Ever since Obama has shouldered the responsibility of the Presidency, significant progress has been made in the area of counterterrorism, thanks to a global network of drones that have been set up over the past three years.
And there’s no doubt that Obama himself has been instrumental for the use of drones throughout the world, and which has been confirmed by a senior administration official who says, “Everything about our counterterrorism operations is about carrying out the guidance that he’s given. I don’t think you could have the president any more involved.”
It’s also very clear that the use of drones as a national security measure has increased tenfold in comparison to the Bush and Clinton administrations. With clandestine bases in six countries spread over two continents, operational hubs on the East Coast and virtual Air Force cockpits in the SouthWest, there is no doubt that this network is responsible for the recent successes in eliminating several terrorists, namely belonging to the Al-Qaeda network and its affiliates.
Yes, the number of high-value targets in Pakistan has been reduced to two – and while human rights activists don’t agree with the use of drones, the truth is that most politicians in Washington cannot debate on this issue as information on this program is guarded very closely.
Another reason why the increased use of these drones is not questioned is because it puts the lives of Americans out of harm’s way and is able to minimize collateral damage, with this advanced technology.
However, what officials are wary about is the extent to which this technology might be used in the future – thanks to the increased capabilities of the drone that has been demonstrated in recent times.