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U.S. to Widely Export Killer Drones
Here’s one of those “Now what could possibility go wrong?” stories.
Drones for EveryoneReversing years of restricted sales of America’s robot drone killers, the Obama administration announced it will begin allowing sales of armed drones to some friendly and allied countries. Until now, only the UK has been allowed to purchase armed drones, though select other countries have bought unarmed craft.
The change comes as China begins exporting its own drones. Sales of drones could be worth billions to American companies.
In the published policy, the State Department (which ostensibly controls arms export policy but hah hah) did not specify which countries would be considered for armed drone sales, but unnamed officials told U.S. media previous requests by Italy and Turkey would be considered. The United Arab Emirates is also being considered, though only for the unarmed versions which could never at all in no way be modified to carry weapons, no siree.
Safeguards?But don’t worry, because the State Department sales rules have safeguards against drone misuse built right in:
— Countries purchasing drones must sign agreements that the aircraft will only be used for military campaigns and not to, say, wipe out political opponents;
— Certain drones capable of carrying a payload of 500kg (1,100lb) will still be barred from export except under undefined “highly unusual circumstances.”
— The recipient will be required to use drones in accordance with international law (hilarious given how the U.S. does not follow international law in its own drone use);
— Drone owners must promise not use the aircraft “to conduct unlawful surveillance or use unlawful force against their domestic populations.”
So that’s all covered. Or maybe not. The full rules for drone sales are classified.
Copyright © 2020. All rights reserved. The views expressed here are solely those of the author(s) in their private capacity.
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Bruce said...
1Dronetic … tic .. tic ..
04/16/15 6:27 AM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
2Good luck tracking these chickens when they come home to roost on US. Our “intelligence” agencies couldn’t keep track of the whirlybird that buzzed DC:
“The operation, which he called Freedom Flight, was no secret. The post on The Democracy Club announcing the scheme is dated Sept. 16, 2013. He told The Tampa Bay Times all about his plans — and the Secret Service said Wednesday it even visited him at his home in October 2013. He sent out an email blast to Florida media organizations timed to arrive Wednesday before he reached Washington airspace.
And yet, somehow, he made it.”
How much C4 can you carry on one of these?
04/16/15 6:57 AM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
3Rice-erroni 2016: “I don’t think anybody could have predicted that these people would take a whirlybird and slam it into the US Capital, or White House or…”
04/16/15 7:22 AM | Comment Link
John Poole said...
4Lenin today: “The Capitalists will sell the world drones which will be turned on them.”
04/16/15 8:27 AM | Comment Link
John Poole said...
5Rice-erroneous: “A gyrocopter?- Do they even make them today? Weren’t they the rage in the 30s?”
04/16/15 8:31 AM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
6Satan must be wringing his hands in glee, expending raucous, gut splitting laughter while raising his middle digit to the heavens.
Is there any doubt about Revelations now? It’s only a matter of time till this planet becomes a small, barren, radioactive stone in space.
04/16/15 8:40 AM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
7Rich said:
“How much C4 can you carry on one of these?”
The real question is when will they adopt a drone to carry a nuclear weapon, because there is no doubt they will.
04/16/15 8:43 AM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
8Last year, I wrote a letter to my great grandchildren, explaining how we got here while begging their forgiveness for my generation’s failure to stop these psychopaths . Now, I have to add another chapter. I never thought I would live to see this. One thing is absolutely blindingly clear. Orwell truly was naive.
04/16/15 8:50 AM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
9One more thing. There is only one thing left. Disarm the citizenry. And they will try. That is the only thing stopping the march to Totalitarianism, as every single tyrant in history disarmed their citizens.
http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-predictable-fruits-of-citizen.html
However, before they did, they armed their forces to the hilt first.
DHS just ordered SIXTY TWO AND A HALF MILLION ROUNDS OF AMMO.
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=9e4b05061ac6a7f71fcbc0cb9dea0791&tab=core&_cview=0
ARE WE CLEAR?
04/16/15 9:02 AM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
10btw..aren’t you proud to be a taxpayer?
04/16/15 9:04 AM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
11According to the Tampa Bay Times, Hughes had also sent out an email blast for every major U.S. News outlet and the Secret Service, alerting them of the stunt.
The Secret Service statement said it did not receive notification of the flight. Several reporters told the Times they received the email. The Times reported about Hughes’ flight on Twitter and Facebook as it was happening, but most media attention came after his landing at the Capitol. His website went up as scheduled, which broadcast a choppy livestream of his trip.
The Big Secret is the Secret Service needs to be investigated.
04/16/15 9:20 AM | Comment Link
starknakedtruth said...
12Pitch says…
“btw…aren’t you proud to be a taxpayer?”
Shouldn’t the question be…
Where on the form can we check to opt out?
04/16/15 1:36 PM | Comment Link