Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles deployed by U.S. defense and intelligence agencies to collect data and strike suspected enemy targets. The first known U.S. strike was the 2002 killing of al-Qaeda operative Qaed Salim Sinan al-Harethi in Yemen. Between 2022 and 2020 the U.S. killed between 9,000 and 18,000 enemy combatants and 900-2200 civilians with drone strikes. Opponents of drone strikes have long contended strikes that kill civilians essentially serve as a recruiting poster for terrorist groups. In 2010, a man named Faisal Shahzad tried and failed to bomb Times Square in New York City. Later, Shahzad cited US drone strikes as his motivation for the failed bombing. Proponents of drone strikes argue that they can kill high value w=enemy targets without putting soldiers into combat.
Statistics are shown for this demographic
Response rates from 13.1k Los Angeles voters.
64% Yes |
36% No |
51% Yes |
22% No |
10% Yes, but only with permission from the country in question |
9% No, only to gather intelligence, not to kill suspected terrorists |
3% Yes, the U.S. needs to use all means necessary to combat terrorism |
5% No, the military has no right to do so without a Congressional declaration of war |
Trend of support over time for each answer from 13.1k Los Angeles voters.
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Trend of how important this issue is for 13.1k Los Angeles voters.
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Unique answers from Los Angeles voters whose views went beyond the provided options.
@8JCJLWV4yrs4Y
Yes but ideally with permission from the country in question.
@9HB5MKV1yr1Y
Absolutely to gather intelligence. Assassinations should be reserved solely for confirmed terrorists with proof that they have or will attack our nation or an ally
@5923DDK4yrs4Y
We are killing innocents. We are destroying hospitals by mistake. Sometimes I think about the panic our citizenry would fly into if other nations started using killer drones on us. We would be outraged. And yet here we are, doing this very thing to them.
@9GK257P1yr1Y
Absolutely to gather intelligence. Assassination should be reserved for undeniably confirmed terrorists
@9F4MSCF1yr1Y
No, this is a violation of these country’s sovereignty as well as a violation of international law.
@9GN5KWP1yr1Y
Absolutely to gather intelligence, but assassinations should be permitted only for confirmed, not simply suspected, terrorists
@9ZFJNWR 4wks4W
The United States should not have any resources in foreign countries, and should stay out of places that do not concern them, because getting involved and adding military bases, and stuff like that only makes room for conflict
@9K2DFHN10mos10MO
Yes to gather intelligence, but no to killing suspected terrorists unless they are highly proven they are a terrorist.
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