U.S. drone warfare, initially developed under the Bush and Obama administrations during the Global War on Terror, has continued to receive investment and support under the Trump administration as part of its “America First” strategy. A forthcoming discussion will examine the logistical underpinnings of this approach, focusing on a U.S. drone base located within a Pakistani air force facility in Jacobabad, Pakistan.
Drone Warfare Logistics Under Scrutiny
The discussion will draw on ethnographic and archival research to analyze the infrastructures, routes, and corridors that supported drone operations in the region during the “war on terror.” It will also consider the potential implications for the increasing use of small drones.
The event will feature Alyssa Paylor, postdoctoral research fellow, hosting a discussion with Madiha Tahir, postdoctoral associate and assistant professor of American Studies at the Yale Center for the Study of Race, Indigeneity, and Transnational Migration. Tahir’s work focuses on digital war, surveillance, and the intersection of technology and empire.
Tahir is also a former journalist and the director of “Wounds of Waziristan,” a documentary focusing on the experiences of drone survivors.
This event is part of a lecture series led by the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, in partnership with its Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) Working Group, all within the Keough School of Global Affairs. The series is dedicated to a critical evaluation of U.S. policy in the Middle East and a reassessment of U.S. involvement in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the focus of the upcoming discussion?
The discussion will focus on an ethnographic and archival account of a U.S. drone base located in Jacobabad, Pakistan, and the logistical networks that supported drone warfare during the “war on terror.”
Who are the featured speakers?
Alyssa Paylor, postdoctoral research fellow, will host the discussion with Madiha Tahir, postdoctoral associate and assistant professor of American Studies at the Yale Center for the Study of Race, Indigeneity, and Transnational Migration.
What is the broader context of this event?
This event is part of a lecture series that conducts a critical evaluation of U.S. policy in the Middle East and calls for a reassessment of the nature and function of a U.S. presence in the region.
As drone technology evolves, what challenges and opportunities might arise in the future of remote warfare?
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