Should U.S. Drone Pilots Be Kept Secret?

SENIOR AIRMAN LARRY REED / AIR FORCE Air Force officials met Sept. 29 to discuss intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance organizational plans and further refine a blueprint for unmanned aircraft systems career fields.

Air Force Hides Drone Operators Behind Veil of Anonymity -- War is Boring

Bad move, Air Force. Last week, Colonel Kevin W. Bradley, commander of the 174th Fighter Wing in Syracuse, New York, invited media to see the wing’s new MQ-9 Reaper drones. Citing the controversy around lethal drone strikes in Pakistan and Africa, Bradley told his airmen not to give their last names to the reporters. Air Force magazine noted the new policy on Friday.

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My Comment: Should security trump full disclosure in this case .... David Axe believes that the Air Force should disclose full names. Hmmmm .... I disagree. The threat is real, and these men (and women) will be targets .... and that does not include being targeted by terrorists.

Some in the EU already consider Drone strikes to be a violation of international law .... do U.S. UAV operators want to be in a position of being named on a war crimes charge in Europe .... I doubt it. Their anonymity gives them protection .... let the higher ups and politicians take the heat.