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  • Essay / The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) - 726

    The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has changed in many ways over the past decade. It has changed in design, functionality and usage over this period. One development being debated by the public and foreign nationals is the legality of using such aircraft when the weapons systems they carry are used to target forces believed to threaten forces across international borders. In Pakistan in particular, this problem has been particularly difficult to resolve. It's hard to debate that, if we had the chance to put a machine or a man in harm's way, we would choose a machine. This argument can only work as long as the potential for collateral damage remains at a tolerable level. A tolerable level looks very different if you are an official in Washington DC or if you are a mother of four who has witnessed the devastating consequences that can occur because a Taliban leader was sleeping in the house next door. Many suspected leaders and members of terrorist organizations such as the Taliban, Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda seek asylum and refuge within the borders of Pakistan. Not long ago, Osama bin Laden, number one on our wanted list, was killed in a raid on a compound just over the border in Pakistan. The targeted attack carried out by six members of the Seal team drew heavy criticism from Pakistani officials simply because they were not informed of the attack before it happened, nor requested the permission to carry out such an attack. The potential danger to soldiers and the risk of triggering additional anger and criticism from the Pakistani government is leading to the widespread use of drones across this particular international border. It is particularly difficult to limit collateral damage in dense urban areas. These sheets...... middle of paper ......Works CitedFrank Strickland. An insider's view on innovation during fiscal austerity, March 2013. https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi -studies/studies/vol.-57 -no.-1-a/vol.-57-no.-1-a-pdfs/Strickland-Evolution%20of%20the%20Predator.pdfDepartment of the Army. Army Unmanned Aircraft System Operations FM 3-04. 155. April 2008. https://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fmi3-04-155.pdfUsman Ansari. A UAV strike could jeopardize NATO supply lines in Pakistan. November 5, 2013. http://www.defensenews.com/article/20131105/DEFREG03/311050020/John David Blom. Unmanned aerial systems: a historical perspective. September 2010. http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/OP37.pdf Department of the Army, Army Use of the Electromagnetic Spectrum. March 15, 2013. https://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/ar5-12.pdf