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US customs and border protection is flying a surveillance drone over Minneapolis

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Re: US customs and border protection is flying a surveillance drone over Minneapolis

#31

Post by colejohnson66 »

king_magic wrote: post #7

I don't really see the issue here with a surveillance drone to help keep the peace. I don't really care if it's "military technology" or not. Look, what happened was absolutely awful. People have a right to protest - and should, but peacefully. Riots, looting, burning buildings? Sorry, that's going to far. If the government starts firing rockets at people from that drone - well that's another story. But that is clear…

Others have mentioned the air-to-ground missile problem, but my question is: “what does CBP have to do with this?” Border Patrol’s job is to, unsurprisingly, patrol the border, as in, the national border.

Even with the “100 mile zone”, Minneapolis is more than 200 miles inland.

Re: US customs and border protection is flying a surveillance drone over Minneapolis

#32

Post by beambot »

pm90 wrote: post #22

This was very predictable. Tools invented for military operations abroad eventually, predictably find their way back domestically. Despite that, its a dangerous thing to happen. I am aware of how unlikely it is for the current US Government to use the drone offensively, but once you have a massive fleet of drones flying over the US, patrolling "troubling" neighborhoods constantly, the temptation to use those abilitie…

Where do you draw the distinction between a drone (presumably unarmed) vs a police helicopter?

Re: US customs and border protection is flying a surveillance drone over Minneapolis

#33

Post by coldpie »

chasd00 wrote: post #24
daeken wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> With all that's happening the last few days, please don't associate Minnesotans with the riots that have captured the attention of everyone. I understand what you're going for, but this is a bad approach. People aren't rioting because they want to destroy things, they're rioting because they don't feel like they're being heard. What you're saying here reads as "don't listen to them, they don't represent us" which i…

people do, indeed, riot and destroy things to steal and loot. That's the point. Notice it's not the police station being burned down.

Friend, you have no idea what you are talking about. Please do as the other guy said and shut up and listen for five minutes.

Protesters took over the precinct station that the murderers worked at and burned it to the ground last night. https://kstp.com/news/protests-continue-in-twin-cities-st-pa...

Re: US customs and border protection is flying a surveillance drone over Minneapolis

#34

Post by king_magic »

petee wrote: post #11
king_magic wrote: post #7

I don't really see the issue here with a surveillance drone to help keep the peace. I don't really care if it's "military technology" or not. Look, what happened was absolutely awful. People have a right to protest - and should, but peacefully. Riots, looting, burning buildings? Sorry, that's going to far. If the government starts firing rockets at people from that drone - well that's another story. But that is clear…

Well this is what we get for not listening. If your family and friends were being executed constantly you'd give up and rage too. Everyone has a breaking point - republicans were about to riot over wearing a mask to protect their families; these people are rioting over being murdered and ignored. Disproportionate and inconsistent application are also a huge issue here - where were the drones when domestic terrorists…

There are folks who are legitimately angry and are expressing that peacefully. And then there are people torching businesses, police stations and cars. Do you not think there is any sort of reasonable line being crossed here?

I don't think it's fair to say it's inconsistent use when the domestic terrorists (yes, I agree with that portrayal) took over the statehouse. They were all in the statehouse, or in the immediate vicinity. How is a drone going to help in that situation?

This is clearly a different situation with widespread rioting over a large geographic area.

Edit: it's possible I have some of my facts wrong here - that's totally on me. But as much as I disagree with the GOP/COVID protesters - to their credit, they didn't start firebombing their local grocery store.

Re: US customs and border protection is flying a surveillance drone over Minneapolis

#36

Post by nickff »

49531 wrote: post #30
chasd00 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

people do, indeed, riot and destroy things to steal and loot. That's the point. Notice it's not the police station being burned down.

Well, also the fact that a police station is filled with armed police might also be a reason.

So the rioters are hurting their fellow innocents because it's easy and less risky than going after the guilty? You're probably right, but it's not a flattering view of the rioters.

Re: US customs and border protection is flying a surveillance drone over Minneapolis

#37

Post by dpflan »

dpflan wrote: post #15

FTA: "Unarmed Predator drones were first used within the United States in 2012, when the Department of Homeland Security flew one over the property of a cattle farmer named Rodney Brossart to surveil him, and to help end a 16-hour standoff between him and another rancher over a stolen-cattle dispute. The use was highly controversial at the time; since then, CBP has used drones hundreds of times, and has not kept very…

Oh, interesting, here is the court case:

> https://www.nacdl.org/getattachment/136371f4-aa38-476f-bd9a-...

On page 12:

"There was no improper use of an unmanned aerial vehicle. It appears to have had no bearing on these charges being contested here."

Re: US customs and border protection is flying a surveillance drone over Minneapolis

#38

Post by aaomidi »

wafn wrote: post #35

Pretty sure there are laws against mass arson, looting, rioting, vandalism, etc. so if the people can't follow laws why should the government?

Are you actually kidding me?

Do you know who else decided to shoot rioters? Iran, Syria, China.

Are you saying this is what we've come to? In that case, more power to these rioters to rid us of this disgusting state.

Re: US customs and border protection is flying a surveillance drone over Minneapolis

#39

Post by colejohnson66 »

king_magic wrote: post #28
kec wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Predator drones can carry multiple air to ground missiles and guided bombs. This is the same model of drone which is used for drone strikes in the Middle East. There is no reasonable reason for a domestic civilian agency to own or use these drones over US soil vs models which are incapable of carrying armament.

I'm aware of that, but it's extremely, extremely unlikely that this drone is carrying any sort of missiles. I can't prove that for certain, but let's be realistic here. The government could in theory drive a ballistic missile launcher hidden in an 18-wheeler into any major US city - should we not allow trucks on the road?

That’s a false equivalence. The difference with your truck argument is that this air vehicle is specifically designed to monitor and shoot missiles at targets (“extrajudicial killings” is the phrase used). A truck carrying a missile launcher is different because trucks weren’t created will the express purpose of carrying missile launchers.

Re: US customs and border protection is flying a surveillance drone over Minneapolis

#40

Post by corrupt_measure »

wafn wrote: post #35

Pretty sure there are laws against mass arson, looting, rioting, vandalism, etc. so if the people can't follow laws why should the government?

The government doesn't appear to be breaking any laws though.
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