Posted on Nov 19, 2015
Ex-Drone Operator says program is 'Good At Killing People, Just Not The Right Ones'
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I had not heard of this before reading this article. I was under the impression the Drones were doing a good job. I was also under the impression Obama didn't want to take a chance on killing civilians. This is an interesting article. I don't know how accurate it is, but it's a good read.
And now to the rest of the story:
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Former drone operators and technicians are slamming how the program is being run by the Obama administration.
WASHINGTON -- Former U.S. drone operators and technicians spoke out on Thursday about the extensive problems with the Obama administration's lethal program in the Middle East, shedding light on civilian deaths, the callousness of the culture, and the heavy weight of responsibility.
The ex-drone program participants outlined their experiences at an event held in New York that was organized to promote the new documentary Drone.
Michael Haas, who is a former senior airman with the U.S. air force and helped guide missiles to their targets, according to the Guardian, discussed his experience serving under the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, which included working as an instructor. He said over time the quality of personnel rapidly declined, and the mentality under the Obama administration shifted to where, "a meritorious thing to do was to fire a shot, circumstances be damned."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/drones-isis-terrorism-barack-obama_564e03d6e4b00b7997f99af0?ir=Politics%253Fncid%253Dnewsltushpmg00000003
Former drone operators and technicians are slamming how the program is being run by the Obama administration.
And now to the rest of the story:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Former drone operators and technicians are slamming how the program is being run by the Obama administration.
WASHINGTON -- Former U.S. drone operators and technicians spoke out on Thursday about the extensive problems with the Obama administration's lethal program in the Middle East, shedding light on civilian deaths, the callousness of the culture, and the heavy weight of responsibility.
The ex-drone program participants outlined their experiences at an event held in New York that was organized to promote the new documentary Drone.
Michael Haas, who is a former senior airman with the U.S. air force and helped guide missiles to their targets, according to the Guardian, discussed his experience serving under the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, which included working as an instructor. He said over time the quality of personnel rapidly declined, and the mentality under the Obama administration shifted to where, "a meritorious thing to do was to fire a shot, circumstances be damned."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/drones-isis-terrorism-barack-obama_564e03d6e4b00b7997f99af0?ir=Politics%253Fncid%253Dnewsltushpmg00000003
Former drone operators and technicians are slamming how the program is being run by the Obama administration.
Drones
Warfare
Death
Barack Obama
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 3
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I read another article on this topic. Everyone goes through their own struggle when dealing with unsavory tasks. I'm pretty sure these guys weren't forced at bayonet point to do this job. It sounded great, cutting edge technology, part of the fight and a fantastic substitute for a few guys who couldn't fly. There are people who don't take into consideration the consequences of what they are volunteering to do because it sounds awesome at the time. It's a shame that they'd raise a stink after the fact. I know, contractors and service members are in a pickle when you realize you're involved with something disagreeable, most can't just throw their hands up and walk away, but there are avenues to take. The GWOT fervor overtook the nation and compromises were and are being made and at whatever time people were/are actively engaged, they kept doing it, re-upped or extended their contracts. Remorse occurs after action, but popping up and laying the blame on someone for something that has been in full swing for 13 or 14 years is an attempt to deflect involvement even if you're trying to clear your soul.
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SGT (Join to see)
TSgt Marco McDowell, I agree with everything you wrote. I'm not sure if he's remorseful or wanted some publicity. If I killed some innocents when we hit those vills, I'm sorry. They weren't supposed to be there in the first place. We went out of our way to extract the women, kids, and old men. Usually there weren't any young men in the vills. If anyone was in there, they were considered hostile. I feel that, knowing the enemies are targets, if the innocents can he out but don't, there's nothing can be done about it. If they are hunkered with the enemy, killing them is part of being targeted. I won't say they are collateral damage, because I think they are supporting the enemy. If these volunteers to pilot a drone, didn't realize the bombs would be killing people, they're pretty stupid. There isn't anything clean in a war. Maybe they were volunteering for the job to ensure they wouldn't be on the ground close up and personal. I don't know. When I volunteered to be a Huey door gunner, I knew I would be killing people. I didn't have any reservations about that. That was my job, and I didn't act like I didn't know, I killed people, like I wasn't aware that would happen. That's a crock like this article.
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Soul Repair (Beacon Press, 2012) aims to help veterans, their families, members of their communities, and clergy understand the impact of war on the consciences of healthy people, support the recovery of moral conscience in society, and restore veterans to civilian life. When a society sends people off to war, it must accept responsibility for returning them home to peace. The following excerpt of the book’s introduction describes moral injury as a growing problem that’s sadly not being sufficiently addressed by today’s society.
After we send men and women off to war, how do we bring them home to peace?
http://www.utne.com/mind-and-body/moral-injury-soul-repair-ze0z1303zgar.aspx
After we send men and women off to war, how do we bring them home to peace?
http://www.utne.com/mind-and-body/moral-injury-soul-repair-ze0z1303zgar.aspx
The Moral Injury of War: Using ‘Soul Repair’ to Prevent Veteran Suicides
The difficult process of repairing a soldier’s moral conscience begins with a societal approach to compassionate care—a commitment to addressing war veterans’ moral anguish as well as PTSD.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thanks Andy. I would like to read that book and see if it can help me. As far as bringing them home to peace, that's a tough question to answer. Bringing them home to peace will mean intense therapy and them convincing themselves they have done nothing wrong, and help release the ghosts in their minds. I know some of the females have double trouble if they have been assaulted and are in combat. They need to come home and be able to get a job, receive help from the VA in an appropriate time period, and be able to have a home. They need the security that they are home and have not come back to hell.
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