Time to squelch the false rumors about Dorner and drones.

[kestrel91316]

http://www.scpr.org/blogs/news/2013/02/11/12506/lapd-manhunt-rumor-control-drones-sightings-and-wh/

Rumor: The Border Patrol/Customs is using drones to hunt Christopher Dorner

Source: U.K. tabloid the Daily Express

Truth: Not true. U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Ralph DeSio says that, while he’s quoted in the Express piece that claims drones are being used, their drones are not participating in the search. “Reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s unmanned aircraft systems are being used are incorrect. CBP UAS [Unmatted Aerial Systems] are not flying in support of the search.”

Rumor: The LAPD or another agency is using drones to track Christopher Dorner.

Truth: Not true. In a Monday press conference, the LAPD said that they’re not using drones in the search for Dorner and that they don’t know of any other agencies using drones in the search.

(More rumor control: The Express article says that Dorner would be the first target on American soil, but a drone has previously been used in the U.S. to find individuals — North Dakota cow thieves. True story!)

Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz said at a Thursday morning news conference that police were using all tools at their disposal, but did not specify whether that included drones. The Department of Homeland Security is helping local agencies obtain drones, but it appears that they aren’t being used in this case.

Drones, which are unmanned aircraft that can be accurately controlled from a remote location, have been used with weapons by the U.S. government to fight terrorism overseas. The Obama administration’s heavy use of drones has resulted in controversy, particularly after the recent revelation of a memo offering a legal defense for using drones to target U.S. citizens overseas. The drones being used on U.S. soil would likely be unarmed spy drones, used for tracking and surveillance rather than any sort of attack.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If people have FACTS to support their claims that we are all in grave danger because of armed drones being used against Dorner and by extension all Americans on US soil, please do provide YOUR PROOF. Otherwise, shut the hell up with the melodrama. I'm sick of it.

[warrprayer]

1. time to go into panic mode

... damage control for the outrage over the drone program

[Smilo]

3. You are so right

....there they were thinking America would once again swallow the propaganda and say "oh okay - we will just lie down and let you do whatever".

[Cha]

2. Thanks for attempting to stop the rumormongering,

kestral.

[Bay Boy]

4. What kind of drone are we talking about?

An 'eye in the sky' drone? Or a killer drone?
Also, what is the difference between a killer drone and a cruise missile?

[kestrel91316]

7. Rumormongers on DU were shrieking about armed attack drones. They have been falsely

claiming for days that Obama has enthusiastically endorsed using armed attack drones against Americans on US soil. It's all false.

Read the article I linked to. Border patrol uses surveillance drones. But THOSE aren't being used in the hunt for Dorner either.

READ the article. LOOK at the pictures. A military drone is a pilotless airplane. A missile is a rocket.

BTW, Google is your friend for definitions of stuff.

[Bay Boy]

10. What I meant was...

...why the current excitement over killer drones when cruise missiles have been around for awhile doing the same thing (killing people from a distance).

[kestrel91316]

11. Beats me. Somebody sent out a memo that THAT was the poutrage du jour for

hired trolls to post endlessly about, is my guess.

[longship]

5. Plus, the all drones are evil meme.

Tell that to the Mars Science Laboratory people who designed and landed the Curiosity Rover on another planet with an autonomous "drone".



Ethical drone technology at its best and most inspirational.

[kestrel91316]

8. Indeed. Hell, my dad's Air Force career was at least half of it about drones,

and he loved working on developing them. He had flown reconnaissance in Vietnam and so he really understood how much of a SAFETY IMPROVEMENT for military members the drone technology was.

I think he would consider armed attack drones to be cowardly and maybe even appalling. He actually hated war, thought it was stupid and due to incompetent diplomats letting things get out of hand.

[quinnox]

6. I love the drones!

Don't know why anyone would have a problem with them, unarmed or packing hellfire missiles! I trust the authorities to do the right thing. Always.

I, for one, welcome our drone overlords. (said with a whisper of sarcasm)

[warrprayer]

9. It's O.K.!

[arely staircase]

12. even if they are being used, shouldn't they be?

if they are doing the work of helicopters in low visibility bad weather situations, what is wrong with that? nobody thinks twice about helicopters with infrared cameras.

[kestrel91316]

13. I don't have a problem with them being used by law enforcement as long as

they have probable cause. I'm pretty sure they have probable cause in the Dorner case, lol.

Helicopters started out as military only, I think. Now cops have them and nobody gives a hoot. And amazingly enough, all these years later, the cops still aren't shooting people from on high.

The hysterical ranting about this really pisses me off. Especially when they use it as one more reason to Obama bash.