Technology and Warfare

Under the Obama administration, the use of drone strikes increased in Pakistan increased substantially (Drone). In his first year in office, the number of attacks increased from 36 to 54, and again to 122 the year after that (Drone). Initially, these attacks did not garner much scrutiny from the general public, probably because of the death of Osama bin Laden and the devastation of the al-Qaeda network. White house officials at the time stated that, while the government was rapidly expanding the use of drones, they were not trying to create a network of war machines reaching to every corner of the globe, as some believed (Miller). Since 2011, the number of drone strikes has steadily decreased and almost vanished (Drone). However, 500-1000 civilians, about 200 children, and 3 Americans were killed in the attacks (Serle). Of the 2,379 dead, 84 were confirmed members of Al-Qaeda, and of the 704 identified, only 295 were confirmed to be members of a terrorist group (Serle). A study at Stanford states that "the program was associated with monthly reductions of around 9-13 insurgent attacks and 51-86 casualties" which is significant when there were previously 21 attacks and 100 casualties per month (Mir). Another study found that the drone attacks were associated with a decreased severity of terrorist attacks (Johnston).

Personally, I oppose the method of the attacks, but I have a hard time reasoning about the results. Generous estimates of reduced casualties due to drone strikes show that the strikes could have ultimately decreased total casualties, despite causing some themselves. The attacks are generally criticized by the United Nations Human Rights Council. I think that the attacks put a lot of power into the hands of the CIA with very little accountability, and the lack of transparency is unacceptable. Perhaps if the United Nations was consulted beforehand, the attacks would carry out the same way, but I think the attacks place undue power in the CIA without the necessary responsibility.

“Drone Strikes: Pakistan.” New America, www.newamerica.org/in-depth/americas-counterterrorism-wars/pakistan/. 
 
Johnston, Patrick B, and Anoop K Sarbahi. “The Impact of US Drone Strikes on Terrorism in Pakistan .” The Impact of US Drone Strikes on Terrorism in Pakistan , academic.oup.com/isq/article-abstract/60/2/203/1750218?redirectedFrom=fulltext. 
 
Miller, Greg. “Under Obama, an Emerging Global Apparatus for Drone Killing.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 27 Dec. 2011, www.washingtonpost.com/national/national-security/under-obama-an-emerging-global-apparatus-for-drone-killing/2011/12/13/gIQANPdILP_story.html?utm_term=.e78fdd31389a. 
 
Mir, Asfandyar, and Dylan Moore. “Drones, Surveillance, and Violence: Theory and Evidencefrom a US Drone Program.” International Studies Quarterly, 13 Dec. 2018. 
 
Serle, Jack. “Only 4% of Drone Victims in Pakistan Named as Al Qaeda Members.” Naming the Dead, 16 Oct. 2014, v1.thebureauinvestigates.com/namingthedead/only-4-of-drone-victims-in-pakistan-named-as-al-qaeda-members/?lang=en.

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