Since 2004, the United States has killed an estimated 3,105 people in Pakistan.

A chief reason why:  the new employment of unmanned drones as aerial killers.

Arguably, the United States’ drones program began receiving heat after the ‘Obama’s Secret Kill List‘ New York Times Article. 

The confirmation of John Brennan as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency brought further controversy.

Senator Rand Paul’s filibuster (which lasted 12 hours and 54 minutes) of Brennan’s confirmation called for assurance that the White House would not use drone strikes against noncombatant American citizens suspected of terrorism on American soil.  A Gallup Poll showed huge support for this stance from the American people.  

Why are drones such a big deal?  As with most issues of foreign policy, it may feel far-removed oo many, breeding confusion and disinterest.  

To make United States drone attacks more concrete, Simon Rogers of the Guardian created a useful interactive, entitled “Drone war: every attack in Pakistan visualized.”  

The interactive displays child, civilian, other (alleged combatants), and high profile kills from US and coalition forces.

Does the means justify the end?