Difference between revisions of "Ethics of Drone Warfare"
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The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, commonly referred to as drones, has increased rapidly in recent years. These drone technologies have been utilized by agencies across the world for policing, surveillance, photography, product deliveries, and most notably military use. The military uses drones for reconnaissance, surveillance, and delivering targeted missile and bomb strikes to targets. Many ethicists have raised concerns about this new way of killing, while the military has defended it. Concerns include lack of accountability, civilian casualties, and the indirect nature of the killing. | The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, commonly referred to as drones, has increased rapidly in recent years. These drone technologies have been utilized by agencies across the world for policing, surveillance, photography, product deliveries, and most notably military use. The military uses drones for reconnaissance, surveillance, and delivering targeted missile and bomb strikes to targets. Many ethicists have raised concerns about this new way of killing, while the military has defended it. Concerns include lack of accountability, civilian casualties, and the indirect nature of the killing. | ||
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| + | Civilian Casualties | ||
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| + | According to investigative journalists, strikes have killed between 910-2200 civilians between 2010 and 2020, including killing between 283 and 454 children. Estimates place the total number of combatants killed between 8858 and 16901. The US government released numbers of civilian casualties that are notably lower than the numbers reported by journalists and watchdog groups. | ||
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| + | Just War Theory | ||
| + | Just War Theory serves as a series of considerations when considering going to war, and how entities should conduct themselves during a war. | ||
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| + | Jus Ad Bellum - The Right To Go To War | ||
| + | In Just War theory, was must be waged in self-defense, or to defend another group from harm. The core components in determining whether to wage war are Just Cause, Comparative Justice, Competent Authority, and Proportionality. | ||
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| + | Just Cause | ||
| + | An example of a contemporary interpretation of just cause comes from the The US Catholic Conference, who determined that "Force may be used only to correct a grave, public evil, i.e., aggression or massive violation of the basic human rights of whole populations." | ||
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| + | Comparative Justice | ||
| + | The injustice suffered by one party must significantly outweigh that suffered by the other for aggression to be justified. | ||
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| + | Competent Authority | ||
| + | Aggression must be initiated by a political system that allows distinctions of justice. | ||
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| + | Last Resort | ||
| + | All other options must be exhausted before the use of force. | ||
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| + | Proportionality | ||
| + | The expected benefits of using force must be proportionate to its anticipated harm. | ||
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| + | Jus In Bello - The Right Conduct During War | ||
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| + | Distinction | ||
| + | Acts of war should always be directed towards enemy combatants, not civilians who are caught in circumstances outside of their control. | ||
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| + | Proportionality | ||
| + | Civilian casualties or other damage should be proportional to the number of lives saved by taking an action. | ||
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| + | Fair Treatment of Prisoners of War | ||
| + | Captured combatants no longer pose a threat, and must be treated as such. | ||
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| + | No Means Malum In Se | ||
| + | Evil weaponry, especially those where collateral effects cannot be controlled (like nuclear weapons or biological weapons) are not ethical. | ||
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| + | Just War Theory and US Drone Usage | ||
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| + | Defending the use of drones in a speech, President Barack Obama said: “That means taking strikes only when we face a continuing, imminent threat, and only where there is … near certainty of no civilian casualties.” These standards would likely make a strike justified under Just War Theory, but many academics contest that the execution of these standards has not been applied properly. | ||
Revision as of 14:17, 12 March 2021
The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, commonly referred to as drones, has increased rapidly in recent years. These drone technologies have been utilized by agencies across the world for policing, surveillance, photography, product deliveries, and most notably military use. The military uses drones for reconnaissance, surveillance, and delivering targeted missile and bomb strikes to targets. Many ethicists have raised concerns about this new way of killing, while the military has defended it. Concerns include lack of accountability, civilian casualties, and the indirect nature of the killing.
Civilian Casualties
According to investigative journalists, strikes have killed between 910-2200 civilians between 2010 and 2020, including killing between 283 and 454 children. Estimates place the total number of combatants killed between 8858 and 16901. The US government released numbers of civilian casualties that are notably lower than the numbers reported by journalists and watchdog groups.
Just War Theory
Just War Theory serves as a series of considerations when considering going to war, and how entities should conduct themselves during a war.
Jus Ad Bellum - The Right To Go To War In Just War theory, was must be waged in self-defense, or to defend another group from harm. The core components in determining whether to wage war are Just Cause, Comparative Justice, Competent Authority, and Proportionality.
Just Cause An example of a contemporary interpretation of just cause comes from the The US Catholic Conference, who determined that "Force may be used only to correct a grave, public evil, i.e., aggression or massive violation of the basic human rights of whole populations."
Comparative Justice The injustice suffered by one party must significantly outweigh that suffered by the other for aggression to be justified.
Competent Authority Aggression must be initiated by a political system that allows distinctions of justice.
Last Resort All other options must be exhausted before the use of force.
Proportionality The expected benefits of using force must be proportionate to its anticipated harm.
Jus In Bello - The Right Conduct During War
Distinction Acts of war should always be directed towards enemy combatants, not civilians who are caught in circumstances outside of their control.
Proportionality Civilian casualties or other damage should be proportional to the number of lives saved by taking an action.
Fair Treatment of Prisoners of War Captured combatants no longer pose a threat, and must be treated as such.
No Means Malum In Se Evil weaponry, especially those where collateral effects cannot be controlled (like nuclear weapons or biological weapons) are not ethical.
Just War Theory and US Drone Usage
Defending the use of drones in a speech, President Barack Obama said: “That means taking strikes only when we face a continuing, imminent threat, and only where there is … near certainty of no civilian casualties.” These standards would likely make a strike justified under Just War Theory, but many academics contest that the execution of these standards has not been applied properly.
