An Interview With An Associate Professor Of Homeland...

Drones already carry a negative, political connotation. The breaches in sovereignty are a major political issue for involved countries. Yemen, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are examples of the United States’ willingness to conduct military strikes without the consent of the governing body within the country. Furthermore, targeted killings are essentially a means for assassinations, which were prohibited under the Reagan administration. However, this fact is abated, as the killing of Anwar Al-Awlaki (US Citizen) demonstrated. Given all this information, would the usage of US drones in Iraq only perpetuate more violence, or bring stability to the region? This report will seek to answer this question. Utilizing an interview with an Associate Professor of Homeland Security at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), Professor Bonner, as a primary source of research, along with secondary sources from accredited cites, this report will explore the dynamics of the drone progra m as it pertains to the current situation in Iraq. INTRODUCTION In September of 2011, under the direction of the Obama Administration and with the coordination of the Central Intelligence Agency (C.I.A.), the United States carried out a successful drone strike against Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born Yemeni cleric. Though the strike would bring much controversy from all areas of the U.S. political spectrum, the U.S. adoption of targeted killings through the use of combat drones became a staple