Freud and the Drone

So far the United States, Israel, and the UK are the only nations to carry out drone strikes. But what's to stop others? Drones aren't cosdy and are risk free, at least for their users. A top-line drone costs about $10.5 million as compared to a fighter jet at some $70 million. It's e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American conservative (Arlington, Va.) Va.), 2012-06, Vol.12 (6), p.10
Main Author: Warner, Ed
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Civilians
Evidence
Freud, Sigmund (1856-1939)
Peace
Robots
Terrorism
War
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:So far the United States, Israel, and the UK are the only nations to carry out drone strikes. But what's to stop others? Drones aren't cosdy and are risk free, at least for their users. A top-line drone costs about $10.5 million as compared to a fighter jet at some $70 million. It's expected that in the coming decade, global drone sales will reach $94 billion. "Countries have an insatiable appetite for drones," Northrup Grumman executive James Pitts told the Financial Times. Can we anticipate an arms race witìi a perpetual buzzing overhead from a swarm of drones? Nothing deterred, Israel is second only to the United States in production of drones and second also in their export Attack drones provide the operational answer to any need, says Tommy Silberring, head of the drone division at Israel Aerospace Industries. "Automated systems are better than people. Computers don't get sick, and they're never in a bad mood." They also get around. According to the Washington Post, the United States has protested Israeli sales of sophisticated drones to Russia. Moscow, in turn, objected when it encountered Israeli drones in its 2008 war with Georgia. In January, Turkey scrambled F- 16s to intercept an Israeli drone spying over the country's southern provinces of Hatay and Adana. In 2004, the Turks themselves purchased ten Heron drones from Israel for $183 million.
ISSN:1540-966X