Drone Operations and American Counterterrorism Strategy: Assessing Legitimacy
The legitimacy of drone strikes in the eyes of Americans is largely dependent on the tactical or strategic nature of their use, as well as the constraints placed on their deployment, according to recent research.
Tactical vs. Strategic Use
Tactical drone strikes, which are targeted operations aimed at specific military objectives or immediate threats, are generally seen as more acceptable to the public when they effectively reduce enemy capabilities with minimal collateral damage. On the other hand, strategic drone strikes, involving broader use such as campaigns aimed at degrading enemy infrastructure or leadership over time, can raise greater public concern about overreach, escalation, and civilian harm.
Constraints on Usage
Public acceptance of drone strikes increases when strong constraints are visible, such as strict rules of engagement, careful target verification, minimization of civilian casualties, and accountability mechanisms. Conversely, when drone strikes are perceived as indiscriminate or causing civilian deaths, public support declines significantly.
Influencing Factors
Americans' views may also be shaped by perceptions of necessity and effectiveness, the legitimacy of the adversary, and transparency surrounding drone operations. Public discourse often involves debates about the strategic wisdom and ethical implications of drone usage, echoing past concerns about restraint and proportionality seen in other military technologies.
While direct polls specifically on American views differentiating tactical versus strategic drone strikes are limited, parallels from attitudes toward other types of military action suggest that tactical strikes with clear, constrained objectives are seen as more legitimate than broader, less constrained strategic campaigns.
Impact on Understanding of Legitimate Strikes
Americans are more likely to perceive the use of drones in support of surrogate forces as legitimate, similar to their understanding of French strikes in Mali. However, the use of drones within a country's own borders can cause confusion and concern, particularly when there is a lack of external oversight.
Research suggests that the public does not generally challenge policies and actions they deem legitimate, which helps preserve space for officials to make decisions on sensitive issues like the use of force. The more educated Americans are, the more likely they are to view drone strikes as legitimate. Additionally, the more Americans support the use of force abroad, the more they are likely to perceive strikes as legitimate.
The Role of Legitimacy
The centrality of legitimacy to the sustainability of US drone strikes abroad is crucial. A country that receives international approval when using drones, especially from the United Nations, enjoys a higher level of perceived legitimacy for its strikes. Conversely, the use of drones in the context of interstate war can heighten tension between countries, as seen in the Iranian response to President Trump's use of a drone to kill Iranian Major General Qasem Suleimani.
In summary, American public perceptions of legitimate drone strikes are more favorable when the strikes are tactical, narrowly focused, and bounded by clear constraints that minimize civilian harm and enhance accountability; strategic, less constrained uses tend to raise concerns about legality, morality, and effectiveness.
- Tactical drone strikes, due to their specific military objectives and minimal collateral damage, are more acceptable to the public than strategic drone strikes that target broader objectives such as degrading enemy infrastructure, because the latter can lead to public concern about overreach, escalation, and civilian harm.
- Americans' acceptance of drone strikes hinges on visible constraints, such as strict rules of engagement, careful target verification, minimization of civilian casualties, and accountability mechanisms, while indiscriminate strikes causing civilian deaths see a decline in public support.
- Americans' perceptions of drone strikes may be influenced by factors like necessity and effectiveness, legitimacy of the adversary, transparency, and strategic wisdom, often involving debates about ethical implications and proportionality.
- A country utilizing drones overseas with international approval, especially from the United Nations, enjoys higher levels of perceived legitimacy for its strikes, while their usage within a country's own borders may cause confusion and concern without external oversight.
