Are Drone strikes cowardly?

WoW you can see this is a touchy point , i would bet mostly for the Combat-Veteran. Very nice to see the service members up in arms over the question. I like the Answers and the Replies , it's great. In any case from one former Marine to another. " Go Get'em , blow the guy's fuck'en Head Off". You see for a Jar-Head , that's what mind set i answer the question from. A former Marine , middle aged , baggy pants , beer belly , Jar-Head. I take the Philosophy out of the matter. I look at the one of the men killed off just this weekend, Specialist Jay Strickland was killed in Afghanistan. He died for us. RIP

Is this a serious question? ALL is fair in war. If it accomplishes the mission with minimal or no casualties I do NOT care.

If a bomb was dropped from a B-2 at high altitude this wouldn't even be a question! It would actually remove the risk of lost lives to use drones!

No...it's efficient...

No, I'd say drone strikes are accurate.

No more then other air strikes they are a tool that we use. I would be more worried about are we using air strikes properly more then if there is a pilot in the aircraft.

No. However, it may be a matter of perspective.

I would say the correct term is UAS, (formerly UAV, UCAS, etc...take your pick) are not truly drones as they are controlled. That said, they are no more cowardly then an manned aircraft or a cruise Missile.

We have been working thowrds the ability to conduct precision warfare at great standoff distances since at least the end of the Vietnam War. In this we now have some level of success. Strinkjng from a distance is not cowardly. However, it is not the first time such an accusation has been levels at stand off weapons. Archers were hated by Knights. Artillery has received similar treatment as well. It is not a fear of combat or fighting, it is a desire to project power in the most effective (and safe manner). I can see why an opponent would perhaps see it as a cowardly act, especially given the general inability to fight back.

The second point they make, civilian casualties, unintended victims, is not about cowardliness. It is a separate issue. As precise as our weapons may be, they are not perfect and that leads to u intended deaths. However, I suspect the unintended deaths are lower the in the past when you compare them to convential bombing, artillery strikes and rocket attacks. It is one of the reason we go to great lengths to keep human decision makers in the sensor to shooter chain.

So our bomber is a drone.

Nope. While on the subject, lets bring back the Flamethrower.

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