Cross-posted from a broader series of discussions at my home base, Starboard Broadside. I've modified the intro and title to make more sense here.
On my site, we recently had, as one site author put it, "a rather spirited debate" on the use of Predator drone planes in counterterrorism operations in Southern/South-Central Asia (i.e. Afghanistan and Pakistan). I'm generally opposed to their use, except in certain specific circumstances (e.g. if we have specific intelligence that a target like Osama Bin Laden is in a particular location for a limited time). We can't keep using them in a widespread/mission-critical manner because too many civilians are killed and resentment grows. Now, a reader has provided me with even more interesting links, and I've been doing more of my own research as well, and I have a lot more to add to the subject, enough to post here.
For background, the drones are operated remotely from the US, but they are launched closer. They then fly to targets and either snap photos or release weapons on the targets. That's created another reason why the people of Pakistan are overwhelming not really fans of the government there:
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