Posted on 07/13/2016 9:49:10 AM PDT by b4its2late
A hotly-contested decision by law enforcement to use a drone robot to blow up a U.S. citizen, who allegedly carried out the murders of five police officers in Dallas, just got exponentially more controversial—because, according to Dallas Police Chief David Brown, the “whole idea was improvised in about 15 to 20 minutes.”
Already igniting fury around the country for neglecting any semblance of due process, the use of the “Remotec model F-5” to deliver a pound of C-4 explosive to decimate suspected shooter Micah Xavier Johnson as he targeted police in a sniper-style attack, has been revealed by the police chief as a hastily-plotted … whim.
Brown’s disturbing offhand comment came during a press conference in which the model of the “mechanical tactical drone”—clarified as the “Remotec Andros Mark V-A1″—was finally made public, in an apparent attempt to quell constitutional rights’ advocates ire over the unprecedented move by police.
While Johnson’s cold-blooded attack on random police officers in one of the most progressive and reform-minded forces in the country landed an official black mark in the annals of American history, the—as many advocates warn—egregious violation of his human and constitutional rights as the first U.S. citizen blown up in this manner earned police, themselves, a similarly notorious mark.
Obviously, the controversy doesn’t end with a model name—the drone isn’t the issue for most people outraged over its use; rather, the fact a citizen was bombed without so much as a nod of consideration for his human, civil, or constitutional rights that has people steamed.
As Daniel McAdams for the Ron Paul Institute keenly noted, following the now-apparent improvised and hasty decision by law enforcement to explode Johnson:
The media and opinion leaders are presenting us with a false choice: if we question the use of drones to kill Americans—even if we suspect they have done very bad things—we somehow do not care about the lives of police officers. That is not the case. It is perfectly possible to not want police officers to be killed in the line of duty but to wholeheartedly reject the idea of authorities using drones to remotely kill Americans before they are found guilty.
Noting police originally suspected a different person altogether of perpetrating the attacks, McAdams implored the country to consider the ramifications of setting such a precedent—and, considering the disclosure of the nearly impromptu decision to use this drone, that warning should be an imperative.
Perhaps we all need to familiarize ourselves with this drone’s mechanics now that this dystopic precedent has been set.
Manufactured by the military-industrial complex’s darling, Northrop Grumman, this tactical robot “is driven by a human via remote control, weighs 790 pounds and has a top speed of 3.5 mph,” as the Washington Post described. “It carries a camera with a 26x optical zoom and 12x digital zoom. When its arm is fully extended, it can lift a 60-pound weight. The ‘hand’ at the end of the arm can apply a grip of about 50 pounds of force.”
Interestingly enough, the $151,000 tactical robot provided a far more life-affirming service just one year ago.
According to Metro UK, the same model once assisted the California Highway Patrol when negotiations with a man threatening to kill himself by jumping from a San Jose overpass failed—by delivering a pizza.
Technological advancement, though overwhelmingly positive, is only as beneficent as those who put it to use—and how they choose to employ it.
In just one year, a pizza-delivering robot with the potential to save human life during bomb threats or similar situations became a casually-deployed, due process-stripping weapon of war against a U.S. citizen.
It would be prudent we take more than just a minute to critically consider that.
criminal lives don’t matter...
Not even transfat?
From what I’ve heard, nope.
I wonder if Claire Bernish has seen the images of the deceased shooter. He wasn’t “blown up”. There was an explosion close enough to him to kill him, but he was in one piece, as far as I could tell. Lots of damage to his surroundings, which is probably what killed him, but he wasn’t blown up.
My understanding is Muslimes will not touch pigs or dogs!
She would be safe.
Oh my gosh! That’s Claire Bernish?! Looks more like Carl than Claire.
Reportedly the bot survived. Also, an RPG would have required an officer to expose himself to fire it and there may have been issues with getting clearance for the backblast from what I’ve heard.
As far as I’m concerned BLM are terrorists and terrorist deserve what they get.
I think the decision only took 30 seconds. Blame this on the POOR WRITING Of the author in constructing that HEADLINE.
What it was saying was that it took 20 minutes to turn the decision into reality. Someone probably had to go buy some duct tape.
How they got that much C-4 that quickly is an interesting side question.
But but but he didn’t have a fair trial ........................ He would have if they had a Judge Issac Parker around. You’re right he deserved a fair trial. Lets hold one and find him guilty.
To all you apples and oranges people.
If the guy was in his jail cell, awaiting trial and they sent in a robot and blew him up, you would have to agree that would be murder, correct?
Would he have deserved it? Sure. Did he have it coming? Yep. Would we cry any tears? No. BUT it isn’t LEGAL. The scumbag has rights. We have laws. They have to be applied evenly for EVERYONE!
Circumstances matter. Once the police had him contained, there was no need to just execute him. In fact it could be considered murder.
Had he charged them, had he tried to escape, lethal force would be justified, but he didn’t. It was over.
If a sniper had him in their sites and he was just sitting there, contained by authorities, would the sniper be justified in executing him? (Lon Horiuchi ?) I think not. He didn’t have hostages, the threat was contained.
Circumstances had changed. The situation had changed. The attack was over. The police should have waited as long as it took for the situation to resolve itself.
REVENGE is not LEGAL.
It's a him ?
The look on Mr.X,
Opens the sack and says,
“Where’s the Beef ?”
BOOM !
Most likely true. However, POUND of C-4 sells more newspapers.
he claimed to have bombs...how they could be set of was unknown he might have had the triggering device, he sealed his own fate..
I am pretty sure that the author, CLAIRE, is biologically, at least, female.
Thank the Lord they didn’t call together a committee to decide on the use of the robot!
They should have bacon ready in case it’s needed.
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