Predator Use: First Overseas, Second Canadian Border, ... Next Your Backyard?

[Blackhatjack]

We are quickly moving to a surveillance society backed up by the Government's power to destroy and kill by remote control robots.

When the Predator was introduced, I recall the military spokesman pointed out how it would 'save lives.' He went on to say, our soldiers' lives who would not have to face an enemy. Info gleaned and surveillance would lead to a more successful military campaign, which would end sooner rather than later --saving more lives.

Then last week it was announced that the Predator would be deployed on the Canadian Border(Mannitoba I think) for border security.

How much of a reach is it to expect the Predator to be used over the domestic US?

Just a matter of time IMHO....

[ThomWV]

1. War is Peace

Hail to the Chief.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. they are moving towards using these instead of regular aircraft - for warfare

cheaper

[rurallib]

3. Boy Bushco sure did away with that 'longest unpatrolled international border'

in a big way.
Are we trying to keep Canadians out of here or americans in?

[SidDithers]

Can we shoot them down if they cross over into Canada?...nt

Sid

[4lbs]

12. Well, are you a good enough shot?

The Predators tend to fly at 10000+ feet, which is about two miles up, or more than 3km for the metric-based.

Anyone that good of a shot from the ground? To be able to hit a moving target that high up, taking into account wind speed and gravity?

[Taverner]

4. I can just see this to be used for the War on Drug Users

[Blackhatjack]

6. They already use satellite images to find fields and homes growing MJ....

You would expect them to link all this up, wouldn't you?

[Taverner]

9. And they will - unless Obama makes a statement like Reagan did

"War on drugs? Well we still have drugs so that shows you something...."

Just like Reagan's end to the War on Poverty

[Blackhatjack]

5. I would expect them to be introduced as just surveillance aircraft... weapons added later n/t

[ConcernedCanuk]

11. They are already "weapons capable"

.
.
.

Sad to say

I'm feeling some security from the fact that China and Russia are over our pole

our biggest threat is from our southern neighbors IMO

Thank the PNAC gang for that . .

[HeresyLives]

7. Well they are on the American side.

And supposedly being used to stop drug smuggling. You can probably figure it out from there.

[nykym]

8. Time to dust off

the Ole Potato Cannon! What you say you never heard of such a device!

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Original-Potato-Cannon/

A couple of well aimed potatoes and Wa-la Predator Mash!

[AnneD]

14. Dang....

that's high toned. We use to tape soda cans that had the tops and bottoms cut away with duct tape (pepsi because they had a rim). We would leave the bottom rim on but use a bottle opener to pierce an opening. We would drop in a few drops of lighter fluid-swirl it around, place a tennis ball (or whatever projectile) in and ignight the opening.

We called them LAW (light anti-tank weapons). Our's were the poor man's version I guess.

[cobalt1999]

10. What's the difference between that and a manned aircraft during surveillance?

Both will see the same thing. Both can do the same thing? Is it just the technology change that worries you? Does it matter where the pilot is sitting, in the cockpit or at a remote center?

[catnhatnh]

13. I believe the "worry" is the weapons rail....

...which are not a common feature of Cessnas....