Article Review: The United States Drone Program Policy
Article Review: The United States Drone Program Policy
Introduction
Drones, as popularly known, are technically referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); or unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UACV) when they are equipped with combat capabilities. They are militarily capable of launching attack missiles. The US drone policy is to mainly use drones in counter terrorism operations and other US military campaigns, for surveillance and attack missions. This paper shall give a review of an article on the use of drone by the United States.
In 2001, after the terrorist attack in America, drones were deployed to Afghanistan where they engaged in armed missions. Drone missions currently are administered by the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Joint Special Operation Command, with approval by the President (commander-in-chief).
- Terrorist Organizations
Drones are mainly used to target high value Al-Qaeda and affiliated groups of terrorist. These drones are mainly deployed and used in military campaigns in countries such as Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia, Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan. The use of drones has been supported by political science evidence, in that the strikes are effective in disrupting the operations of terrorists, thereby reducing their ability to engage in terrorism. There is also evidence to suggest that, civilian casualties from drone strikes are much lower in percentage, compared to other forms of military strikes (Shane, 2012 July 14).
- Civilian Population
Drone strikes have also claimed innocent civilian lives e.g. the Investigative Journalism Bureau estimates the number of civilians killed to 995, of which about 180 to 210 were children. Drone strikes have also inflicted psychological disturbances on locals and relief workers from operating in those regions as they become targets at times (Shane, 2012 July 14).
- American Citizens
There have been reported cases of American citizens being killed in drone attacks while operating in countries that drone program is active e.g. Khan Samir, Hijazi Ahmed, and Al-Alwaki Anwar; all Americans operating in Yemen. These raised concerns by the American people about the US government drone policy on attacks in America and, on Americans.
The US Attorney General, Eric Holder, explained the Obama administration policy on drones, where he confirmed that the president has no power to use an armed drone to kill an American outside combat engagements in American soil, however, the president has the authority to order drone strikes to an American in America soil if they pose threat to America; such as in circumstances similar to the September 11 attacks (Hurley & Wilson, 2013 March 7).
Criticisms of the US Drone policy
Critics condemn the view that, the government has the authority to conduct extrajudicial killings of an American citizen. Moreover, they argue that there should be a special court and an oversight board within the executive branch. UN special rapporteur on arbitrary/summary executions and extrajudicial killings, argued that the self defense reason is stretched and the killings clearly violate the international human rights laws and treaties, and laws of war (Matthew, 2013, March 8).
Conclusion/Opinion
At this point, my opinion is that the drone program policy is a positive strategy in the war against terrorism, as it has proven to be effective. However, the execution of the policy is not perfect as there are high numbers of civilian casualties. The policy makers should work to frame the execution of the policy/program such that there is reduced/low numbers of civilian casualties.
References
Hurley, L & Wilson, C. (2013, March 7). Eric Holder clarifies policy on drone attacks on U.S. soil. Reuters. Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/07/us-usa-congress-holder-idUSBRE92614B20130307
Matthew, D. (2013, March 8). Everything you need to know about the drone debate, in one FAQ. The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blog/wonkblog/wp/2013/03/08/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-drone-debate-in-one-faq/
Shane, S. (2012, July 14). The Moral Case for Drones. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/sunday-review/the-moral-case-for-drones.html?_r=1&
