US Military to Increase Drone Flights Globally - Is this the first strike option, would you agree?

I like this. It can give us a lot of variable intel right away. And if a target of opportunity presents itself then it can be taken out right away. In the age were asymmetric warfare is reeking havoc on conventional forces we can counter with drones. We won't have a target for them to attack but we will be able strike at will. I don't think this will replace boots on ground but it will save many.

I think we will always need boots on the ground and the fact that these pilots set thousand miles away and get orders from Higher and don't have all the detail. Even actual Pilots cant see at 30 000 feet what the hell is going on. They gotta go down and if the drone do that you have lost the element of surprise and possibly pissed off yet another country because we sure as hell don't want to piss someone off and make them not like us!

Contractors releasing munitions, this would be a huge issue if they were authorized to drop munitions. Contractors are not subject to UCMJ unlike DoD civilians, but the article states they wouldn't be flying armed drones. A large portion of our ISR assets include contractors as is (especially manned assets). Contractors flying 10 missions a day is a logical step. Some people might complain about the cost of a contractor versus a service member but you have to keep in mind a few simple things...contractors don't count against active duty numbers, they draw no government health benefits or retirement, and for jobs like this, they are often way more qualified than the personnel the military would normally toss into those positions.

Definitely gives us first strike capabilities. Hopefully it will serve FIRST for intel gathering and CONFIRMATION then as a "problem eliminator" will definitely save troop lives and hopefully minimize collateral damage. Contractors flying missions - well, uh, uhm, eh, ah, I'm not getting a warm fuzzy on that. IMHO, drone operators need to be completely accountable to DoD and subject to UCMJ. Where there's a way to use something for good, there are 50 ways to misuse it. Look at some of the war crimes committed by us and contractors on the ground with small arms. Now we want to give someone, potentially outside UCMJ, access to a few flying Hellfires? Just not feeling the positive vibes on that one.

CSM Michael J. Uhlig I prefer military strikes be conducted by military personnel.
The article says that contractors will be used only for intelligence gathering but that is always the baby step to something more. I think any target must be a verified target and qualified through a military staffed process. These personnel must be accountable to the constitution and the UCMJ.

The use of drones is definitely a combat multiplier, but the need for human intel is still vital to operational success. I think the release of munitions by contractors creates a unneeded number of complications regarding drone use in combat.

I think this does give us a big advantage. Contractors? ... Maybe, with government supervision. I think this may be an inherently government function. I think that's what it's called.

The contractors would be used for observation, not carrying munitions on their drones. I don't understand why we would hire contractors, rather than add to the AD drone pilots. You can bet they will be paid far more that those sitting next to them in uniform.

The only way that air will bring us much closer to victory is to decimate towns and cities.

I think this is important but doesn't eliminate the need for anything else we have. What it could do is add a layer of deterrence. Drone strikes are something we've proven willing to use, whereas some of our other deterrent methods we've been reluctant to realize if provoked.