Drone Wars

**maxx** · October-20-11, 07:21 PM

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_511056.html

the ACLU has filed a freedom of information lawsuit demanding that the government disclose the legal basis for its use of unmanned drones to conduct targeted killings overseas, as well as the ground rules regarding when, where and against whom drone strikes can be authorized, and the number of civilian casualties they have caused. ..

**maxx** · October-20-11, 08:00 PM

Sgt. Shamar Thomas:
Where is the honor in using drones?

**Gannon** · October-20-11, 11:14 PM

Tell that to the legion of trainees they are building in World of Warcraft, and other on-line warring games.

I tease my friend in San Diego that one day a set of uniforms and equipment will arrive by FedEx...adorned with the latest rank he's achieved with his manic gaming.

He thinks the many hundreds of hours he's spent are honorable...

**Bigb23** · October-20-11, 11:50 PM

These drones are nothing new, and the ACLU should just wait for the report in Wiki.

"Operation Aphrodite made use of unmanned, explosive–laden Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bombers, that were deliberately crashed into their targets under radio control. These aircraft could not take-off safely on their own, so a crew of two would take-off and fly to 2,000 feet [[610 m) before activating the remote control system, arming the detonators and parachuting from the aircraft.

After U.S. Army Air Forces Operation missions were drawn up on July 23, 1944, Kennedy and Lieutenant Wilford John Willy were designated as the first Navy flight crew. Willy had pulled rank over Ensign "FNU" Simpson [[who was Kennedy's regular co-pilot) to be on the mission. They flew a BQ-8 "robot" aircraft [[a converted B-24 Liberator) for the U.S. Navy's first Aphrodite mission. Two Lockheed Ventura mother planes and a navigation plane took off from RAF Fersfield. Next, the BQ-8 aircraft loaded with 21,170 lb [[9,600 kg) of Torpex took off. It was to be used against the Fortress of Mimoyecques and its V-3 cannons, northern France.
Following 300 ft [[91 m) behind them in a de Havilland Mosquito to film the mission was Colonel Elliott Roosevelt, son of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Kennedy and Willy were aboard as the BQ-8 completed its first remote-control turn. Two minutes later and ten minutes before the planned crew bailout, the Torpex detonated prematurely and destroyed the Liberator, vaporizing Kennedy and Willy. Wreckage landed near the village of Blythburgh in Suffolk, England."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_P._Kennedy,_Jr.

**Searay215** · October-21-11, 08:04 AM

I would rather have drone do our work than our men being on the ground and getting killed. As in any war civilians get killed....it just the way it is with war. Black Hawk Down a great example of what can go wrong with men on the ground. Personally I am tired of the Do Gooders at the ACLU.

**maxx** · October-21-11, 05:40 PM

He who fights by the drone may die by the drone. Anyone who thinks that the US will have the only drones in the near future is living in the nation of denial.

**Det_ard** · October-21-11, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by maxx

He who fights by the drone may die by the drone. Anyone who thinks that the US will have the only drones in the near future is living in the nation of denial.

What kind of tapioca pudding is this? No one thinks we'll be the only ones who'll ever have drones.

What you seem to be implying is that we shouldn't use drones because they may be used against us in the future. As if there is a cause [[we use drones) and an effect [[drones are used against us). Do you actually think any enemies of our in the future will decide whether to used drones against us or not based on whether we used them in the past? Do you think if we didn't used tanks or jet fighters in the past that they'd never be used against us? Seriously?

**maxx** · October-21-11, 07:10 PM

I'm saying that maybe people would be less enthusiastic about our use of drones if they considered what it would be like to be on the receiving end. Before the shrub's admin. we used to have a first strike policy which said that the US would only attack after being attacked.Our use of torture becomes a justification for the use of torture by others. The same with drones. We flatter ourselves that we are set the standard for the rest of the world.

**Det_ard** · October-21-11, 07:47 PM

We flatter ourselves when we assume that our enemies will follow our lead. They won't. War is life and death.

Enemies use whatever gives them the best chance to kill and not be killed. Did we use IEDs first? Did we behead an Islamic reporter leading to Daniel Pearl's beheading? Did Americans fly Saudi Airlines 747s into the Kingdome Center in Riyadh first? Should we stop using satellite photography and up-armored Humvees since our enemies lack these capabilites? Do we not dare use night vision goggles lest our enemies one day use them against us? See how ridiculous it gets?

Playing "more civilized than thou" in war is an egocentric affectation, not a defense policy.

**Goose** · October-21-11, 08:09 PM

soon the computers will be self-aware and the drones will turn on us.......

**Searay215** · October-21-11, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by Det_ard

We flatter ourselves when we assume that our enemies will follow our lead. They won't. War is life and death.

Enemies use whatever gives them the best chance to kill and not be killed. Did we use IEDs first? Did we behead an Islamic reporter leading to Daniel Pearl's beheading? Did Americans fly Saudi Airlines 747s into the Kingdome Center in Riyadh first? Should we stop using satellite photography and up-armored Humvees since our enemies lack these capabilites? Do we not dare use night vision goggles lest our enemies one day use them against us? See how ridiculous it gets?

Playing "more civilized than thou" in war is an egocentric affectation, not a defense policy.

Thank you!!!!! Vet: US Army, Viet Nam