I recently read a BBC report about the use of the US of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, where the pilot could “fly” the plane from the comfort of their airbase, thousands of miles away from the combat area. The Air Force usually uses these drones in high risk zones such as Afghanistan. The advantage of this new technology, is of course, obvious – USAF pilots won’t be in danger of dying during their missions. And because of this reduction of risk, the military could now conduct reconnaissance in areas where it couldn’t before. The military also added that it’s cheaper to operate drones than the conventional manned planes.
But what catches my attention more was the ethical (and perhaps) moral issues that this new development raise. With the pilots operating the plane in the security of their base, isn’t there a possibility of their losing sense of the costs of bombing or targeting a certain area where innocent civilians could possibly be hit? Wouldn’t this detachment from the actual danger which a typical pilot or soldier experiences in a warzone or during a combat operation, turn it into some sort of mere computer game for these men? By the way, the report also said that the CIA has also been using drones for their operations. The problem with that is that the agency doesn’t follow any clear-cut rules of engagement.
Don’t get me wrong. I have a cousin who’s a member of the USAF and I definitely don’t want to see him risk his life for a stupid war (or for anything, actually). But I believe we should all be vigilant with any new technology, especially if it concerns warfare (or anything with the words “lethal” in it). My ten cents worth on this matter is this: There is a high cost in killing or harming a life. And anyone who takes a life, or plans to take a life, should never be allowed to lose sense of this fact. For it is when people forget and become desensitized to this that genocide and senseless wars emerge.
Source:
“How unmanned drones are changing modern warfare” by Chris Bowlby
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8488269.stm
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1 comment:
anything pertaining to funding the military and their exploits is a waste of time and money for any state - that's my opinion. but without the us military and their efforts to advance technology for their purpose, we would not have the internet :)
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