Use of Drones in War

Throughout history, the advancement of technology has often followed the need for weapons in times of war. The recent development of unmanned aerial vehicles, better known as drones, to attack members of ISIS and AL-Qaeda in the Middle East is no exception to this. Proponents claim that drones are “far more precise than other weapons systems,” cause less collateral damage, and do not put soldiers in danger as they are operated from a distance (Mockaitis). Others say that they make it too easy to kill, as the soldier operating the drone is removed from the human aspects involved in the killing. They also say
that they cause more civilian casualties than governments will admit, which
in turn fuels anti-western sentiments in the Middle East and contributes to terrorism. Is war more justified if costs are reduced? How can we ensure that civilians are not injured by drones? Are operators less morally responsible for killing if they are operating a drone, an indirect weapon?