Technology, Perfection, Prevention

Where ‘The Land Is On Fire’ (Newsweek)…Sami Yousafzai and Ron Morea

Article states that more than a 100 people have been killed by U.S. Predator strikes since 2006 that may include non-combatants.

…In the United States, few would question that brutal calculus—one thing that both presidential candidates and the vast majority of citizens would agree upon is the legitimacy of going after the Qaeda network in Pakistan’s tribal badlands. But Pakistan’s new civilian leadership complains that the U.S. strikes—and the collateral damage they’ve caused—are making the job of pacifying the area harder. At ground level, in mountain hamlets like Damadola, things aren’t always as clear as they may seem through the viewfinder of a deadly, high-flying drone.

Technology such as the Predator is not perfect,  but improvements will continue to be made to help ensure that the right target is hit at the right time by the right weapon.  Preventing the need for the application of military power is a more challenging problem.