Our government is again engaged in misdirection. After a failed effort to keep the use of drones out of the public eye, the administration now wants to give their use respectability. The Pentagon has created a new noncombat medal: the Distinguished Warfare Medal.
Reaction has been aggressive. Some of the attention is about the question of oversight; more is about how the award should be ranked. Misdirection may be succeeding.
The medal is intended as recognition for those people who operate drones in a warfare application but are not in the line of fire. It is difficult to say if other remote-from-immediate-harm warriors, such as those who conduct shore bombardment from battleships, will be eligible for this new special attention.
According to Chris Cole and Jim Wright, who wrote in Peace News in January 2010, “unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS), also known as drones, are aircraft either controlled by ‘pilots’ from the ground or increasingly, autonomously following a pre-programmed mission. While there are dozens of different types of drones, they basically fall into two categories: those that are used for reconnaissance and surveillance purposes, and those that are armed with missiles and bombs.” I wonder if the programmers for those pre-programmed missions are eligible for recognition.
Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta says the distant trigger puller must have done something unique. "The extraordinary achievement must have resulted in an accomplishment so exceptional and outstanding as to clearly set the individual apart from comrades or from other persons in similar situations."
Robert Gibbs was named press secretary for President Barack Obama in January 2009. At the time, there was little public awareness that drones were being used as weapons. Gibbs recently told a national news outlet that he was instructed to keep it that way.
“When I went through the process of becoming press secretary, one of the first things they told me was, you’re not even to acknowledge the drone program.” That is an interesting approach by an administration that claims it embraces open government.
These instruments had been in use for several years before Obama was elected. Presumably the Bush administration had a similar “keep it out of the public eye” attitude.
Ignoring drones as part of the arsenal in the fight against terrorists and insurgents didn’t work. As more information was reported, it became clear they were being used for surveillance and deadly attacks in other countries. In fact, they’ve been in extensive use for a decade.
There have also been reports that these remote control flying machines are being used to track people and activity within America’s borders. Controversy and criticism went viral with that information.
Panetta said the medal will rank above the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. The Bronze Star is given for acts of heroism, acts of merit or meritorious service in a combat zone. The Purple Heart can be awarded to those who were wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States or as a result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed forces.
The greatest risk to a drone pilot or programmer may be carpel tunnel syndrome, or perhaps computer-induced eyestrain. Ranking it above medals designed for recognition of actions in a combat zone is ridiculous.
Rep. Duncan Hunter and about 50 of his congressional colleagues agree and have asked Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel for a downgrade.
There also are efforts to require greater oversight of the use of drones, requiring more than just the president’s OK to target and kill suspected terrorists. It is the suspected part of that issue that highlights the call for more oversight.
This medal is recognition not for valor or extraordinary behavior in the face of danger, but for efficient killing. Maybe the efficient killing of “suspects” is what drove at least two administrations to try to keep the use of drones out of the public eye.
However, the most curious part of all is why there should be a medal in the first place. How can we go from a program the government wants to keep secret to one that includes a relatively high-ranking medal? It must be to distract from more significant aspects of their use. Efficiency is good, but the matter of oversight should have been settled before the drones were put into use and before medals were created.
Hawkins is retired after 35 years as a construction industry association manager. He was a broadcast reporter and news anchor in Denver, Colo. As a Navy officer, he saw action in Vietnam in the River Assault Squadrons and is the recipient of a Silver Star and Purple Heart.
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