Drone Technology and War Ethics
The use of drones in the war against terrorism has increased in the recent past. The U.S. military considers the technology an ideal weapon against extreme radical groups for its various benefits. First, drones have a high precision compared to traditional weapons. Besides, successful drone strikes limit terrorist ability to gather and communicate. Consequently, the technology raises ethical concerns for causing civilian deaths and raising territorial disputes over a state’s sovereignty (Simon, Romance, & Riemer, 2019). Moreover, extremists use technology to influence the masses against the USA government by depicting it as a war against Islam. However, the use of Drones has proven accurate in conducting attacks against terrorism.
Consequently, the death of innocent civilians presents an ethical dilemma to the use of drones, despite its proven benefits over traditional warfare technologies. Terrorists present a significant threat through the intentional attack on civilians contrary to military drones that seek to minimize the loss of civilian lives due to their ability to wait for the ideal time to strike. The U.S. justifies its attack as retaliation to terrorism and intention to safeguard its borders (“Drone strike: to attack or not to attack,” 2020). The Drone attacks on terrorist groups are justifiable if the potential number of civilian deaths from terrorism surpasses the collateral damages, in urgent situations. . Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
The argument that drones might radicalize more terrorists than they are eliminating is uncertain. Terrorists may use the technology to spread propaganda on the USA war against Islam based on civilian deaths despite being lower than those caused by terrorist attacks. Their approach matches Arreguín-Toft’s (2001) argument on how the weak win wars. However, limited use of drones can supplement the current counter-terrorism strategy while working to discredit extremist groups on their propaganda against the use of drones and appeal to the masses for support against terrorism.
References
“Drone strike: to attack or not to attack”(2020.). Retrieved February 26, 2020, from https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=AwrC1Cl3FVZeXH0AOYnQtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTB0N2Noc21lBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNwaXZz?p=:+Drone+Strike:+To+Attack+or+Not+to+Attack&fr2=piv-web&fr=mcafee
Arreguín-Toft, I. (2001). Explaining asymmetric conflict outcomes. International Security E.R., 25. doi: 10.1017/cbo9780511521645.003DO – 10.1162/016228801753212868
Simon, D. W., Romance, J., & Riemer, N. (2019). The challenge of politics: an introduction to political science. Washington, D.C.: C.Q. Press, A DIVISION OF SAGE