Money power runs America.
So do lobbies representing all corporate and other interests.
The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) represents
dozens of influential companies.
They include Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Bell
Hellicopter Textron, Sikorsky Aircraft, Goodrich, General Dynamics,
Honeywell, Booz Allen Hamilton, Hill & Knowlton, and many more promoting
unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drone technology.
Against targeted countries, it's America's newest sport. From distant
command centers, operators kill by remote control. They use computer
keyboards and multiple monitors. UAVs stand ready round-the-clock for
missions.
Predator drones perform sanitized killing on the cheap compared to manned
aircraft. Independent experts believe militants are hit about 2% of
the time. All others are noncombatants, despite official disclaimers.
In 1995, Predator drones were used for the first time in Bosnia. In
2001, the Global Hawk drone was used in Afghanistan. Throughout the
Afghan and Iraq wars, the Pentagon used various type drones for combat
and spying missions.
In Libya, Obama authorized Predator drones. They operated throughout
the war. They're also used in Yemen, Somalia, and wherever Washington
designates targets to kill.
US citizen Anwar al-Aulaqi was assassinated this way. So can anyone
anywhere on America's hit list, including perhaps domestically before
long.
Washington plans escalated drone killing, as well domestic spying on
Americans. Currently, around one in three US warplanes are drones. One
day perhaps they'll all be unmanned.
Domestic Drone Spying in America
On January 10, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) staff attorney Jennifer
Lynch headlined, "Are Drones Watching You?" saying:
EFF sued the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for information on
domestic drone use. Who's flying UAVs it asked?
Drones carry surveillance equipment, including video cameras, infrared
ones, heat sensors, and radar for sophisticated virtually constant spying.
Newer versions carry super high resolution "gigapixel" cameras. They
enable tracking above 20,000 feet. They can monitor up to 65 enemies
simultaneously, and can see targets up to 25 miles away.
Predator drones can eavesdrop on electronic transmissions. A new model's
able to penetrate Wi-Fi networks and intercept text messages and cell
phone calls covertly.
Even domestically, drones may be weaponized with tasers, bean bag guns,
and other devices able to harm or perhaps kill.
Currently, the US Customs and Border Protection uses UAVs for surveilling
borders. State and local law enforcement agencies also use them to investigate
"cattle rustling, drug dealing, and the search for missing persons."
Flying above 400 feet requires FAA certification. Information's unavailable
on who obtained authorizations for what purposes.
FAA comes under the Department of Transportation (DOT). It failed to
respond to EFF's April 2011 FOIA request. EFF attorney Lynch said:
"Drones give the government and other (UAV) operators a powerful new
surveillance tool to gather extensive and intrusive data on Americans'
movements and activities."
"As the government begins to make policy decisions about the use of
these aircraft, the public needs to know more about how and why these
drones are being used to surveil United States citizens."
Drones "could dramatically increase the physical tracking of citizens
- tracking that can reveal deeply personal details about our private
lives. We're asking the DOT to follow the law and respond to our FOIA
request so we can learn more about" what the public has a right to know.
The Supreme Court hasn't been people friendly on many issues, including
privacy. In United States v. Place (1983), the court held that sniffs
by police dogs trained to detect illegal drugs aren't searches under
the Fourth Amendment.
They're sui generis, intended only to reveal the presence or absence
of narcotics. In other words, Fourth Amendment protections don't apply
to non-human searchers. As a result, privacy rights are on the chopping
block for elimination. Already, in fact, they're gravely compromised
under institutionalized Bush administration surveillance policy.
In 2007, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authorized spying
through the National Applications Office (NOA). It was described as
"the executive agent to facilitate the use of intelligence community
technological assets for civil, homeland security and law enforcement
purposes within the United States."
With or without congressional authorization or oversight, the executive
branch may authorize state-of-the-art technology, including military
satellite imagery, to spy on Americans covertly.
Though initial plans were delayed, eye in the sky spying ahead potentially
will monitor everyone everywhere once full implementation's achieved.
Included will be thousands of Big Brother drones watching.
On February 3, the FAA Reauthorization Act (HR 658) cleared both houses
of Congress after differences between Senate and House versions were
resolved. Expect Obama to sign it shortly.
It authorizes domestic drone spying under provisions to test and license
commercial drones by 2015. Estimates of up to 30,000 UAVs could overfly
America by 2020. Privacy advocates are concerned. Steven Aftergood,
head of the Federation of American Scientists' Project on Government
Secrecy, said:
"There are serious policy questions on the horizon about privacy and
surveillance, by both government agencies and commercial entities.”
According to Electronic Privacy Information Center's Amie Stepanovich,
"Currently, the only barrier to the routine use of drones for persistent
surveillance are the procedural requirements imposed by the FAA for
the issuance of certificates."
Changing the rules changes the game. Expect it. It's coming once Obama
signs HR 658. UAV proliferation already is expanding rapidly. A July
2010 FAA Fact Sheet said in America alone, "approximately 50 companies,
universities, and government organizations are developing and producing
some 155 unmanned aircraft designs."
America's expected to account for about 70% of global growth. In 2011,
Congress, DOD, state and local governments, as well as AUVSI pressured
the FAA to review and expand its current "Certificate of Authorization
or Waiver (COA)" program related to unmanned aircraft (UA).
The agency's also examining its own rules for small UAs. It's expected
to authorize expanded COA use shortly.
ACLU Concerns
On February 6, the ACLU headlined, "Congress Trying to Fast-Track Domestic
Drone Use, Sideline Privacy," saying:
In fact, Congress already authorized expanded domestic drones. Obama's
poised to sign HR 658 into law. Provisions in it include requiring FAA:
(1) to simplify and accelerate permission for drone operations. The
agency's already working on loosening regulations by spring 2012.
(2) to establish a pilot project within six months for six test zones
to integrate drones "into the national airspace system."
(3) create a comprehensive plan within nine months "to safely accelerate
the integration of civil (privately operated) unmanned aircraft systems
into the national airspace system."
(4) after submitting a comprehensive plan, publish final rules within
18 months to allow civil operation of small (under 55 pounds) drones
in America's airspace.
On December 15, the ACLU published a report titled, "Protecting Privacy
From Aerial Surveillance: Recommendations for Government Use of Drone
Aircraft," saying:
They're coming to America. Privacy may be seriously compromised. Protections
are urgently needed. The report recommends that "drones should not be
deployed unless there are grounds to believe that they will collect
evidence on a specific crime."
"If a drone will intrude on reasonable privacy expectations, a warrant
should be required." The report also urges "restrictions on retaining
images of identifiable people, as well as an open process for developing
policies on how drones will be used."
Overflying America with drones unrestrained changes the game. A "surveillance
society" will be institutionalized to monitor, track, and record "our
every move."
Given a bipartisan penchant for spying, expect the worst. Privacy, like
other civil and human rights, is fast disappearing under policies in
place or coming to destroy it.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge
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