CIA seeks to expand drone fleet, officials say

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Source: Washington Post

CIA seeks to expand drone fleet, officials say
By Greg Miller, Published: October 18

The CIA is urging the White House to approve a significant expansion of the agency’s fleet of armed drones, a move that would extend the spy service’s decade-long transformation into a paramilitary force, U.S. officials said.

The proposal by CIA Director David H. Petraeus would bolster the agency’s ability to sustain its campaigns of lethal strikes in Pakistan and Yemen and enable it, if directed, to shift aircraft to emerging al-Qaeda threats in North Africa or other trouble spots, officials said.

If approved, the CIA could add as many as 10 drones, the officials said, to an inventory that has ranged between 30 and 35 over the past few years.

The outcome has broad implications for counterterrorism policy and whether the CIA gradually returns to being an organization focused mainly on gathering intelligence, or remains a central player in the targeted killing of terrorism suspects abroad.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-seeks-to-expand-drone-fleet-officials-say/2012/10/18/01149a8c-1949-11e2-bd10-5ff056538b7c_story.html?wprss=rss_national

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6 replies	Author	Time	Post
CIA seeks to expand drone fleet, officials say (Original post)	Judi Lynn	Oct 2012	OP
What happens if the CIA goes rogue and starts using the drones against Americans?	JDPriestly	Oct 2012	#1
That's what happens when you put a general in charge of the CIA	lunatica	Oct 2012	#2
The drones have devastated Al Q'aeda	cosmicone	Oct 2012	#3
k/r	Solly Mack	Oct 2012	#4
Shouldnt the military be the ones controlling any "armed" drones?	cstanleytech	Oct 2012	#5
Locking - duplicate thread	muriel_volestrangler	Oct 2012	#6

Response to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Oct 21, 2012, 04:55 AM

JDPriestly (37,760 posts)

1. What happens if the CIA goes rogue and starts using the drones against Americans?

Don't think it could happen? Think about the history of the Roman empire. Have we really progressed to the point that our democracy is safe from people who think they know better. Petraeus might not be that type, but then again, who knows?

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Response to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Oct 21, 2012, 07:28 AM

lunatica (28,848 posts)

2. That's what happens when you put a general in charge of the CIA

It must be his dream come true to head an agency that answers to no one but the President. No one can know what President Mitt would do with that power. Literally. No one knows.

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Response to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Oct 21, 2012, 07:44 AM

cosmicone (3,379 posts)

3. The drones have devastated Al Q'aeda

and are a cheaper, more effective way of killing terrorists without technically invading countries or risking American lives.

I'd rather spend the money on drones than a clusterfuck like the illegal and unnecessary Iraq war.

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Response to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Oct 21, 2012, 08:20 AM

Solly Mack (49,491 posts)