In theory, drone warfare embodies what is best about the United States of America. Pilots in air-conditioned control modules on Nevada airbases operate stealthy aircraft half a world away in Afghanistan and other rugged locales via satellite uplink. Sophisticated camera arrays equipped with advanced thermal imaging provide unparalleled aerial surveillance and allow drones to deploy precision-guided Hellfire missiles and other ordnance. Drones can loiter in one location for days at a time or put a bomb in the bed of a pickup truck. No American personnel are directly exposed to combat. And all of this is possible at far lower expense than a traditional fourth-generation air force of F-16s, F-18s, and F-15s. This has made drones very, very popular.
4:54 PM 06/25/2012
Why is the United States concerned about a nuclear-armed Iran? Iran is hostile, and has been since the 1979 revolution overthrew the American-backed Shah and precipitated the embassy hostage crisis. It has supplied insurgents in Iraq with explosively formed penetrators (EFPs) and other weapons that have killed American service members. Its leaders have at times vowed to drive Israel into the sea. And the Iranian regime stands directly behind Hezbollah.
