Drones: when science-fiction becomes news

"What was a science-fiction scenario not much more than a decade ago has become today’s news.”

This quote from Scott Shane’s thoughtful article on China’s recent unveiling of 25 new models of drone sums up the way modern warfare is about to change. That change is coming rapidly - so rapidly that discussions of the legal, moral and political implications surrounding these “robot wars” are going to have to run to catch up.

If China becomes the world’s fourth nation to use drone strikes against suspected enemies, we may have a new international norm on our hands.  The risks of this are monumental:  summary executions and the concept of ‘guilty until proven innocent’ become acceptable.  We should also note that once someone has proven innocence in drone cases – it’s too late.  They’re already dead.

Recent reports that scientists are trying to develop “autonomous targeting” drones are leading us even further into the realms of science fiction. Currently, images of remote control weapons and “videogame warfare” dominate the way in which we think about drones.  However, the idea of unmanned aerial vehicles (or UAVs as they’re known in the industry) flying solo is even more terrifying.  As Tom Engelhardt stated:

“Just think about the last time you went to a Terminator film…”

and you get the picture.

While more and more reports of the civilian casualties in the CIA’s drones war in Pakistan have been coming to light recently, those living in countries deploying drones need to consider the prospect that they too might see and hear those drones flying overhead someday. Perhaps the implications of the world’s newest super power shoring up its arsenal with UAVs – not to mention the alleged attempt to use remote controlled aircraft against the Pentagon last month – will be the kick some of us need to start making the connection.