You've probably heard of the unmanned Predator drones that the USMil uses to kill people--er--strike targets in Iraq and Afghanistan. Well, it looks like some domestic law enforcement agencies (think of them like your local Big Brother branch) want to see similar drones flying of American cities helping to fight crime.
Here's an excerpt from the March 27, 2008 Reuters.com article the above screencap came from (see the whole thing here: http://www.iht.com/…/drone.php ):
"The Miami police could soon use cutting-edge flying drones to help fight crime.
A small pilotless vehicle manufactured by Honeywell International, capable of hovering and "staring" using electro-optic or infrared sensors, is expected to be introduced soon in the skies over the Florida Everglades.
If use of the drone wins U.S. Federal Aviation Administration approval after tests, the Miami-Dade Police Department will start flying the 14 pound, or 6.35 kilogram, drone over urban areas with an eye toward full-fledged employment in crime fighting.
"Our intentions are to use it only in tactical situations as an extra set of eyes," said Detective Juan Villalba, a police department spokesman."
Hm, right after they say "it's for your own good" they always add something like: "it's just an extra set of eyes."
As though having "an extra set of eyes" on us is supposed to make us feel safer and not at all paranoid.
Way to make us all feel like criminals.
Hey and don't forget about "mission creep" which is just a more accurate, literal way of saying "watch out for that slippery slope!"
You can read more about this at PalmBeachPost.com by going here: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/…_0327.html
Mobile post sent by thepete using Utterz.
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