ABSTRACT
YES: But the means must justify the ends
Christine Sixta Rinehart
This section of the chapter suggests a series of arguments and evidence to support the use of drones in counterterrorism. The author argues, for example, that drones are more economical than troops, they allow a rapid and spread-out presence of countries around the worlds and they cause minimum collateral damage and backlash. Against one of the objections to the use of drones, the author argues that the human element is not absent as often assumed. At the same time, she notes that the means must justify the ends and that there must be oversight to drone strikes.
NO: Drones create a perpetual war for perpetual peace
Rory Finegan
This section of the chapter argues that drones are not a useful counterterrorism tool, in part by addressing the issues of backlash and collateral damage, and by pointing out the occurrence of technological failings. Additional arguments against widening the use of drones in counterterrorism include the increasing use of drones by non-state actors as well as the danger of having non-humans decide on the value of human lives during operations.
