TOW#5 - Nonfiction Text: “Drones and the Democracy Disconnect” by Firmin DeBrabander

As American involvement in the Middle East continues, the technology being deployed to the region continues to advance. Drones are playing an ever increasing role in the conflicts in the Middle East, able to wipe out targets from thousands of feet in the air, miles away, keeping American soldiers out of the line of fire, at the same time potentially putting more civilians at risk. Firmin DeBrabander, a professor of philosophy at the Maryland Institute College of Art, discusses this in his New York Times Op-Ed, Drones and the Democracy Disconnect. In his article, DeBrabander uses compare and contrast, as well as quotes to encourage a limited use of drones in future conflicts.

DeBrabander, despite being a professor of philosophy, establishes further credibility in his use of quotes. When describing the use of drones in war, he relates the issue to a quote by Machivelli about new technology in warfare, “‘prevents men from employing and displaying their virtue as they used to do of old’” (DeBrabander p. 9). This quote allows DeBrabander to further his credibility by quoting a well known war strategist, as well as stating that new technologies on the battlefield prevent the display of courage and bravery on the battlefield. This can be related to today’s drones, in that courage and bravery is not required to sit behind a screen killing people from thousands of miles away. Debrabander then compares the situations of each end of the drone, the people behind the controls, and the victim's point of view. He uses a quote from George Monbiot, a writer known for his political pieces. He paraphrases Monbiot’s writing, stating that Monbiot called “…the United States’ drone strikes in Pakistan cowardly” (DeBrabander par. 6). This quote continues, showing the effects on Pakistani civilians. It highlights the removal of the Americans from the brutality. The quote being from a well respected political writer establishes further ethos, and suggests to the audience that drone strikes are not a good idea in warfare, due to civilian casualties and removal of emotions. Debrabander’s use of compare and contrast and quotes, develops a strong argument against the use of drones in warfare in the Middle East.

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