Does drone warfare reduce harm? Maybe not. | Abigail Blanco | Big Think | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Drones in warfare have mixed results, causing psychological harm and questionable benefits.

Key Insights

• ❓ Drones in warfare have mixed results with benefits like reduced casualties but drawbacks in data reliability and psychological impact.
• 🎖️ UAVs require more personnel to operate than conventional aircraft, contradicting claims of being safer for military personnel.
• ☠️ Data on civilian casualty rates from drone strikes is skewed by the US government's definition of militants.
• ☠️ Psychological studies indicate higher rates of PTSD among UAV pilots due to prolonged surveillance and aftermath observations.
• 🥵 Drones' thermal cameras capturing body heat and aftermath scenes contribute to psychological distress not seen in conventional airstrikes.
• 🧑‍✈️ UAV pilots' prolonged surveillance of targets and aftermath observation contribute to psychological trauma.
• 💨 UAV operations may place more personnel in harm's way compared to conventional aircraft launches from carriers.

Transcript

people have often pointed to technology as a means to harm reduction in particular if we look at the expansion of unmanned aerial vehicles colloquially known as drones particularly in the war on terror so we see a huge increase in the use of drones in foreign conflict and typically we see that proponents of this type of technology make a variety of... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the claimed benefits of using drones in warfare?

Proponents argue that drones reduce civilian casualties, collateral damage, and are cost-effective compared to conventional tactics. They are also considered safer for US military personnel.

Q: What are the drawbacks of using drones in warfare?

Data suggests that drones may not be as effective as claimed, with higher failure rates compared to conventional aircraft. Additionally, the psychological impact on UAV pilots is significant due to prolonged surveillance and observation after strikes.

Q: How does the data on drone strikes' civilian casualty rates raise concerns?

The data on civilian casualties from drone strikes is not reliable, as the US government's definition of militants skews the numbers. This inaccurate reporting leads to misconceptions about the actual impact of drone warfare.

Q: What psychological effects do UAV pilots experience during drone warfare?

UAV pilots have reported comparable or higher rates of PTSD and other psychological issues due to the prolonged surveillance of targets, witnessing aftermath grief, and thermal cameras capturing the dissipating body heat.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Drones in warfare are believed to reduce civilian casualties and collateral damage, be cost-effective, and safer for US military personnel.

• However, data suggests drones may not be superior to conventional warfare tactics and have higher failure rates.

• Psychological studies highlight higher rates of PTSD among UAV pilots due to prolonged surveillance and aftermath observations.