Trump clears CIA to issue drone strikes

[Dill]

(03-15-2017, 03:02 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: bfine covered two of my reasons. Another one that I have, and this is one that isn't too popular and if people disagree so be it, is that by removing the risk of human casualties from warfare we have the potential for engaging in combat with less discrimination. Even if you have a B2 flying over an area and dropping bombs or a missile fired from a ship off the coast, the person pulling that trigger is at risk in some way. When you have a drone pilot tucked inside a control room in CONUS pulling the trigger it removes that risk, and I feel like it not only cheapens war, but it makes it easier for us to make that decision to kill on a high level.

People make the same point regarding the all volunteer military we now have.

Military actions should not be taken lightly, and we would make them more responsibly if we still conscripted the military.

But if the US has to take military action against a legitimate threat, then concerns about "cowardice" should not incline us to greater risk to maintain our manliness or whatever. Everything should be done to minimize casualties on our side and civilian on the other.

Our B2 pilots were never much at risk in Iraq or Afghanistan. They might be in Syria now, with Russian SAMs on the ground.