After U.S. Troops Leave, Armed Drones Will Patrol Afghanistan’s Opium Poppy Farms Skies
April 23rd, 2013
Via: Wired:
One of the major elements of Afghanistan’s air war will remain after most U.S. troops have headed home, the U.S. military command confirmed today. Armed drones, operated by the U.S., will remain over Afghanistan after 2014.
“I come back to the remotely piloted aircraft,” Air Force Maj. Gen. H.D. Polumbo, the commander of the U.S./NATO air war over Afghanistan, told reporters at the Pentagon today. “They can collect intelligence, but they also are armed. And they’re armed to be able to provide force protection to our coalition forces and then when our coalition ground force commanders, when they deem it appropriate, they can control that air-delivered munition capability from the RPAs to be put in support of the Afghans.”
Looking at Afghanistan feels like looking into the future. This is only one possible future, but one I certainly don’t want to live in. Jack-booted thugs are sounding better and better every day. At least with humans you have a slight chance to take some of them with you when they come for you.
Drones that can kill you at any moment with no chance of revenge adds a whole new psychological level. I suppose it’s all the more reason to make the most of your limited time on earth. Life is short. Make your peace, since a heart attack or drone attack can happen at any time.