Unmanned: America's Drone Wars

Provocateur filmmaker Robert Greenwald's chilling and heartbreaking documentary challenges claims made by the Central Intelligence Agency and White House that America's use of drones in Pakistan and Afghanistan follows a rigorous application of standards. Although the official position is that no collateral damage stems from these strikes—and only militants and terrorists are intentionally pursued—Unmanned presents anecdotal evidence that attacks can be indiscriminate at best and deeply flawed in both planning and execution. Greenwald begins with a lengthy story about a 16-year-old boy who traveled some distance to Islamabad in order to attend a tribal conference condemning drone use, only to be killed by one a day or two later (the youth was specifically targeted despite a lack of evidence of terrorist ties). In on-camera interviews, an army of experts from the government, universities, the press, and legal fields note that U.S. policy in this area relies heavily on paid informants rewarded for identifying potential targets, thus encouraging people to point the finger at anyone they wish. A former U.S. Air Force specialist who helped guide the aircraft (via satellite) thousands of miles away from his own location describes the guilt he feels over his conviction that the machines kill innocent children. Greenwald also describes how the drone business is worth $80 billion a year, giving the industry lots of incentive to lobby lawmakers to keep using this lethal technology in the field. DVD extras include audio commentary by Greenwald and extended interviews. A timely and disturbing exposé, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)