Drones Are Not Ethical And Effective | Prof Jeremy Waldron | Oxford Union

Professor Jeremy Waldron gives his argument against the use of drone warfare.

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Prof Jeremy Waldron begins by highlighting what drone warfare involves. First of all the maintenance of a secret death list by government authorities under circumstances of secrecy, lack of accountability, lack of transparency and a serious failure of the rule of law.

The 2nd use of drone warfare is the expansion of drone targets. So now it's not just targeting people engaged in combat but also preachers, propagandists and recruiters.

The third aspect of drone warfare is that it seems to involve covert operations in territories that are not initially defined as a theatre of operations e.g. Pakistan and Yemen. The people involved in these attacks are often CIA operatives who are not subject to military ethics. All these things are being defended as ethical.

He mentions that there has been talk about using drones on drug lords saying that we need to worry about the metastasisation of drone use. He goes on the say his final point is that whenever a new form of warfare emerges you have to consider whether it is legitimate in the hands of your opponents as well as your own and accept that it will be used on both sides. Jeremy stresses that an earlier point by Naureen Shah was never answered in that drone use promotes the growth of terrorism and inhibits the development of counter-terrorism strategies in Pakistan. In conclusion Jeremy states that even in the terrible terrain of warfare a world with secret death lists is one we can't allow.

Filmed on Thursday 25th April 2013

MOTION: THIS HOUSE BELIEVES DRONE WARFARE IS ETHICAL AND EFFECTIVE

ABOUT PROFESSOR JEREMY WALDRON:

Jeremy Waldron is a New Zealand professor of law and philosophy. He holds a professorship at the New York University School of Law and is Chichele Professor of Social and Political Theory at All Souls College, Oxford University. Waldron also holds an adjunct professorship at Victoria University.

ABOUT THE OXFORD UNION SOCIETY:

The Union is the world's most prestigious debating society, with an unparalleled reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford. It has been established for 189 years, aiming to promote debate and discussion not just in Oxford University, but across the globe.