Drones are extremely cost effective vs. ground/air assets (particularly in that with drones, operators aren't put at risk). They also enable extremely centralized command and control (as in: operations can be micro-manged in Washington, down to the decision to kill). In sum, a small number of people in Washington DC can control/operate a vast 24x7 killing field for very few $$... From the Brief: Drones and US Internal Security November 21, 2011
Here's a good datapoint on how drones are being used to automate US internal security. The first manhunt/arrest of a US citizen via a Predator drone.
NORTH DAKOTA (LA Times) : A Predator B drone, based at Grand Forks AFB and one of eight owned by US Customs and Border Protection, was used to hunt down suspects on a 3,000 acre ranch. Using onboard sensors, the Predator was able to detect the "signature" of the suspects and determine they were unarmed. This allowed police to quickly move in and make the first arrests of US citizens with the help of a Predator.
The Predator is primarily used for military surveillance and assasination missions in Afghanistan and Pakistan (this means it can be easily outfitted with weapons). North Dakotan police have used two unarmed Predators from Grand Forks on two dozen surveillance missions in the past.
The militarization of US domestic life continues to move ahead rapidly.... Just in time for the second great Depression (D2).
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