DHS wants drones but wont have to pay for them during Civil War IIJames Smith, Contributor But they wont need to. Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) have been used by Homeland Security for more than 5 years in the United States. Four units were to be purchased by the end of 2007, covering land and sea. However, UAVs can cost more than double that of a manned aircraft due to the logistical support, specialized pilots, and maintenance training required. In 2011, the Hawaiian Islands were due to have UAV monitor the coastlines. Repeated requests for more details were ignored by the State and the contractor, Hawaiya Technologies. According to ACLU Senior Staff Attorney Daniel Gluck, Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or drones by law enforcement has a vast potential for abuse. The Hawaii Supreme Court has already ruled that warrantless infrared surveillance of peoples homes is an unconstitutional invasion of privacy. The ACLU of Hawaii will monitor the details of this particular program (the kinds of technology used to perform the surveillance and the areas where it is used) to ensure it does not intrude on Hawaii residents and businesses protected privacy rights. Gluck said. Nearly a year ago, the World Surveillance Group Inc, a developer of lighter-than-air (LTA) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and related technologies, announced that the Company has entered into a three-year agreement with Oklahoma State University University Multispectral Laboratories, LLC (UML), to collaborate in support of research, development, testing evaluation (RDTE) activities associated with WSGIs LTA UAV platforms. agree to cooperate and conduct RDTE, technical, engineering and scientific activities using the facilities, staff, methods, and technologies of each party to rapidly advance technology, from concept to operation, in the following areas: chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosive (collectively, CBRNE), command, control, computers, communication, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR), and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Just how profitable are UAVs? According to SUASNEWS.com: The global UAV market is expected to increase at a Combined Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.08% in the ten-year period between 2011 and 2012, a recent ICD report forecasts. ICD estimated the global UAV market value at US$7.1 billion in 2011, this market is projected to grow to a value of US$10.5 billion in 2021, reflecting 4.08% CAGR. The study forecasts this growth will be driven by the demand for UAVs, addressing both homeland and national security, (addressing internal as well external security threats), territorial disputes and modernization initiatives undertaken by armed forces across the world. This puts it on line to grow as much as Green Construction, a growing industry within the United States. But privacy remains paramount to the average person in the US, and yet nothing is done about it. In an article from earlier this year, it was reported that Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of a House Homeland Security subcommittee, criticized that no federal agency has been prepared to challenge the issue of drones and privacy. He said DHS officials rejected a demand to appear at the hearing, saying regulating civilian use of drones wasnt the departments responsibility. Representative McCaul said he is considering seeking a court order to force DHS officials to testify at hearings or asking the White House to issue an Executive Order requiring the department take responsibility for the matter. And privacy should be respected by government officials, but they still refuse. According to the ACLU, Lansing Michigan police have been using drones to look over the fences of homeowners. Drones have the ability to see beyond what a normal officer can view. This means that the Lansing cameras give police the ability to read words on a piece of paper in someones hand within 50 feet, clearly discern a license plate that is 300 feet away, or recognize a face at 400 feet, the ACLU of Michigan writes in a report detailing the abuses. And because drones can be hacked, a young girl sun tanning in the back yard could very well be recorded for immoral means, or homeowners that are away could find their homes ransacked because the drones provided the hackers with entry codes into garages or backdoors. All in all, the DHS really doesnt need to purchase any drones. According to the National Defense Resources Preparedness Executive Order written this year, even in peacetime Section 310 states: Critical Items. The head of each agency engaged in procurement for the national defense is delegated the authority of the President under section 107(b)(1) of the Act, 50 U.S.C. App. 2077(b)(1), to take appropriate action to ensure that critical components, critical technology items, essential materials, and industrial resources are available from reliable sources when needed to meet defense requirements during peacetime, graduated mobilization, and national emergency. Appropriate action may include restricting contract solicitations to reliable sources, restricting contract solicitations to domestic sources (pursuant to statutory authority), stockpiling critical components, and developing substitutes for critical components or critical technology items. Part VIII (j) allows for: (j) National defense means programs for military and energy production or construction, military or critical infrastructure assistance to any foreign nation, homeland security, stockpiling, space, and any directly related activity. Such term includes emergency preparedness activities conducted pursuant to title VI of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5195 et seq., and critical infrastructure protection and restoration. It appears that no matter who owns the drone they will all belong to the government at a whim. Now thats some Change that the government can all guarantee. This article first appeared at Prepper Podcast Radio Network. Read other articles by James Smith HERE. James is a father of four and grandfather to four. He and his wife of almost 30 years have been prepping since 2003. They live in a small town, with neighbors as close as 10 feet away and have raised chickens for 2 years covertly on less than 1/5 of an acre. He is a former corrections officer, insurance fraud investigator, and he served in the Navy for 6 years. He currently works for a corporation dealing with the disabled population and their benefits. He is the host of The Covert Prepper show and the Prepper Podcast Radio Network News, both heard on Blogtalk Radio. linkwithin_text=Related Articles: 