Statesmen become drones when they pilot UAVs
The sophisticated technology of UAVs improves daily and the tool is here to stay. Many of the pilots who fly them used to sit in real cockpits.
Presently, the US possesses the upper technological hand and deployment experience across the world. UAVs are platforms like satellites upon which one can deliver a lethal weapon or an up-to-date weather report, even a sandwich. Obama likes drones and has made them a strategic weapon despite its tactical application. Those who champion UAVs argue that they’re better than boots-on-the-ground. UAVs have enhanced air superiority to the air space that meets the ground itself.
Despite this sophisticated technology our enemies remain comparatively unsophisticated people armed with sophisticated ideas. We kill people whom we call militants. We cannot kill the ideas. Some military contractor must be working on an idea-killing weapon. Yes, we have those trained in psychological warfare.
Hearing the word drone does make me think that in a way drones do fly UAVs. I know they’re real people; the modern version of a sniper and they exude that ethos to me. There must be a high level of camaraderie among them. We are at war and the almost daily kill statistics and Presidential announcements remind us that UAVs are actively in the hunt, flown by professional military service people and hired contractors.
This yet to be defined war we’ve waged for so long still has undefined ideas other than the cloudy word terrorism. America may have levels beyond comprehension of amazing military technologies, methods, and highly trained human beings but we lack ideas. Even our President has joined the fight from his White House living room. We now have an elected lawyer with joystick who has new red kill button in a very real way. War is a video game now. War is waged with tools once used for virtual reality experiences.
All of this is no matter for debate now. The technology is part of our American military toolbox. The application of the technology extends to our backyards here at home.
Ideas are powerful. Americans have great ideas. Our ideas weigh heavily in the areas of technology and business. Our number one presidential campaign issue is the economy and we’re not stupid this time. Healthy business is central to our national security. We will become a nation of new energy choices and resources because we work hard to develop new ways.
But in much of the world, people are still aching to find ways to live, not just for physical nutrition but spiritual nutrition as well. This state of physical and spiritual hunger, mixed with uncertainty that produces fear, should be of concern to us as we stand in line to order our daily latte. I believe we are concerned but we don’t have enough ways and means to turn that concern into actions. As a people, we Americans are action-oriented. Yes, we have aching people here at home not far from us.
This may sound like a far stretch from writing about drones, yet what got me thinking was how the drone screens are in the White House now. Our president is spending a great deal of time on his new kill list with the UAVs at his disposal. We are at war, but we have competent warriors and contractors under their supervision to prosecute the war(s).
Our elected leaders do not spend enough time on ideas. I wish our president could move beyond being a lawyer. I’m not thrilled with Romney’s hedge-funded-business-head, really. I wish John McCain, Cory Booker, and Joe Biden would form a new party and give us a third choice. John, Cory and Joe are not fascinated by drones, I bet. They’re too busy being statesmen instead of drones.
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