Phi210 Critical Thinking - (part Ii) Drones

Assignment 1.2

Conflicting Viewpoints Essay - Part II

PHI 210

May 3, 2015

Introduction

Drones, officially referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles, have become a common household name.  Although not the complete answer for helping the U.S. government in overseas combat, drones bring a real-time solution to slowing down the insurgency that is believed aligned with terrorist networks operating in countries who are known enemies of the U.S.  Drones offer the added benefit of not placing our military in harm’s way.

Drones Limit the Scope and Scale of Military Action

I selected this premise because of the small percentage of expenditure when compared to a ground war.  In a matter of minutes, versus days with ground troops, a large network of insurgents could be terminated.

This view is interesting because it does not associate the U.S. with a large contingency of air, ground, and sea power.  This effort keeps the U.S. from being looked at as a superpower occupying a country.  Moreover, drones keep the cost of war down to a palatable expense.    

If I believed this view, I would notice the non-reporting of American military fatalities or wounded in action and the inadvertent consequences of allied military casualties.  The U.S. government has learned from the invading of Afghanistan not to be quick to place the military on the ground and have to support the expense for an undetermined amount of time.

The reporting of small clusters of terrorist groups leads me to believe this idea is true.  News accounts constantly report the effects of drone hits only killing a few terrorists, and almost always account for the main character(s) they set out to eradicate.

Drone Strikes are a Collaboration Effort with Other Countries

I selected this premise because leaders of countries such as Yemen, Pakistan, Algeria, and Somalia request drone strikes in order to fight terrorist threats in their respective country, specifically, threats that go against their “domestic peace and stability” (ProCon, n.d.).  

Helpful to me on this view is that foreign governments see the net worth drones bring to ensuring their country remains as stabilized as can be expected.  They are on record commending the use of drones.

If I believed this view, I would notice violence is minimized, especially in Pakistan where the majority of suicide bombings are reported.  The number of suicide attempts has decreased by over 50 percent in Pakistan between 2009 and 2011.  As a result these conditions, it leads me to believe this idea may be true.  Other foreign leaders such as Yemen President Hadi, Pakistani Army Chief of Staff General Kayani and former Pakistani President Musharraf, have all praised the use of drones.

Drones Make the U.S. Military Personnel Safer