Keeping Up With the Drones: Is Just War Theory Obsolete

The use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) by the U.S. military raises important questions regarding the relevance and application of traditional just war theory and the laws of armed conflict. For centuries, just war principles have defined how responsible states have agreed to ethically wage war. The manner in which unmanned weapons systems are employed today calls into question the relevance of the traditional Judeo-Christian principle of jus in bello, justice in war. The employment of UAS will be examined in the context of the tenets of jus in bello, which include: proportionality, discrimination, responsibility, mala in se (wrong or evil in itself), and the code of honor. The author asserts if statesmen and military leaders fail to adequately address the gaps and friction in just war theory created by this new technology, there will be profound implications for Soldiers, political leaders, and the world's civilian population in the years ahead.