you want robots to do war for you, frequent civilian casualties are built into the system.
As to the question of benefit; I rarely see a benefit in going to war, especially since the cost of rebuilding usually far outpaces the cost of the war itself. This little financial detail is rarely considered when the war hawks and other "patriots" start their nationalistic drumbeating, and pasting bumper stickers such as (these colors don't run!) on their little trucks. In addition, 98% of these little guys in their elevator boots, 4x4s, and NRA stickers, wouldn't last 3 min. in a real war. Most are old, fat, out of shape, and suffer from E.D. They're little different than their cowardly, draft dodging ex president, who likes to play armchair general. 🙄
20 Sep 21
@athousandyoung saidFinish the sentence. Could use f35 for what? Killing civilians?
Well we COULD use F35s but you don't like them
20 Sep 21
@mchill saidDoes it matter that we aren't at war?
Drone strikes are just another tool of war, no different than tank and artillery attacks.
As to the question of benefit; I rarely see a benefit in going to war, especially since the cost of rebuilding usually far outpaces the cost of the war itself. This little financial detail is rarely considered when the war hawks and other "patriots" start their nationalistic drumbeati ...[text shortened]... le different than their cowardly, draft dodging ex president, who likes to play armchair general. 🙄
20 Sep 21
2 edits
@mchill saidDrones are unmanned.
Drone strikes are just another tool of war, no different than tank and artillery attacks.
As to the question of benefit; I rarely see a benefit in going to war, especially since the cost of rebuilding usually far outpaces the cost of the war itself. This little financial detail is rarely considered when the war hawks and other "patriots" start their nationalistic drumbeati ...[text shortened]... le different than their cowardly, draft dodging ex president, who likes to play armchair general. 🙄
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_casualties_from_U.S._drone_strikes
Daniel Hail is in prison for exposing the high number of civilian deaths during the Obama administration. He did the right thing and they imprisoned him. OUTRAGEOUS!
20 Sep 21
@metal-brain saidDaniel Hail pled guilty to violating the Espionage Act, was sentenced to 45 months in prison for sharing with a journalist classified information about the U.S. military's drone assassination program.
Drones are unmanned.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_casualties_from_U.S._drone_strikes
Daniel Hail is in prison for exposing the high number of civilian deaths during the Obama administration. He did the right thing and they imprisoned him. OUTRAGEOUS!
Personally I don't think think Mr. Hail belongs in jail - nevertheless you don't give medals to people who plead guilty of Espionage. I would also point out these drone strikes were carried out under GW Bush and Trump as well.
20 Sep 21
@mchill saidhttps://www.commondreams.org/views/2013/08/06/obamas-abuse-espionage-act-modern-day-mccarthyism
Daniel Hail pled guilty to violating the Espionage Act, was sentenced to 45 months in prison for sharing with a journalist classified information about the U.S. military's drone assassination program.
Personally I don't think think Mr. Hail belongs in jail - nevertheless you don't give medals to people who plead guilty of Espionage. I would also point out these drone strikes were carried out under GW Bush and Trump as well.
20 Sep 21
@kevcvs57 saidAnd yet they are happening at a rate of several thousand strikes per year.
I suppose it’s about the cost in American lives if you choose boots on the ground but I don’t know if that strategy is any less deadly for innocent civilians than the drone option.
I think there is no turning back from remote warfare techniques and the use of robotics + AI.
But one sure way of cutting back on civilian casualties is to not go to war unless you are faced wit ...[text shortened]... al National threat rather than thinking you have to hunt down and kill anyone who may mean you harm.
21 Sep 21
@wildgrass saidTo avoid using unmanned drones for our air strikes
Finish the sentence. Could use f35 for what? Killing civilians?
22 Sep 21
@mchill saidHow the hell is that spying?
Daniel Hail pled guilty to violating the Espionage Act, was sentenced to 45 months in prison for sharing with a journalist classified information about the U.S. military's drone assassination program.
Personally I don't think think Mr. Hail belongs in jail - nevertheless you don't give medals to people who plead guilty of Espionage. I would also point out these drone strikes were carried out under GW Bush and Trump as well.
Surely it’s whistle-blowing?
I don’t know the case. Perhaps he was a foreign agent?