Argumentative Essay On Drones

Although critics of unmanned drones have blamed them as dangerous weapons that claim “too many” innocent lives, drones should still be used because they demonstrate accuracy and efficiency in targeted strikes [against terrorists], they are useful in strategic warfare, and they pose a smaller risk to civilians.
One of the many reasons unmanned drones should still be in service is because they are one of the most accurate weapons the battlefield has seen. Drones are equipped with bombs that are considerably smaller than bombs used by other war machines, such as a [manned] F-16, which carries a 500 pound bomb(s). Drone warheads work like grenades with a smaller area of effect, but they are still strong enough to make an impact on targeted areas

As a disclaimer, the drone, such as a MQ-1 Predator or a MQ-9 Reaper, itself and targeted strikes are two different things in drone warfare. Drones are always referenced with targeted strikes, but the drone, itself, was originally intended to be an aircraft for surveillance. Furthermore, a surveillance aircraft is usually very slow, noisy, clearly visible and drones are no exceptions (Anderson 16). This may make them susceptible and easy targets for most air defense systems. However, they are not meant to be used against well prepared militaries, but rather against those that have the inability to adequately fend such a machine off (16). More importantly, drones can “loiter” above the targeted destination for up to months to obtain intelligence of the suspected targets. An attempt to gather months of intelligence would be humanly impossible for ground units to physically withstand, especially in a risky circumstances (16). The quality of intelligence from drones is impeccable and it enables a more strategical and precise plan to be carried out; pinpointing areas or person(s) of interest and minimizing