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Drone warfare is forever

Star Trek, A Taste of Armageddon (1967); an episode that depicts an immense 500 year long war between two highly civilised planets that has been systematically perfected. War is no longer recognisable as such. It has become unobtrusive, there is no sudden attack or desperate defence, no physical exposure to danger, fear or harm In fact there is no longer any discernible military engagement of any kind - except that millions still die each year. Instead each side's computers efficiently calculate the potential number of casualties of the ongoing conflict and the requisite quota of citizens dutifully report within 24 hours to be painlessly disintegrated at facilities constructed specifically for the purpose on each world. Barbaric violence has been replaced by a superior technical methodology. Kirk observes when war has become this easy and remote from terror it can be maintained forever.


RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, 13 Squadron MQ-9 Reaper drones operations centre. (Perimeter fence hedgerow series.)