I had a similar initial reaction. Discussion on drones often conflate issues relating to the use of drones per se, and the policy of the US to target humans for

I had a similar initial reaction. Discussion on drones often conflate issues relating to the use of drones per se, and the policy of the US to target humans for killing as part of a murky overlay between anti-terrorism and a defacto war, which is likely illegal to begin with. The act of using a drone versus a plane to drop the missile is surely not in of itself controversial. The main issue as to the use of drones is that the lower cost of flying these machines means the US can a) afford more sorties which further terrorises the civilians (as it is not a war, it is by definition terrorism) and b) the lowered risk to US life and 'shot down plane' stories means the US media is less likely to give a shit and report on it.