Joseph A. Palermo: The Drone Wars Have Begun!!

From the beginning, there has been a kind of technological determinism associated with the idea, that since the United States possesses this relatively new technology, it should use it. Facing the uncertainty of reelection, President Obama became so concerned about the lawlessness of his drone killings, he sought hastily to codify the rules governing their use. What began in the Bush era as a means for targeting al Qaeda leaders hiding in remote areas has become a vast "amorphous" death machine targeting suspected "militants" in Yemen, Somalia, and Pakistan. Now we've learned that, in addition to "personality strikes" aimed at individuals deemed enemies of the United States, there are now what's called "signature strikes" where any congregation of suspicious looking military age men is open game.  The Obama administration apparently views drones as the cheapest and easiest way to kill "militants" while keeping American casualties low to non existent. This seeming techno supremacy has the added political benefit of getting around a war weary electorate, but future presidents might not quibble about using drones as judiciously as our current president claims to be, hence his rush to clarify the rules of engagement. But possessing new tools of warfare doesn't mean they should be used. The US has chemical weapons and an arsenal of hydrogen bombs, but those technologies should be left on the shelf. Drones are no different. We mustn't allow global drone warfare to become the "new normal." Sadly, the drone killings of US citizens abroad might end up being one of Obama's most lasting legacies. The former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told a military audience before leaving office, that any future president who sends ground troops into a situation like Afghanistan should "have his head examined." The constant drone attacks in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, are breeding hatred, creating new enemies where none existed, and costing more lives than otherwise would be the case. Anyone seeing drones as a solution to the problem of international terrorism should also "have his head examined."