But it's not unsettling if we separate them from their family, ship them across the globe, and then have them in harm's way while they do the exact same job from a plane's cockpit?That being said, there IS something unsettling about pilots in Los Vegas driving to work, killing people on the other side of the world via remote control, and then driving home to spend time with their families every day. I remember reading an article about on soldier who did this in an issue of Popular Science a few months ago, but I can't find the article ATM.
That's it exactly, actually. These drone pilots aren't being forced to sacrifice nearly as much as other members of the military who do actual, physical fighting. Infantry has to move into a camp/base near the conflict in order to fight. Naval members need to stay on a ship in the water somewhere close to the conflict. Air Force members are usually on a base pretty far from the actual action, but at least they are physically there and away from their families for the operation.But it's not unsettling if we separate them from their family, ship them across the globe, and then have them in harm's way while they do the exact same job from a plane's cockpit?
That's it exactly, actually. These drone pilots aren't being forced to sacrifice nearly as much as other members of the military who do actual, physical fighting. Infantry has to move into a camp/base near the conflict in order to fight. Naval members need to stay on a ship in the water somewhere close to the conflict. Air Force members are usually on a base pretty far from the actual action, but at least they are physically there and away from their families for the operation.
I guess it wouldn't feel so awkward if the drone pilots were at least being asked to give up SOMETHING. Maybe it's just because that's what war has always been and it's just kinda weird that we're at the dawn of the push button age of warfare that it feels odd.
Damn good point.I'll have sympathy for them when they stop using remotely detonated IEDs and stop sending brainwashed kids into crowded markets with bombs strapped to their chest.
This is probably the best point you can make. They really don't get to complain about what's being used against them when they aren't following the rules of war themselves.The Al Qaida are complaining, but are they following the "Rules of Engagement" like everyone else? The enemy can't demoralize the troops when they are not fighting face to face and the drones allow more "risker" missions since people are not put in harms way.
I never said I WANTED them to have to suffer, I was trying to say that it felt weird that we're finally at the point where you don't have to make those sacrifices anymore. War is SUPPOSED to involve sacrifice, on both sides, to act as a deterrent to going into it in the first place. By removing the personal risk, I'm a little worried that governments will become more accepting of gunboat diplomacy once the people who actually pull the trigger don't have as much to lose.I'm sorry I blew up at you, Ash, but really you're going to make an argument based off of the logic that other branches of the service are dying, so the Air Force shouldn't get a "free pass"?
Ah... I see what you mean now.I never said I WANTED them to have to suffer, I was trying to say that it felt weird that we're finally at the point where you don't have to make those sacrifices anymore. War is SUPPOSED to involve sacrifice, on both sides, to act as a deterrent to going into it in the first place. By removing the personal risk, I'm a little worried that governments will become more accepting of gunboat diplomacy once the people who actually pull the trigger don't have as much to lose.
I just completely and utterly failed at getting that point across.
You can live! WE CAN BOTH LIVE!Ugh. I want us to skip ahead to when our robots and their robots are destroying each other.