Drones: Peacekeepers or Terrorist ProfessorControversy has plagued the US presence in the Middle East and America's use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs ) contributes greatly to this controversy. Their usefulness and ability to keep Allied troops out of harm's way is hardly disputed. However, their presence in countries not at war with America, such as Pakistan and Yemen, is disputed. Those who see the implications of drone use pay particular attention to the number of civilian casualties, the global perspective, and the legality of drone operations in non-combatant states. The use of drone technology in Yemen and Pakistan has negative consequences. Broadly speaking, non-consensual drone strikes are illegal under the laws of armed conflict, unethical, and impose a moral obligation on those who use them. These questions are all of great importance and must be resolved. Their legality is also something very important and begins with respect for the laws of armed conflict. Respect for the laws of armed conflict is something that the United States has circumvented, bent and broken with the increase in the use of drones (Killmister). Drones are currently operating at a pace never before seen and are revolutionizing the way the military operates. With changes in military tactics, expectations also arise about how these new tactics will be used. Loosely, the laws of armed conflict include how nations at war should behave, how neutral powers should act, and how neutral and combative states are supposed to interact with each other (Lucas). That being said, there is debate over whether or not the United States interacts with neutral states in a...... middle of paper ......Suzy. Remote weapons: ethical implications. Flight. 25. NA: Society for Applied Philosophy, 2008. Web. April 17, 2014. Lucas, George. New rules for new wars. Rep. Np: np, nd Web on military ethics and “irregular warfare”. April 16, 2013. .Savage, Charlie. “UN report highly critical of US drone attacks, warning against their use by others.” The New York Times. The New York Times, June 3, 2010. Web. April 15, 2014. Woods, Chris. "'Drones cause massive trauma among civilians,' major study finds." The Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Np, September 25, 2012. Web. April 16, 2014. Woods, Chris. “Games without borders, war without tears.” Cover story. New statesman. Np, June 18, 2012. Web. April 15. 2014.