By Nicholas West

Another government program is apparently being deemed too big to fail.

Controversy continues to mount over the role that drones have played in America’s war on terror. Massive civilian casualties have been documented, each of which calls into question the “precision” part of the precision strikes that have been ordered to rain down upon a good swath of the Middle East.

In addition to the outrage expressed by the civilian populations of the target countries, the number of Americans who disapprove of drone strikes is increasing (though still only around 35%), despite a major media blackout on any reports that criticize the drone program.

However, the U.S. government – and especially the military – has long dismissed complaints that are based on strictly humanitarian grounds, especially as they have made proclamations that drone use will likely double in the near future. There is also the “problem” that the U.S. drone program has sparked a global drone arms race for which the only natural military solution is to develop even more high-tech drones and widen their use as a countermeasure to emerging threats.

The truth of the matter is that there is only one real problem with the drone program – pilots are quitting in higher numbers than those seeking this type of employment. The reasons range from overwork to lack of on-base housing to whistleblowers who have revealed the horrific mental toll that is exacted upon those who engage in a culture of remote control death. Moreover, these whistleblowers have argued that the program, even if accepted at face value, is not effective and is most assuredly creating more terrorism than it purports to combat.

But as we have learned when the government establishes a roadmap to somewhere, it is not an option for that destination to be a dead end. Especially when there are massive contracts at stake for private defense companies.

The Air Force is now requesting from Congress (read: taxpayer) a five-year, $3 billion dollar commitment to expand the number of drones and pilots, as well as add additional bases. Perhaps most telling is that the Air Force is offering $125,000 bribes bonuses to pilots who renew their five-year contracts.

After all, nothing inspires confidence in a long-term program better than short-term desperation.

Sadly, a massive drone lobbying apparatus is combined with a majority of Americans who still support drone bombings (and a healthy percentage who will even bomb fictitious countries evidently). Add to this an upcoming election amid propaganda to convince even more of the public that waves of terrorists are pounding upon American shores, and it all but guarantees the continuance of a program that will only become more dangerous as time goes on.