Terminators to Tripoli: Killer Drones in Libya--Global Expansion of Remote-Controlled Warfare

[tekisui]

Source: Slate

On Thursday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced the next stage of the most important military invasion of the 21st century. It isn't the invasion of Iraq, Afghanistan, or Libya. It's the invasion of warfare by unmanned vehicles.

The invasion began quietly years ago, with scattered, occasional reports of drone strikes in Pakistan. As these reports accumulated, it gradually became apparent that the U.S., without putting troops on the ground or sending pilots into Pakistani air space, was using drones to wage the world's first remote-controlled war. That was the invasion's first stage.

The drone campaign began as President Bush's war. Then, with President Obama's election, it crossed the political aisle. The rate of drone strikes tripled, and Bush's war became Obama's. (On Friday, a U.S. drone killed another 23 people in Pakistan.) That was the second stage.

Drones were deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, but only as adjuncts to U.S. air and ground forces. Only in Pakistan did we wage a fully remote-controlled war—until Thursday. That's when Gates and Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced another American drone campaign, this time in Libya.

This is the invasion's third stage: global expansion.

more: http://www.slate.com/id/2291897/

[slipslidingaway]

1. knr n/t

[tekisui]

2. The use of drones also makes the war take on a more American prominance.

Everybody knows these are our toys. So while other NATO countries may 'be in the lead', the effect of the drones will be the same as if we were in charge.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. That has turned into one evil fucking mess & I blame Obama for

for letting it go to shit.

[jaxx]

4. Did you want an invasion?

There must be some reason to blame Obama for letting it go to shit.

[tekisui]

12. Our objective, as set out by the UN, is to prevent the mass killings.

What we are seeing is mission creep. We are now going after individuals in the Gadaffi army while they are amongst civilians. I am not sure that the only options are as you present: drones or invasion.

[The Northerner]

5. America FUCK YEAH! Comin' to save the motherfuckin' day yeah!!! nt

[Gravel Democrat]

6. ^^^

http://costofwar.com

If you paid $20,000 in Fed Taxes last year you paid for about 10 seconds of the New Wars. >$2,000/second. MORE THAN Two Thousand Dollars a second. The biggest daylight criminal heist ever foisted on a people since Rome.

And if that doesn't make you sick nothing will. Your grandchildren may have different opinions.




SPQUSA SPQUSA SPQUSA

[unhappycamper]

8. Just FYI, those Hellfire missiles cost $160 grand each.

[Hannah Bell]

7. kr

[Warren DeMontague]

9. they got 'em looking like Summer Glau, yet?

Wake me when we get there.

[Bigmack]

10. The "war porn" people love these things...

.. it's like a video game to them. Only more fun!

Killing people becomes easier and easier with greater detachment from the actual killing site. The US is now killing people from half a world away, and that's pretty damn detached. Physically and emotionally.

[Distant Observer]

11. So Sophisticated, So Elegant, So Effective, So COWARDLY