4 ms·

I'm aware of that, but it's extremely, extremely unlikely that this drone is carrying any sort of missiles. I can't prove that for certain, but let's be realist

I'm aware of that, but it's extremely, extremely unlikely that this drone is carrying any sort of missiles. I can't prove that for certain, but let's be realistic here. The government could in theory drive a ballistic missile launcher hidden in an 18-wheeler into any major US city - should we not allow trucks on the road?

colejohnson66 6y ago
That’s a false equivalence. The difference with your truck argument is that this air vehicle is specifically designed to monitor and shoot missiles at targets (“extrajudicial killings” is the phrase used). A truck carrying a missile launcher is different because trucks weren’t created will the express purpose of carrying missile launchers.
- king_magic 6y ago
  Except there's simply no way (short of the US falling into a total dystopian future) that someone is going to launch a missile on the Mall of America this week from this drone. Again - let's be realistic here.
codys 6y ago
> should we not allow trucks on the road? Perhaps not ones designed for carrying ballistic missiles. Though this still isn't a perfect comparison because it ignores the fact that drone usage can be targeted to individuals, which is a factor that makes it more dangerous in our context of homeland operations.
kec 6y ago
Pointing a gun at someone is a threat even if you say it's unloaded. The US government should not be threatening its citizens. > The government could in theory drive a ballistic missile launcher hidden in an 18-wheeler into any major US city - should we not allow trucks on the road? This is a straw man, the Predator is a weapons platform, nothing is being hidden here.
- king_magic 6y ago
  A police helicopter manned with police officers with long guns is a weapons platform too. What's the difference?
  - kec 6y ago
    Police helicopters don’t regularly kill dozens of people. The helicopter is more akin to a cop walking around with a sidearm. Still not great, but less overtly threatening.
    - king_magic 6y ago
      Drones don't regularly kill dozens of people in the US either. Also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOVE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOVE

colejohnson66 6y ago

That’s a false equivalence. The difference with your truck argument is that this air vehicle is specifically designed to monitor and shoot missiles at targets (“extrajudicial killings” is the phrase used). A truck carrying a missile launcher is different because trucks weren’t created will the express purpose of carrying missile launchers.

king_magic 6y ago
Except there's simply no way (short of the US falling into a total dystopian future) that someone is going to launch a missile on the Mall of America this week from this drone. Again - let's be realistic here.

codys 6y ago

> should we not allow trucks on the road? Perhaps not ones designed for carrying ballistic missiles. Though this still isn't a perfect comparison because it ignores the fact that drone usage can be targeted to individuals, which is a factor that makes it more dangerous in our context of homeland operations.

kec 6y ago

Pointing a gun at someone is a threat even if you say it's unloaded. The US government should not be threatening its citizens. > The government could in theory drive a ballistic missile launcher hidden in an 18-wheeler into any major US city - should we not allow trucks on the road? This is a straw man, the Predator is a weapons platform, nothing is being hidden here.

king_magic 6y ago
A police helicopter manned with police officers with long guns is a weapons platform too. What's the difference?
- kec 6y ago
  Police helicopters don’t regularly kill dozens of people. The helicopter is more akin to a cop walking around with a sidearm. Still not great, but less overtly threatening.
  - king_magic 6y ago
    Drones don't regularly kill dozens of people in the US either. Also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOVE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOVE