UAV strikes have increased annually since 2009

by | Nov 11, 2012 | Issues.Ethics, Issues.Progress, Sectors.SciTech.Robotics

Via Army Times:

The number of UAV attacks in Afghanistan has increased every year under the Obama administration, according to data released by the Air Force on Nov. 7.

UAV strikes have increased annually since 2009 – Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq – Army Times

Points:

  • “Since the start of 2009, there have been 1,160 strikes in Afghanistan. There were 255 strikes in 2009, 278 in 2010, 294 in 2011 and 333 through Oct. 31.”
  • “As UAV use has increased, the average number of manned flights in which weapons were used has dropped, from 165 a month in 2011 to 139 a month this year.”

Ponder:

  • Will increasing UAV use lead national leaders to think of war as a video game?
  • Will reliance on UAVs to minimize US casualties lead to more asymmetric warfare, e.g., terror strikes in the US?
  • Will the use of UAVs alienate and radicalize the very people we’re trying to help?