uav drone strikes

Did you guys see an interesting story on Drones on ABC1 Lateline program last night?

Part of the story is visible in transcript and video in the following link:

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2010/s3041766.htm

Actually after that piece presenter Leigh Sales then went on (under the heading Drone Attacks) to a much more informative interview with Dr Peter W. Singer author of a current book 'Wired for War'. I can't see this interview is posted on the web yet? Singer was a drone expert of some note, and spoke at length about the unmanned propellor driven Predators. It was stated that these things being used in Afghanistan today are being controlled computer games style from a US Army base near Les Vegas, Nevada! There was also impressive notes about the camera resolution allegedly picking out individuals in a crowd from a mile up - also the drones can pick out the heat off a barrel that was fired up to 30 minutes ago! But he noted that being a machine it might have been an insurgent, but might have been a gun fired in the air for a wedding celebration.....

It was noted that in 2003 in IRAQ there was only a handful of drones in the kitbag - but now there are upwards of 7000 in regular use. He said apart from the USA there were 44 other nations (including Australia) getting into this field.

Exactly what arms firepower they currently use was not discussed - clearly headway is being made with non MST stuff at the present time.

A very interesting report.