Karen_A._Mingst,_Ivan_M._Arregu_n-Toft]_Essentia

The Just War Tradition 295

that most drones use in attacks have not been
particularly discriminate. That is, targeted leaders
often are found in their homes, or in the com­
pany of children, the el derly, or ordinary citi­
zens who are likely to be killed. Survivors will
be unlikely to forget or forgive the deaths of
their children, even if those deaths were unin­
tended. Declassified documents from the  U.S.
Air Force and U.S. Central Intelligence Agency,
the two organ izations most likely to use armed
drones to kill high­ value targets, show that they
“do not always know who they are killing, but
are making an imperfect best guess.” b This
admission, along with the real ity of collateral
damage, has led to vocal and per sis tent criti­
cism of the use of armed drones, especially in
the Muslim world. And that may explain the

decline in the use of armed drones to kill high­

value targets everywhere but Yemen.

Many states— including those not friendly

to the United States and its allies— are pursu­

ing drone development programs. Very soon,

these states may target those they consider to

be extremist, like artists, dissidents, or even

nationals living in Western countries. Collat­

eral damage would be expected to follow.

Then those countries whose sovereign terri­

tory is being breached and their allies in the

international system would be challenged to

develop new laws and treaties to deal with this

new technological capacity to view, target,

and ultimately kill individuals and small groups

with armed drones from thousands of miles

away.

For CritiCal analy sis

1. The use of armed drones in predominantly Muslim states such as Pakistan, Yemen, and
   Somalia has led to a serious backlash against the United States not only in Muslim
   countries, but in Eu rope as well. Is the use of drones “worth” those costs?


2. Why is the use of drones popu lar in the United States? Do you support or oppose the
   continuation of drone strikes?


3. In what ways are armed drones similar to other weapons? In what ways are they dif er ent?

a. “4 Yemen Al Qaeda leaders killed in suspected US drone strike,” Associated Press, May 12, 2015.
b. Scott Shane, “Drone Strikes Reveal Uncomfortable Truth: U.S. Is Often Unsure About Who Will Die,” New York
Times, April 23, 2015.