4000 +

A good round number 4000. Could be anything. It could be the number of new cars sold this month or the number of jobs created by a new economic development program. How about the number of people graduating from some local universities or colleges. Yes it could be anything. But here's what it is, something Americans don't really think about or discuss too often. 4000 + is the number of people killed by drones since the US started using them in our current battles in Afghanistan and Pakistan. I wasn't aware of the number myself until I heard it reported on the news the other day. That 4000 + includes people our government is fighting as well as many innocent bystanders. Our government's policy on drones has to be dissected and discussed. In the end, there needs to be transparency in the policy that's followed. Right now, that's not the case. A very small group of civilians and military leaders sit in rooms daily and decide who will be attacked by drones. Who will be killed? It's a very different kind of war. Some would argue that it is much more civil and much more humane since guilty (?) parties are identified and pinpointed with accuracy.

With that targeting and accuracy, real or imagined, comes greater responsibility and accountability. Mistakes can be costly in more ways then one.

Yes mistakes can be costly and we can easily become what we hate and fight against. Mistakes can be costly and we can create many more people who hate us and what we seem to stand for.

Although the number can represent many things, it represents 4000 + people killed with new technology. I'm just beginning to get my head around this and I don't like it much. Honestly, it won't be long before more countries and powers begin to use this new technology. I suspect we won't think much of that.