Death Becomes You: Drones, Part 3
We close out our series discussing how drone warfare advanced a new military ethics in which the lives of combatants are sacrosanct, while civilian lives are expendable.
Image: A photograph on an Israeli UAV dropping grenades from the sky.
Blood Work is a Scam Goldin Production
This episode was produced by Thomas O’Mahony
Our theme song is ‘Dream Weapon’ by Genghis Tron
Our artwork is provided courtesy of KT Kobel
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THIS WEEK IN VIOLENCE: Van Life
ALSO AVAILABLE IN AUDIO
This week, we attempted to provide a neat summary of events which unfolded at RAF Fairford (Difficulty: Expert), and provided some general commentary on how politicians, police and the press have handled themselves.
Comments (15)
The use of drones in the Ukraine War has changed the game. Soldiers on both sides have to worry about getting kill cam'd by a Blue Light Special with a grenade strap to it. It makes the threat a getting blown up by an IED feel pedantic.
N. V
I’m wearing a Sunn O))) shirt while listening to this. Drone, not drones!
The description of warfare btwn Russia and Ukraine just sounds like Trench Warfare 2.0. There‘s a no man‘s land, there‘s single-use soldiers, hiding on either side in bunkers etc. We‘ve just reinvented wwi on a different scale?
In many ways, yes. I remember reading reports that to stop tank movements, in the early days of the invasion, many bridges and roads were destroyed to slow movement and WWI-style structures of wood and barbed wire were created, along with caltrops, to place in the road.
Thermo's back on the menu boys
Oi Greg, you likely already are familiar with the podcast 'Well There's Your Problem' (Nate Bathay Extended Universe (TM)) But listening to this, I couldn't help but be reminded of an oldish bonus episode from their feed on stealth tech and their discussions of drones and drone strikes. If you've not listened, check out post two from about 2:02:00 and oh say fifteen minutes on. Two things jump out: 1. Their guest's very candid reflection on being a drone operator (my interpretation) 2. Their point about drones (the predator in particular) not actually being suited as a weapon for use against a comparative military, i.e. its only use being that of killing civilians (again my takeaway). https://www.patreon.com/posts/113303943?utm_campaign=postshare_fan&utm_content=android_share
Those who are trying to claim that there is a negative and traumatic side-effect to being a drone operator came to realize what gamers have always known: playing video games doesn't make you violent. Because functionally for a drone operator, are doing is playing a video game on a screen for a job. And it's very funny that they were trying to use basically the same argument, that on screen violence affects you psychologically, in their favor, to try and claim some sympathy points instead of condemnation or scapegoating like they did with video games.
Really good point
Mind-blowingly good series! Bravo!
What a wonderful listen this series has been! Thank you! Also. I’m personally surprised that more “domestic” actors haven’t used the drone in a high profile way. With perhaps the exception of the drone attack on Maduro pre kidnapping and the UFO’s in NJ last year, I haven’t seen that many incidents.
Fuckin hell Tom's thumbnails game is top notch. Genuinely impressive how he so adeptly selects images that demand that I consider them for a bit. The drone in the open air dropping grenades with nothing behind it is so unsettling
Just imagining it, off a bit in the distance but unnatural shape clearly visible, bright summer day, spewing death onto the earth, apparently acting with its own will, no operator or means of communication being immediately obvious. Euuurgh.
"... took the form of .. a Dream Weapon..." You're not sneaking that one past me, Very good
I cackled like a warlock witnessing an arcane secret being revealed in plain sight.