Topic: Civilian Contractors

The U.S. drone program is increasingly operated by the CIA and State Department rather than the Department of Defense, utilizing civilian contractors to execute strikes. This shift raises legal questions regarding international laws that prohibit civilians from participating in active combat. A new tracking site, killlist.curry.com, has been established to document civilian casualties resulting from these operations.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the U.S. military is increasingly reliant on civilian contractors within the "drone kill chain." Data suggests that operating a single Predator or Global Hawk drone requires significantly more personnel (up to 300 people for 24 hours) than a traditional F-16 fighter jet. This reliance on civilians in the decision-making process for lethal strikes is highlighted as a major shift in warfare.