I am deeply ashamed and angry about the U.S. military’s deadly drone attacks. With those drones, piloted by men half a world away from their targets, this country is killing innocent men, women and children, along with militants that U.S. government officials have deemed worthy of death, militants known only by sometimes unreliable intelligence.

Who knows, or who really cares how many of these casualties are so-called militants?

I can only imagine the terror the people of Waziristan and South Yemen experience, seeing and hearing U.S. drones. Drones, those people’s only knowledge of the U.S., flying overhead all day, every day. They do not know when the next strike will come, and whether they will be the next victim.

Do we then imagine that we are making friends with those people, when our policies and activities are really guaranteeing perpetual war with them and their sympathizers?

With those attacks, this country is no more effective at being a positive influence in the world than are suicide bombers. We begin to resemble those we fear.

Each drone attack is yet another step in our collective suicide.

Greg Boardman, Lewiston

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