Using drones: principles, tactics and results (amended title)

[davidbfpo]

The British House of Commons Select Committee on Defence published on the 25th March 2014, a report on drones, sorry they refer to 'Remote Control: Remotely Piloted Air Systems - current and future UK use'. I have not read it.

Link:http://www.publications.parliament.u.../772/77202.htm

Professor Paul Rogers has a very short commentary, to say the least he is not impressed:

A key role of a parliamentary committee is to hold an executive and its ministries up to independent scrutiny on behalf of parliament. In relation to armed-drones (or to use the correct language, “remotely piloted air systems”) in Afghanistan, the defence committee has a long way to go.

Link:http://www.opendemocracy.net/paul-rogers/drone-evasion?

The only comment by a reader is succinct too:

So Paul, what SHOULD the UK have done? Should we have replaced drone coverage with thousands of soldiers?

[JMA]

David here is the key finding:

Conclusions

21. We consider that it is of vital importance that a clear distinction be drawn between the actions of UK Armed Forces operating remotely piloted air systems in Afghanistan and those of other States elsewhere. On the basis of the evidence we have received we are satisfied that UK remotely piloted air system operations comply fully with international law.

The British House of Commons Select Committee on Defence published on the 25th March 2014, a report on drones, sorry they refer to 'Remote Control: Remotely Piloted Air Systems - current and future UK use'. I have not read it.

Link:http://www.publications.parliament.u.../772/77202.htm

Professor Paul Rogers has a very short commentary, to say the least he is not impressed:

Link:http://www.opendemocracy.net/paul-rogers/drone-evasion?

The only comment by a reader is succinct too:

[davidbfpo]

Hat tip to WoTR. A rare commentary on a regional user of drones, with Chines, German and Israeli help:http://warontherocks.com/2014/05/the...urkeys-drones/

[davidbfpo]

The life of a drone operator has been documented before, this story is unique I think, the full title is 'Israeli drone commander: 'The life and death decisions I took in Gaza':http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...k-in-Gaza.html

The report ends with:

Today, 65 per cent of Israel's military air operations are conducted by drones. Major Yair represents the future of warfare - and the dilemmas he faces will be those of coming generations of warriors.

[davidbfpo]

A new U.S. government audit is questioning the value of using drones to conduct surveillance along the Canadian and Mexican borders.The report from the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Defense found that the drones were not only costly, but were grounded much of the time.
“We see no evidence that the drones contribute to a more secure border, and there is no reason to invest addition taxpayer funds at this time,” Inspector General John Roth said in a statement this week.
The inspector general found “little or no evidence” that the fleet of Predator drones was effective in conducting surveillance.

Link:http://www.vancouversun.com/touch/st...ml?id=10716402


I don't suppose the enthusiasm of the *drones can walk on water" school and salesmen will abate one drop

[davidbfpo]

An Opn Democracy article, which has useful pointers to two research reports (both British) and ends with:

The case of Pakistan, after a decade long drone war, shows how the appeal of drones as a “cost free” form of warfare is misguided, failing to take into consideration their long term implications. In Pakistan, drones have not only been an ineffective counter-terrorism strategy but they have also had far reaching, negative repercussions on wider society. It is these long term consequences – in many cases still largely unknown – that will prove to be the most damaging for any long-term, sustainable resolution to conflict.

Link:https://www.opendemocracy.net/esther...es-in-pakistan

The second blog article on a UK military-leaning blogsite is hardly critical and is a useful summary:http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2015/0...war-on-terror/

[davidbfpo]

At a recent conference in Boston, I got the extraordinary opportunity to talk with Lt. General David Deptula USAF (Ret.), the man who led the air campaign against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in the decisive opening months of Operation Enduring Freedom and subsequently served as the first Chief of the Air Force Headquarters’ Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance mission. Deptula has a unique insider’s perspective on the drone campaign as he was in charge of much of it since this new remote sensor-shooter technology made its debut above the battlefields under his command.

Link to interview (in a PDF):http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/...e/view/428/849