Can you build partners with preditors?
In traditional situations an external military or paramilitary force working for a government that wants to influence an insurgent force sends in SOF or other forces. At a minimum, they will send in the Air Force. In either of these cases there is a human that is sharing at least part of the risk of the fight with the insurgent force. In the case of the drone there is no such shared risk.
This is a question of psychology - when trying to build long term partnerships is something lost when there is no shared risk?
Two worlds, two approaches?
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This is a question of psychology - when trying to build long term partnerships is something lost when there is no shared risk?
In developed nations there will be a greater understanding of partnerships and politics, especially within the "chattering classes". This should make the psychology easier. The partnership will rarely involve the population, only state institutions, civil and military being perennial. There are exceptions to this, notably in Western Europe the Berlin Blockade (1947?) and the cruise missile deployment - even then it was a minority that was engaged.
No-one could have considered NATO without a US civil-military presence in Western Europe.
In my opinion where the difference is in less developed nations. No "boots on the ground" makes partnerships very limited even with state institutions, a point Stan and Tom Odom have repeatedly made regarding Africa.
Where is the partnership / shared risk with providing information to a drone controller? There is the chance of discovery and consequent penalties.