Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles deployed by U.S. defense and intelligence agencies to collect data and strike suspected enemy targets. The first known U.S. strike was the 2002 killing of al-Qaeda operative Qaed Salim Sinan al-Harethi in Yemen. Between 2022 and 2020 the U.S. killed between 9,000 and 18,000 enemy combatants and 900-2200 civilians with drone strikes. Opponents of drone strikes have long contended strikes that kill civilians essentially serve as a recruiting poster for terrorist groups. In 2010, a man named Faisal Shahzad tried and failed to bomb Times Square in New York City. Later, Shahzad cited US drone strikes as his motivation for the failed bombing. Proponents of drone strikes argue that they can kill high value w=enemy targets without putting soldiers into combat.
@ISIDEWITH11yrs11Y
Yes
@9FZ88JG7mos7MO
Most times we have killed suspected terrorists, we have been right. Granted some civilians have been killed, which is regretable, but then again a high valued target was eliminated, which could have caused more deaths to civilians within not only our country, but their own as well.
@9FR3JWRRepublican7mos7MO
using drones to spy will get you caught due to them being noisy and if they look up they will notice something in the sky
@9FMPZZ27mos7MO
If the evidence is enough, no foreign suspected terrorist should be able to fight the charges anyways, and would be sentenced to death one way or the other.
@ISIDEWITH11yrs11Y
No
@9F5BMBCIndependent8mos8MO
If we have a chance to stop a threat to American people and the country this is in gives permission we should stop the threat.
@9FCJQ5F8mos8MO
But then you have a very grey line of what is and what isn’t a threat. We’ve proved ourselves unable to manage the direction that drone warfare can lead to if not competently handled. And not only that, our habit of risking the chances of killing the wrong people in the name of fighting terror has happened a ridiculous amount of times with evidence thanks to Julian Assange who is behind bars and he is behind bars because there is no accountability for the lives lost and that’s what brought me to the conclusion that NO, we should not kill “suspected terrosist” in a foreign country.
@SheepSkylarRepublican8mos8MO
While the concern about the grey line of threat identification is valid, it is also important to consider the advancements in technology that have improved precision and accuracy. A prime example is the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, which have greatly improved not only the identification of threats but also the reduction of collateral damage. Furthermore, international law and treaties can be revisited to ensure more stringent regulations and accountability in drone usage. As for Julian Assange, his situation is quite complex and cannot be solely attributed to drone warfare. So, how do we strike a balance between national security and ethical considerations in your view?
@ISIDEWITH11yrs11Y
No, the military has no right to do so without a Congressional declaration of war
@9FNNDC87mos7MO
I think there should be no reason why we cannot use military drones. Regardless of whether we want to start a war or not having that upper hand on the opposing enemy is the best thing for us.
@9FMPZZ27mos7MO
I think that the military should actively use more drones to counter insurgencies in friendly nations.
@ISIDEWITH11yrs11Y
Yes, the U.S. needs to use all means necessary to combat terrorism
@9FZ83637mos7MO
would you be fine with having drones watching your every move too? how do we know you aren't a terrorist as well?
@ISIDEWITH11yrs11Y
No, only to gather intelligence, not to kill suspected terrorists
@9G69SN37mos7MO
Gathering evidence using drones to spy is a shady way of doing business, it seems unethical and would make a bad impression of our American values
@9FZ88JG7mos7MO
I feel with the right amount of information, we should be able to send troops in order to kill a suspected. Again, only with the right amount of information.
@9FMPZZ27mos7MO
Drones typically do not have guns, therefore, are safe for the most part, only gathering intelligence in most cases, but if there is undeniable evidence, then a person should be killed.
@ISIDEWITH11yrs11Y
Yes, but only with permission from the country in question
@9G69SN37mos7MO
If the country in question agrees and gives us permission to do something, we can successfully remove/deal with the leader who is an issue to us without offending or aggravating an entire country or group of people.
@9G8L94D7mos7MO
If a country doesn't want to be monitored by the U.S. or are hiding something from the U.S. then of course that country is going to say no to a drone monitoring them.
