Horse cavalry gave way mechanized warfare, and tank armies
are giving way to drone warfare. Drones flourish where national sovereignty is
weak and international borders are extremely permeable. Since it’s not a good
idea for Washington to set precedents it does not want others to follow,
greater care relating to US drone strikes is warranted. Two studies on this
subject were released last week. Their recommendations clarify the value of
trying to devise international standards on the use of drone warfare and the
difficulty of doing so.
The two reports have many common threads and policy
recommendations. The report written by Micah Zenko and Susan Kreps of the
Council on Foreign Relations states the dilemmas of being a precedent-setter
plainly:
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