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Forum Post: I Love the Smell of Fascism in the Morning

Posted 11 years ago on June 16, 2012, 9:25 p.m. EST by TrevorMnemonic (5827)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Armed Drones Have No Place In America. We are not terrorists. We're Americans and we have rights.

We have unfortunately sometimes seen our overseas battlefields bleed across our own borders. As part of the debate over the National Defense Authorization Act and indefinite detention, for example, we already witnessed a willingness by Congress to move the battlefield in the war on terror into our own backyards. Importing weaponized drones to the domestic context would be the latest and arguably most extreme example of the militarization of our police. This trend, fueled in part by companies seeking domestic markets for weapons of war, has already led to many tragic abuses.

From their controversial deployment for targeted killings and other uses abroad, we know that armed drones are incredibly powerful and dangerous weapons. When domestic law enforcement officers can use force from a distance, it may become too easy for them to do so. When it becomes easier to do surveillance, surveillance is used more, and when it becomes easier to use force, force will be used more. We have seen this dynamic with “less lethal” weapons such as Tasers; since 2001, over 500 people in the United States have died after being tased, according to Amnesty International, and Tasers are often used in clearly unnecessary situations—for example, in retaliation against nonviolent people who have angered a police officer. Drones may also be more likely to result in harm to innocent bystanders.

As we have documented extensively, the most urgent threat that domestic drones pose at this time is as instruments of mass surveillance and other invasions of privacy. - ACLU

http://www.aclu.org/blog/technology-and-liberty-free-speech-national-security/ban-arming-domestic-drones

11 Comments

11 Comments


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[-] 1 points by cJessgo (729) from Port Jervis, PA 11 years ago

I would expect nothing less from our police state.Don't want the rabble to get out of hand do we.It might set a bad example for our neighbors.

[-] 1 points by JoeTheFarmer (2654) 11 years ago

While I agree with your arguments on armed drones they have nothing to do with fascism. Fascism is a political and economic system.

There are police states in communist and socialist countries. The concept of power has very little to do with the political or economic system in place.

I have not heard of any plan to use armed drones in the US. Even the article you reference states "moves to arm domestic drones are widely seen as beyond the pale and have not really been contemplated"

Why do we need to waste time making laws for things that have not happened. Let's get to work on things in front of us like repealing the Patriot Act and removing the amendments to the NDAA related to indefinite detention without being charged.

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty"

-- Benjamin Franklin

"Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature."

-- Benjamin Franklin

[-] 1 points by TransPacificPartnership (8) 11 years ago

The Sheeple could have stopped this. They were warned. They did nothing:

http://occupywallst.org/forum/call-to-action-demand-that-president-obama-veto-hr/

[-] 1 points by Nevada1 (5843) 11 years ago

Agree. Drones are a Police State thing.

Ever wonder about all the stuff going on, that we do not hear about?

[-] 1 points by JusticeF0rTrayvon (-58) 11 years ago

It's okay, Obama is running the drones now! they're on OUR side!

[-] 1 points by DanielBarton (1345) 11 years ago

no reason for armed drones but drones can be used for some awesome things.

[-] 1 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 11 years ago

One just crashed in Maryland the other day.

Awesome.

[-] 1 points by grapes (5232) 11 years ago

What would happen if the communications to the drones flying around Washington D.C. were disrupted? They might work extremely well for terrorists who would only need to beam some signals remotely to cause a crash on U.S. soil.

[-] 1 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 11 years ago

It could get messy.

[-] 1 points by grapes (5232) 11 years ago

Yes, the defense could become offensive. We had better think about issues related to domestic usage of drones really well.

[-] 0 points by TrevorMnemonic (5827) 11 years ago

Government sends shuttle to space. Says mission is classified.

This means whatever they are doing would not be supported by the public.

http://news.discovery.com/space/secret-military-mini-shuttle-lands-in-california.html