When former US President George Bush was compiling his celebrated list of 'rogue nations', he wasn't thinking about Israel. Last week our Prime Minister and Foreign Minister were unnerved by news that Israeli officials almost certainly forged Australian passports in order to carry out a Mossad killing. When Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said it 'was not the action of a friend', he could have been thinking that it was the behaviour of a rogue nation.
The passports violation was not the only disturbing Israeli action in the news last week. Israel's air force unveiled its Heron TP fleet of unmanned aircraft, which it says can travel as far as Iran. It coincides with Israel's push for increased international pressure against Iran in response to its nuclear program. The drone can fly for more than 20 hours, and is suitable for both surveillance and launching missile attacks. This development will provoke even moderates in Iran to think the country needs nuclear arms in order to defend itself.
We are easily impressed by the magnitude of what such technology is capable of. It is the realisation of what we have so far only seen in movies and computer games. Leaders bent on waging war see many advantages in drones and other robotic tools of warfare. The use of such technology in Afghanistan and Iraq has led to a significant reduction of US casualties when compared to Vietnam.
The cost is a rising percentage of civilian casualties. In World War I, the number of non-combatant casualties was 10 per cent. This rose to 50 per cent in World War II, and over 90 per cent in today's wars. With the large-scale employment of robots and drones, the figure will soon be close to 100 per cent.
These statistics were quoted in the latest Just Comment briefing from the Edmund Rice Centre, which is titled 'Games we play — war by remote control'. It says remote warfare will save lives, but only for countries that can afford the technology.
'More countries will develop remote capabilities, leading to greater destruction on every side — but the poor continue to suffer.'
War by remote control is faceless. It is acting behind another's back as in rogue behaviour. We remain at a distance from those with whom we disagree. There is no basis for trust. Resolution to conflict involves looking the other in the eye, shaking hands and agreeing to cooperate.