Yes but ideally with permission from the country in question.
@5923DDK4yrs4Y
We are killing innocents. We are destroying hospitals by mistake. Sometimes I think about the panic our citizenry would fly into if other nations started using killer drones on us. We would be outraged. And yet here we are, doing this very thing to them.
@979XN3F1yr1Y
Yes, but only if there is no risk of any civilian casualties
@58NVHL84yrs4Y
Isn't this exactly why we have secret spy agencies?
@9GN5KWP6mos6MO
Absolutely to gather intelligence, but assassinations should be permitted only for confirmed, not simply suspected, terrorists
Absolutely to gather intelligence. Assassination should be reserved for undeniably confirmed terrorists
@9D22FQZ9mos9MO
Yes and nuke china if they try to start a war with us
@9L74FFC1mo1MO
Absolutely to gather intelligence, but reserve assassinations for confirmed terrorists who have or will attack our nation or that of an ally
Yes, but limit to only gathering intelligence unless or until there is a Congressional declaration of war
@8J8BWPY4yrs4Y
No, abolish the military
No, this is a violation of these country’s sovereignty as well as a violation of international law.
Yes, this gives the U.S. an effective means of combatting terrorism without direct deployment of our troops
@9LTWD2X1wk1W
I am 50/50 on this issue, this would cause a lot of issues internally and externally in the country. China essentially did this to us with the balloon basically saying "hey look what we can do" but if we did that we would get all sorts of backlash.
@9LRBMD52wks2W
Yes I believe this would be good for the country, but only kill the person if it's a confirmed terrorist.
@9LNS95T2wks2W
This one is too tricky for me to answer. I feel like we shouldn't do that because it will make them hate us more, become sneakier.
@9LMV79R2wks2W
Kill only with permission from said country, but other than that yes to gain information with the country’s consent
@9LMDF6S2wks2W
I think yes only with permission from the country in question, and not to kill suspected terrorists only to gather intelligence
@9LG7G923wks3W
I believe that it depends on the level of attack, how dangerous the person is, how far away the country is, if the country is currently divided and in need of help, and many MANY other reasons.
@9LF8W5F4wks4W
Only to gather intelligence. Killing a suspected terrorist MUST have undeniable evidence of an imminent threat to the United States.
@9LBJ943 1mo1MO
Intelligence, but too many innocent civilians have been killed by US drone strikes, and it needs to stop.
@9L6B4ML1mo1MO
It's a very fine line and needs to be watched. Killing those we perceive as enemies should only happen in extreme circumstances.
@9L538S41mo1MO
No, the government should focus on reducing the national debt & deficit before getting too deeply involved & invested in counterterrorism
@9L4Z23BIndependent 1mo1MO
The military can gather intelligence, however they cannot kill terrorists without Congressional approval or a declaration of war
@9KYLF4SIndependent2mos2MO
Yes, but they should only be allowed to kill a suspected terrorists if it is proven that they are planning to or has committed an attack on the US.
@9KY3ZCR2mos2MO
Yes and no, launching drones into enemy territory will, yes, gives us intel about upcoming terrorists attacks but there is also the risk of them finding out and launching an attack and us not being able to protect ourselves.
@9KWD3FL2mos2MO
They will use this as an excuse to spy on unsuspecting and innocent civilians. They already do it here in the US. They have NO right to invade people's private spaces or gather information, regardless of intent.
@9KW5YH5Libertarian2mos2MO
Yes, but only when there is no government to request permission from (Haiti) or when the government is actively hostile (Iran).
@9KV2F8F2mos2MO
yes but they need permission from the person that there contery is like you need permision from the king in the uk so they don't miss understand that were spying on them.
@9KTGNG92mos2MO
Only to gather intelligence. If we want to kill suspected terrorists we must get approval from the country in question.
Yes, but assassination should only occur in instances of imminent threat and having met a rigorous set of criteria to be sure the targeted individual(s) are the ones who are causing the imminent threat.
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