Smart Talk: Legality of military drones on trial

What to look for on Smart Talk Tuesday, June 23, 2015:

U.S. ground troops were withdrawn from Iraq in 2011 and there will be less than 10,000 in Afghanistan by the end of this year.  But that hasn’t stopped the U.S. from waging war from the sky through the use of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones.

Drones are used most often to target terrorists.  Earlier this month, a drone strike in Yemen killed Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s second in command.

The U.S. actually trains more unmanned pilots than traditional fighter pilots today.

Since the UAVs were first used in battle, drones have been controversial.  Supporters say they help to limit the number of military casualties.  Anti-drone activists argue the use of drones is illegal, unethical, and not very effective.

World on Trial: Drones and Human Rights is a documentary film that puts the issue on trial in a courtroom. Click here to watch the trailer.

Filmed at Penn State Dickinson School of Law, juries hear arguments on the use of drones.

Two of the film’s executive producers appear on Tuesday’s Smart Talk.  They are Amy Gaudion, legal advisor & executive producer for World on Trial, Director of International and Graduate Education and Visiting Assistant Professor of Law at Penn State Dickinson School of Law and Tom Keiter, executive producer, World on Trial & documentary filmmaker.

World on Trial: Drones and Human Rights can be seen on WITF-TV Sunday, June 28 at 4 p.m.