Advanced Surveillance Tech for Unmanned Drones Credited In Iraq

mathoda writes "Investigative reporter Bob Woodward states that America has developed secret capabilities 'to locate, target and kill key individuals in groups such as al-Qaeda in Iraq, the Sunni insurgency and renegade Shia militias, or so-called special groups. The operations incorporated some of the most highly classified techniques and information in the US government.' The LA Times now reports, 'As part of an escalating offensive against extremist targets in Pakistan, the United States is deploying Predator aircraft equipped with sophisticated new surveillance systems that were instrumental in crippling the insurgency in Iraq, according to US military and intelligence officials.' Part of the capabilities appear to be that the unmanned flying drones can track targets even inside of buildings." Update by J : Bruce Schneier's readers have some thoughts.

Comments

Does anyone else find it erie that we're

[BitterOldGUy]

getting closer and closer to a plot in a Terminator movie?

Why not use this tech to avoid bombing children?

[HertzaHaeon]

I wonder if this technology will decrease or increase incidents like this:

Harrowing video film backs Afghan villagers' claims of carnage caused by US troops

"Villagers and the UN insist that 92 were killed, including as many as 60 children. Locals say that the US and Afghan troops who came into the village looking for a Taleban commander, with US air support, used excessive force... Local people say that US forces bombed preparations for a memorial ceremony for a tribal leader. Residential compounds were levelled by US attack helicopters, armed drones and a cannon-armed C130 Spectre gunship."

If you can track people in buildings, you'd think you'd be able to tell if they're children.