Saturday, December 31, 2011

The Growing Role Of Civilian Contractors In U.S. Drone Operations Are Raising Concerns

Personnel at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County last year control a Predator drone flying over Ft. Irwin, northeast of Barstow. (Don Bartletti, Los Angeles Times)

Civilian Contractors Playing Key Roles In U.S. Drone Operations -- L.A. Times

Reporting from Washington — After a U.S. airstrike mistakenly killed at least 15 Afghans in 2010, the Army officer investigating the accident was surprised to discover that an American civilian had played a central role: analyzing video feeds from a Predator drone keeping watch from above.

The contractor had overseen other analysts at Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field in Florida as the drone tracked suspected insurgents near a small unit of U.S. soldiers in rugged hills of central Afghanistan. Based partly on her analysis, an Army captain ordered an airstrike on a convoy that turned out to be carrying innocent men, women and children.

Read more ....

Update: US Civilians Are Now Helping Decide Who To Kill With Military Drones -- Business Insider

My Comment: These concerns are justified. As the U.S. military becomes more dependent on civilian contractors .... more accidental deaths and questionable calls will probably be raised.

2 comments:

  1. افضل واقوى الخدمات الخاصة بأعمال نقل العفش والاثاث بجدة يقدمها موقع خدماتي تحت مسمى افضل نقل اثاث بجدة متميزة ومضمونة وتقدم خدماتها باحترافية عالية وتعتبر شركتنا من افضل نقل عفش بجده متميزة ومضمونة وتعتمد على عمالة احترافية

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