Drone Warfare

Drones, or in other words Unmanned Arial Vehicle (UAV), have become such an enormous and a powerful player in the battlefield that numerous armed forces around the globe are acquiring them into their arsenal. Among the countries that have implemented and operated drones, the top user is the United States. Formerly, drones were used as reconnaissance, gathering data and intelligence. But recently drones have carried out new roles such as to strike using guided missiles and bombs on targets affiliated with terrorist activities. The U.S. has relied so much on drones that it has become a policy choice to use drones in foreign countries. The authors of "Drone Warfare", John Kaag and Sara Kreps, assessed the use of drones as a policy choice by magnifying

One theme discussed in the book is the politics associated with drones and drone strikes. Specifically, the authors mention the politics behind the authorization of drone strikes. Drone warfare is conducted and authorized only in the executive branch of the government. Conventionally, whenever the United States decided to engage in warfare abroad, the legislative branch would authorize the conduct of war and declare war against whom ever and what ever the United States wished to fight with. However, drone warfare doesn 't require the authorization from Congress, and can solely conducted by the executive branch. According to Kaay and Kreps, the War Powers Resolution does not cover the use of drones outside the designated war zone . The War Power Resolution only requires congressional authorization when troops are physically sent over Moreover, the use of drones are justified under the framework of the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). The AUMF allows the president to use military force against individuals who were associated with terrorist activities of 9/11 . Therefore, the executive is allowed to use deadly force against

Stone points out that rules as a form of policy " prescribes actions to be taken in certain situations or contexts " and add that rules appoint powers . The War Power Resolution is a rule in a form of policy. The War Power Resolution is a rule that gives the executive power to use drones by its own decision, without consolidating or receiving approval from Congress. Moreover, the War Power Resolution commands the president to receive authorization if troops are required to be present in a foreign territory more that 6 days. Thus, Stone 's definition of rules as a form of policy adds can be seen as adding to Kaag & Krepps 's evaluation of drone warfare as a policy choice. On the other hand, Stone also talks about the vagueness and preciseness of rules and how preciseness can be baneful . Specifically, Stone said that precise rules stifle creative response to new situations . This was seen in the Drone warfare as well. Kaag & Krepps said that drone strikes can be considered outside the boundaries of the AUMF. The AUMF states that the president can use deadly force against terrorists who " planned, authorized, commited, or aided the terrorist attacks of 9/11" . However, the reason for use in Yemen and Somalia is to target "suspicious behaviors." This justification of being in Yemen and Somalia can be seen as exceeding the boundaries of