News that the Pentagon is considering a special "Distinguished Warfare Medal" for drone pilots tells us much about the American war-making moment. Leaving aside issues of bravery or courage of drone operators, let's first consider the name of the medal, with its stress on "distinguished warfare."
Traditionally, U.S. military medals by their very names have stressed honor or service, such as our highest award, the Medal of Honor, or the Distinguished Service Cross. Other medals are specifically connected to aerial prowess and feats, such as the Distinguished Flying Cross or the Air Medal. Such medals are well named, linked as they are to skills demonstrated by air crews operating in harm's way.
What are we to make of a medal named for prowess in "warfare," especially when drone operators are completely isolated from the battlefield? For that matter, how can war by remote control be recognized and celebrated as a "distinguished" form of "warfare"? Wouldn't it be more honest (and perhaps even more honorable) to name this new decoration the "Drone Medal," with all that name implies?
In raising these semantic points, I wish to take nothing away from drone pilots. They train hard, they work long hours, and they're dedicated professionals. What they don't need is a new medal created especially for them, and I'm guessing most of them would agree.
The U.S. military already has a bewildering array of awards and decorations on the books. If a drone pilot does something especially noteworthy or meritorious, there already exist commendation, meritorious service, and distinguished service medals that can be awarded to recognize his or her contribution.
Honestly, the last thing our bloated military establishment needs is more medals. But if the Pentagon insists on creating a "Distinguished Warfare Medal," we really should insist on calling the Department of Defense by its old (and, given recent events, much more accurate) name: the Department of War.
Astore writes regularly for TomDispatch.com and can be reached at wjastore@gmail.com.
Then ask yourself if maybe there are far to many medals being given far to quickly for far to little?
In Force Recon we call them God's eye and for a very good reason.
We could have saved a lot of lives if we would have had those. Cripe a gps would have been a godsend
Use them in good health brother
And besides them who matters?
We can stay in a constant state of war then..
I bet closer to 5-7
Even if not one of them is for valor
Video Games lyrics: Lan del Rey
I say you the bestest
Lean in for a big kiss
Put his favorite perfume on
Go play a video game
It's you, it's you, it's all for you
In his strongest critique of drone strikes yet, Christof Heynes said some may constitute war crimes. Photograph: Getty Images
The US policy of using aerial drones to carry out targeted killings presents a major challenge to the system of international law that has endured since the second world war, a United Nations investigator has said.
Christof Heyns, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, summary or arbitrary executions, told a conference in Geneva that President Obama’s attacks in Pakistan, Yemen and elsewhere, carried out by the CIA, would encourage other states to flout long-establishedhuman rights standards.
In his strongest critique so far of drone strikes, Heyns suggested some may even constitute “war crimes”. His comments come amid rising international unease over the surge in killings by remotely piloted unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Addressing the conference, which was organised by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a second UN rapporteur, Ben Emmerson QC, who monitors counter-terrorism, announced he would be prioritising inquiries into drone strikes.
However, recognition for brave and selfless conduct should still be given.
The guys I knew in 1965 very much wanted to go. And many raised their hands to go. For god and country?
Because they wanted to fight
I could not wait to get to VN. I would have shipped over to get to VN.
Once was more than enough though.
A stupid view maybe. But that is why IMO kids want to be infantry and not pogs.