Ted Rall for June 10, 2013
June 07, 2013
June 11, 2013
Transcript:
Muhammed hero drone pilot of Pakistan Man 1: Turns out the CIA doesn't know who they're targeting 1/4 of the time! Man 2: And that doesn't count missiles or "collateral damage!" This is why we have drones. to defend Pakistan from Americans! Because they're too stupid! to know who they're killing! Or maybe they just don't care! Man 1: WE do the same thing, right? Man 2: Only 1/4 of the time. But I only use auto drone pilot when I hit the loo. We're not barbarians!
zoidknight almost 11 years ago
If they are armed, they are no longer civillians.
Packratjohn Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Apparently, the term “state actors” is the word of the day…. again.
jdcorley almost 11 years ago
@ReasonsVentriloquist:
The conversion of an existing military aircraft, already capable of delivering weapons, is far simpler than you make it out to be. We have been doing it since the 1930s. If you want to see what a very early combat drone looks like, google TDR-1 – capable of being launched from a carrier carrying a torpedo or bombs and it’s intended use was to attack Japanese ships. Even simpler would be converting a biz jet into a kamikaze drone filled with explosives. Take a biz jet capable of crossing the Atlantic (there are dozens of types capable) and have the controller flying “innocently” behind by 50 miles or so and the threat is a possibility.
The US claim for Iraqi drones was made after Saddam claimed they had converted some older aircraft to be drone capable, specifically the Mirage F1. We do it all the time to older, less useful aircraft but usually only to make live-fire targets out of them. Whether or not Iraq had actually done this is immaterial.
Military Threat Assessments are based on intelligence collected and reported capabilities. Saddam likewise had already demonstrated and boasted of use of WMD (which we did find – Sarin gas components & labs, chemical artillery shells, etc.)
Furthermore, since we armed Saddam for the Iran-Iraq war, did we not have a responsibility to take care of the problem we created? I personally think we did, and I think the US more than likely knew what WMD he had because we secretly gave it to him.
edward thomas Premium Member almost 11 years ago
And it’s so great that Iraq is such a great democracy. It was Bill Kristol (sp?) who told NPR’s Fresh Air that there was no evidence of Sunni/Shia antagonism. When are we going to learn to leave well enough alone?
edward thomas Premium Member almost 11 years ago
And I’m assuming THAT will happen when Ima stops trolling!
jdcorley almost 11 years ago
@ReasonsVentriloquist
There isn’t any radar in the Oceanic sectors, it’s all done by radio fixes and GPS locations. Even in radar controlled areas, drones are on the scope with a transponder. Traditionally, these would be military drones operatings in MOAs (Military Operating Areas) but that is no guarantee against a well prepared state actor (I am a former ATC)
As long as the “pilot” replies to ATC and the plane follows ATC commands, there is no guarantee an unmanned kamikaze couldn’t get past the system until it is too late.
jdcorley almost 11 years ago
@ReasonsVentriloquist I agree with most of the rest, but dictators (Cuba? NorKo?) have a habit of starving their people in order to obtain what they think is important for their prestige