Crossing The Line

I remember the first time I read a classified document that, in summary, discussed the US battle plans for the invasion of Canada. I was shocked, appalled, and mortified that we would even consider such a move until I made it to the part of the briefing that stated this was a contingency plan based on the possible occupancy of Soviet troops and recapturing the real estate to benefit the Canadians. Oh … now it made sense and as I learned more and more about some of our plans that, on the surface, looked dreadful, I soon understood the benefit of having a government and military that dared to think the unthinkable.

I have been pondering the same thing on the recently re-disclosed memo from the Executive Branch on the possibility o f use of unmanned drones (armed) to kill US Citizens within the borders of the US. I have been trying to rationalize this based upon a wide number of scenario’s but on this one I am stuck. I could get past the idea of having to shoot down a civilian aircraft that was on a terrorist mission to do God only knows what, despite how uncomfortable it makes me. But having an unmanned aircraft cruising the skies of the US, possible with weapons on board and no human at on board controls seems to be going over the line. Not knowing where that pilot is located or even if he is a citizen, properly vetted, or if he has operational control or …. Well, I think you get the point. More and more universities are fielding graduates of these remote flight capabilities and quite a few are working with contractors in the middle east on what are certainly military missions.

The line of responsibility, command & control is getting a bit too blurred for my taste and the thought of having an unmanned vehicle that is supposed to be just inspecting power lines, possibly being armed “just in case” is not only a real possibility, but one that is already being explored by mission critical elements of the military. The CIA already operates within the boarders of the US, a clear violation of previous doctrine so what will prevent them from doing the same with drones, not to mention the possible attacks on US Citizens that are “suspected” terrorists, subversives, or just your ordinary rotten kid knocking over the neighbors mailbox at night. Open that door will most certainly invite abuse of the system is more ways that we can possibly imagine.

As screwy as it may sound, I am starting to understand the mindset of a guy like Ted Kruzinskie and his railings against technology. Perhaps it’s just my age or perhaps it’s the knowledge of so many little Government projects that “would never evolve that way”, yet have. Or maybe it’s simply understand that Power Corrupts & Absolute Power Absolutely Corrupts, but I don’t see the good in this new recommended technological advancement. I do see one heck of a lot of opportunity for it to be used to control the masses by silently eliminating anyone that speaks out against the government.

Please don’t tell me it can never happen. If you want to sell that bag of fertilizer, please start by explaining to all the illegally interned American Citizens that just happen to have been former citizens of Japan that we were just kidding to any of the other nationalities that we have persecuted in the name of peace and national security over the decades.

This one just spells of way too much socialistic control and government intrusion. Oh yes, and by the way, that memo made no mention of the government having to go through a Federal Court to obtain a judges permission to kill American Citizens, just the DOD’s lawyers opinions about how and why it’s legal without any form of democratic protections for your rights. Hmmmmmmm ………