The accidental deaths of two hostages held by al-Qaida in a U.S. drone strike has reignited debate about the use of that tool in the fight against terrorist groups. Drones have become the instrument of first choice in the Obama administration's efforts to combat terrorist organizations, raising important questions about the legality and utility of that weapon. While the United States is grappling most intensely with this issue, the proliferation of drone technology means that Washington's problems and concerns will soon become those of other governments, too.
Drones have been used by the military for a variety of purposes for several decades. Originally deployed for surveillance and reconnaissance, the miniaturization of weaponry along with more effective data processing has allowed the devices to be transformed into weapons capable of carrying out real-time strikes against distant targets without requiring boots on the ground and putting more U.S. and allied lives at risk.
Not only has the use of drones allowed U.S. President Barack Obama to proceed with his campaign pledges to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, but it has allowed the U.S. to take the fight to terrorist groups in other countries, such as in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. Not surprisingly, the use of this technology is overwhelmingly popular in the U.S. About two-thirds of the public expresses approval of their use and politicians on both sides of the aisle agree as well.