Drones, drones and more drones....

[dixiegrrrrl]

Great...now we have a drone build up.

Headlines this week:

Japan and China both turn to drones as tensions escalate over disputed islands
As tension continues to heat up between Japan and China over ownership of the Senkaku / Diaoyu Islands, both countries are reportedly turning to unmanned drones in order to help establish their territorial claims.
The Nikkei Shimbun reports,
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFS0802I_Y3A100C1PP8000/
recently re-elected prime minister Shinzo Abe indicated that Japan would be tightening up its surveillance of the region following repeated sightings of Chinese vessels nearby.
As part of that plan, Abe has begun to consider accelerating the country’s plans to introduce
American-made Global Hawk surveillance drones, originally slated to begin in 2016.
Beijing, on the other hand, is reportedly readying a drone of its own, likely based on the US’s X–47B, says The Guardian.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/08/china-japan-drone-race

Meanwhile, the UN wants its own drones:
UN Plans Drones In Congo Peacekeeping Mission
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/09/un-drones-peacekeeping-missions_n_2442139.html

and...the drone death toll mounts:
U.S. drones kill 5 in militant hotbed in Pakistan
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57563201/u.s-drones-kill-5-in-militant-hotbed-in-pakistan/

Finally, Obama picks a pro-drone man for the CIA:
"....as "one of the architects of the drone process,"
Brennan helped to build the rules and processes around the use of drones to target terrorist leaders",
. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57562684/miller-on-brennan-an-architect-of-the-drone-process/

[PoliticAverse]

1. Soon everyone will have a personal drone.... n/t

[jody]

2. It's easier to murder a "two legged dog" if you're on the other side of the world in an

air-conditioned bunker in Nevada and after your shift is over visit the casinos in Las Vegas for fun and games.

Still one must wrestle with the moral question, "Am I really any different than Lt. Calley at My Lai, Vietnam?"

Perhaps the only difference is Calley acted on his own initiative and I'm following orders of my Commander in Chief.

Still I must wonder, "Am I not also guilty?"

[1-Old-Man]

3. If I could give a recommendation for a response you would get it.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. ditto....