We Kill Because We Can: From Soldiering to Assassination in the Drone Age

We Kill Because We Can examines the rise of drone warfare and targeted killings in the post-9/11 era. The book investigates how remote warfare has transformed military engagement and the ethical implications of assassination by drone. Calhoun analyzes the terminology, technology, and procedures behind drone programs, drawing from military documents, interviews, and public records. She traces the evolution from traditional military combat to today's drone operations conducted far from conventional battlefields. The narrative tracks how targeted killing programs developed, their legal frameworks, and their impacts on operators, victims, and society. The text includes perspectives from drone pilots, military officials, lawyers, and critics of the practice. The work raises fundamental questions about morality in modern warfare and the psychological distance between drone operators and their targets. Through this examination, Calhoun challenges readers to consider how technology reshapes the boundaries of military action and human responsibility.

Readers describe this as a philosophical examination of drone warfare that questions the morality and implications of remote killing. Multiple reviewers note the book's thorough research and systematic breakdown of drone program justifications. Readers appreciated: - Clear analysis of legal and ethical issues - Detailed discussion of psychological effects on drone operators - Historical context connecting traditional warfare to drone campaigns Common criticisms: - Writing style can be repetitive - Some sections are overly academic/dense - Author's stance seen as too absolutist by some military readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (32 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (14 ratings) One military reviewer on Amazon noted the book "makes important points about accountability" while criticizing its "black and white view of complex situations." A Goodreads reviewer highlighted how it "methodically dismantles common arguments used to justify drone strikes." Many readers mentioned referencing specific chapters rather than reading cover-to-cover due to the dense academic content.

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🎯 Laurie Calhoun coined the term "lethal creep" to describe how drone warfare gradually normalized targeted killing outside traditional battlefields 📚 The book's title comes from a quote by a former drone operator who said they kill "because we can," highlighting how technology rather than necessity often drives military decisions 🤖 The author argues that drone operators, despite being physically safe, experience unique psychological trauma from watching their targets for extended periods before killing them ⚖️ Calhoun examines how drone warfare has blurred the line between warfare and assassination, challenging centuries of military ethics and international law 🌍 The book reveals that by 2013, more US Air Force pilots were training to operate drones than to fly conventional aircraft, marking a fundamental shift in modern warfare