O
NE OF THE CORE ELEMENTS OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’S strategy to
fi ght terrorist groups has been the increased use of drones—small, unmanned
aircraft that fl y into foreign airspace, monitor the activities of terror suspects
on the ground, and, once the identities of suspects have been verifi ed and the
president’s approval received, launch missles to attack these suspects and their
facilities. Over the last four years, drone attacks in countries such as Afghanistan,
Yemen, and Pakistan have decimated the leadership and infrastructure of
terrorist groups and infl icted signifi cant casualties on lower-level fi ghters. Drones
also played a key role in identifying the safe house in Pakistan where Al Qaeda
leader Osama bin Laden was located, making possible the helicopter attack by
U.S. Special Forces that resulted in bin Laden’s death in 2011.
Decisions involving military force provide an example of presidential power and
how it may be controversial. In the case of using drones, virtually all Americans
support the idea of fi ghting back against terror groups such as Al Qaeda. The
controversy arises because some Americans favor a more aggressive approach
that would involve sending ground forces to fi ght terrorist strongholds rather than
attacking from the air. Others are uncomfortable with the use of drones because
of the diffi culty of being absolutely sure that the people being attacked are all
terrorists. Finally, some observers have criticized the Obama administration
drone strategy on the grounds that it is motivated by politics rather than a
judgment about the most effective approach. They worry that Obama and his
advisers favor unmanned attacks in order to minimize American casualties, which
would be politically unpopular even if they were part of a more effective strategy.293
PRESIDENTIAL DECISIONS, SUCH
as President Obama's choice
to use drones for attacks on
enemy targets in Afghanistan
and elsewhere, are often
controversial. Here, Obama
discusses military and defense
strategy in 2012.