DoD has 1,000 unmanned aircraft surveilling Iraq and Afghanistan.

[BurtWorm]

Apparently, the Pentagon didn't get the memo from Propaganda Central that the War on Terror is over, and now we're engaged in a Struggle Against Violent Extremists.

(This info brought to my attention by Soj at Flogging the Simian.

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug2005/20050817_2469.html


Unmanned Aircraft Capabilities Expanding in War on Terrorism
By Kathleen T. Rhem
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2005 – Once used only for remote reconnaissance, unmanned aircraft technology has rapidly evolved in recent years. Such systems now feature strike capabilities and are being used for force-protection and signals-collection missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Unmanned aerial systems "have helped reduce the complexity and time lag in the 'sensor-to-shooter chain' for acting on 'actionable intelligence,'" according to a document released earlier this month.

The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap 2005-2030, released Aug. 4 with more than 200 pages, explains these diverse systems range from "micro air vehicles, weighing less than a pound, to massive aircraft weighing more than 40,000 (pounds), and vary in cost from a few thousand dollars to tens of millions."

The roadmap, now in its third iteration, lays out technology goals for developing unmanned systems over the next 25 years, explained Dyke Weatherington, deputy director of DoD's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Planning Task Force.

...

Unmanned systems are particularly well-suited for "information, surveillance and reconnaissance" missions at the tactical level, Weatherington said. Specific useful capabilities of such systems include full-motion video and "persistence" -- they can stay in an area observing a developing situation for extended lengths of time.

He said "well-over" 1,000 small, unmanned systems are currently in use in Iraq and Afghanistan....

[Skidmore]

1. And they still can't find Osama or

pre-empt the next attack by "insurgents."

[OregonBlue]

2. Air National Guard to use unmanned drones

It's been bothering me that the defense department is planning to eliminate traditional aircraft at many of the air national guard bases and substitute unmanned drones. They might be using them now in Iraq and Afghanistan, but what's to stop them from using them on us. These drones can literally surveil our every move. Why haven't we heard anything from our Senators and Reps about how these drones will be used and on whom?

I plan to contact Ron Wyden (OR). He's working on privacy issues but I haven't heard anything from him regarding the potential violations of privacy being created.

[newyawker99]

7. Hi OregonBlue!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[wtmusic]

3. Imagine a future

where millions of "micro air vehicles" are deployed domestically, collecting intelligence or even acting offensively ("micro weaponry") against domestic "terrorists" (or those resisting administration policy)...

:scared:

[BurtWorm]

5. You mean against domestic "violent extremists"

(except for the ones on the right, who are just godly folks who don't get out quite enough).

[OrlandoGator]

6. Maybe if we're lucky, we'll even be "insurgents".

Remember what George Carlin said, the only difference between a freedom fighter and a terrorist is what side he's on.

[OrlandoGator]

4. They've spent hundreds of billions on their toys, let them play with them.

I think the main issue here is that we are on the verge of having a military composed of autonomous armed robots.

Sure would make it easy to fight unpopular wars, wouldn't it? Or even to keep those pesky protestors at home in line?

[Squatch]

8. MUCH better than using manned aircraft