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Open to Debate

Is The U.S. Drone Program Fatally Flawed?

Open to Debate

Open to Debate

Education, News, Society & Culture

4.6 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 17 September 2013

⏱️ 51 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Remotely piloted aircraft, or drones, have been the centerpiece of America’s counterterrorism toolkit since the start of the Obama presidency, and the benefits have been clear. Their use has significantly weakened al Qaeda and the Taliban while keeping American troops out of harm’s way. But critics of drone strikes argue that the short-term gains do not outweigh the long-term consequences—among them, radicalization of a public outraged over civilian deaths. Is our drone program hurting, or helping, in the fight against terrorism? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:21.0

The US Air Force, the US Air Force, it's the agency that makes pilots.

0:28.0

And in one recent 12-month period, it made 250 of them trained up to fly bombers and fighter jets.

0:35.0

But that is versus the 350 who were trained during the same period to fly drones by remote control.

0:42.0

350 drone pilots versus 250 traditional.

0:46.0

Clearly, a trend that has good reasons behind it, as the US, especially the CIA, sends these Ritalis aircraft week after week after Al-Qaeda.

0:55.0

But there's also a backlash against the drones and worries that the way that we're using these weapons could come back to bite us.

1:02.0

Well, this sounds like the making of a debate.

1:05.0

So let's have it.

1:06.0

Yes or no to this statement.

1:08.0

The US drone program is fatally flawed.

1:12.0

A debate from intelligence-squared US, where at the Kaufman Music Center in New York City.

1:17.0

I'm John Donvan.

1:19.0

We have four superbly qualified debaters, two against two, who will argue four and against this motion.

1:25.0

The US drone program is fatally flawed.

1:28.0

As always, our debate will go in three rounds, and then the live audience votes to choose the winner.

1:33.0

And let's meet the team arguing for this motion.

1:36.0

Let's first welcome, ladies and gentlemen, Ahmed Rashid.

...

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