Posted on 01/08/2013 7:07:55 PM PST by Seizethecarp
The United Nations, looking to modernize its peacekeeping operations, is planning for the first time to deploy a fleet of its own surveillance drones in missions in Central and West Africa.
The U.N. Department of Peacekeeping has notified Congo, Rwanda and Uganda that it intends to deploy a unit of at least three unarmed surveillance drones in the eastern region of Congo.
The action is the first step in a broader bid to integrate unmanned aerial surveillance systems, which have become a standard feature of Western military operations, into the United Nations’ far-flung peacekeeping empire.
But the effort is encountering resistance from governments, particularly those from the developing world, that fear the drones will open up a new intelligence-gathering front dominated by Western powers and potentially supplant the legions of African and Asian peacekeepers who now act as the United Nations’ eyes and ears on the ground.
“Africa must not become a laboratory for intelligence devices from overseas,” said Olivier Nduhungirehe, a Rwandan diplomat at the United Nations. “We don’t know whether these drones are going to be used to gather intelligence from Kigali, Kampala, Bujumbura or the entire region.”
The growing American use of drones in Pakistan, Yemen and elsewhere to identify and kill suspected terrorists has only heightened anxieties about their deployment as part of multilateral peacekeeping missions.
U.N. officials have sought to allay the suspicions, saying there is no intention to arm the drones or to spy on countries that have not consented to their use.
The United Nations, which manages a force of more than 100,000 blue helmets in 15 peacekeeping missions, views drones as a low-cost alternative to expensive helicopters for surveillance operations.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
“Peace” keeping my little brown eye....
Who will achieve the first drone kill on US soil? (see tag line)
I suppose they just want to make things easier for UN troops. It must be frustrating to go from town to town looking for the most attractive girls and women to rape. With drones they can scout ahead.
“The United Nations, which manages a force of more than 100,000 blue helmets in 15 peacekeeping missions”
I hope they do their “peacekeeping” here in America. Blue is such a beautiful color to target ;)
Drones will also keep an eye out for the approach of real soldiers or guerrilla fighters so the Blue Helmets will be forewarned and know when to head for the tall grass.
Tells me there is a market, at the un, for drone sales to foreign intelligence services. The money offered must be enormous, therefore the ruse.
Rats! You beat me to it.
And then head back to the dining hall at the end of the evening.
Where local nationals work.
I'd suggest avoiding the peach cobbler...
/johnny
“Attack of the clones” is where this is going.
Hopefully someone targeting the U.N. building!
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