Send in the Drones

[Fumesucker]

http://www.balloon-juice.com/2011/12/11/send-in-the-drones-2/

Anyone even remotely surprised by this needs to have their head examined:

Armed with a search warrant, Nelson County Sheriff Kelly Janke went looking for six missing cows on the Brossart family farm in the early evening of June 23. Three men brandishing rifles chased him off, he said.
Janke knew the gunmen could be anywhere on the 3,000-acre spread in eastern North Dakota. Fearful of an armed standoff, he called in reinforcements from the state Highway Patrol, a regional SWAT team, a bomb squad, ambulances and deputy sheriffs from three other counties.

He also called in a Predator B drone.

As the unmanned aircraft circled 2 miles overhead the next morning, sophisticated sensors under the nose helped pinpoint the three suspects and showed they were unarmed. Police rushed in and made the first known arrests of U.S. citizens with help from a Predator, the spy drone that has helped revolutionize modern warfare.

How long until we are dropping freedom bombs on our own population. Oh, wait. Been there done that.

One of the largest disappointments for me with this administration has been their unchecked use of drones pretty much anywhere they want in the world.

[kenny blankenship]

1. Rodger Rodger!

Relax citizen, autonomous airborne synthetic law enforcement agents, which have never made a mistake or distorted information and which are foolproof and incapable of error, will only be employed against the worst of the worst. Like small time cattle rustlers. Although, in view of how infallible these drones are it's to be wondered at why they don't build and launch enough of them to watch everyone, everywhere, all the time. It could only be a benefit to the law abiding.

Don't citizens of the Homeland deserve perfect security? And isn't the job of an Obersturmfuhrer in this country tough enough without forcing them to rely on human judgment and human agents? How can the legitimate government provide its essential services in an atmosphere of unpunished crime? Goldman Sachs, Citibank, BOA and JPMorgan are all known to be underwriting the expansion of start up enterprises in the field of drone warfare and homeland security - I think the market is speaking unanimously in this case. And as for speech, are you aware of the implications of advocating for the continued impunity of those who commit crimes against property, life, and state security?

[Mimosa]

2. Don't bother, they're here.

I love that song.

Don't you love farce?
My fault I fear.
I thought that you'd want what I want.
Sorry, my dear.
But where are the clowns?
Quick, send in the clowns.
Don't bother, they're here.

[Odin2005]

3. Holy damn, that's in my neck of the woods!

Post this in North Dakota, too!

[Fumesucker]

4. Be my guest.. n/t

[Odin2005]

5. Done!

[hack89]

6. How is this different from police helicopters? nt

[Fumesucker]

7. In this particular instance technically there is no difference..

However drones can loiter for twelve or more hours at an altitude where they are undetectable and see every detail of what's happening on the ground.

If you are comfortable with the fact that it's possible for the government to be watching your every action every moment you are out of doors without your knowledge and no matter where you are and you trust them with that power then it's nothing to worry about.

After all, if you have done nothing wrong then you have nothing to fear.

[hack89]

8. Well, lets pass better leglistaltion governing how such things are used.

I think they are a perfect tool for law enforcement as long as the privacy rights of citizens are protected.

[Fumesucker]

10. You pass laws with the legislators you have, not the ones you would wish to have..

h/t Rumsferatu..

[KoKo]

12. yep...that's what they tell us all.... "If you have nothing to fear...you will be safe."

I think that's worrysome.

[KoKo]

13. And...there are Drones being developed the size of Birds. I worry about my Bird Feeders and

the Bird population when these things get smaller and smaller and run by Gamers selected for their "BOMBS AWAY!" philosophy. Gamers are Good...but there's always a few psychopathic outliers who would LOVE to work for CIA/MIC...and "TARGET!"

I think the drones are quite frightening going forward. Because they are "REMOTE." It takes the "Blood and Gore" of a "face to face killing" into another realm where the "Killer" never sees the "Killed."

[cyberpj]

9. Knew this was coming. nt

[KoKo]

11. These "Drones" are disgusting. I just hope that Techies can find ways to counter program them......

This is "Remote Battle" gone a step to far.

"Drones....they Won't see them coming" is what Obama said in a Press Awards Event when asked about if his daughters might decide to date someone their parents didn't fee was acceptable.

That was when I new the "MIC" and his young age had taken over his brain.

[KoKo]

14. It's interesting to me that even "Baloon Juice" is starting to get worried......

breaking itself out of their stupor to finally get what so many of us Democratic Activists have been worrying about for awhile.

Kudo's to "Baloon Juice!"

[Fumesucker]

15. The group over there is somewhat less diverse ideologically than DU on the whole..

However the forum is all but unmoderated, about the only thing that will get you a time out is blatant racism or sexism, so it's hardly an echo chamber, indeed it's often as much of a circular firing squad as DU..

They had a six or seven hundred post flamewar about Sibelius and Plan B a day or two ago, it was epic..