The drone was told the customer to follow two men along the river in syria because they appear to be armed. The man whose job it is to look at the videoped, said, wait a minute,. These guy, they're not armed. And the customer's response was, well, stay ready to fire anyway, because we not need to take these guys out.
This episode contains descriptions of suicide.
Over the past five years, a series of investigations by The Times has revealed the terror and tragedy that America’s air wars, despite being promoted as the most precise in history, have brought to civilians on the ground.
The program has also exacted a heavy toll on the military personnel guiding the drones to their targets. They include soldiers such as Capt. Kevin Larson, a decorated pilot, who died by suicide after a drug arrest and court-martial.
For suicide prevention resources in the United States, go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources. Go here for resources outside the United States.
Guest: Dave Philipps, a national correspondent covering the military for The New York Times.
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