The Perennial Theater of War Games
THE CLAIM: The U.S. Eighth Army announced live-fire drills involving Common Remotely Operated Weapon Stations (CROWS) in Korea. The stated purpose? To allow gunners to operate machine guns 'from the safety of the cockpit of the vehicle and not have to expose ourselves,' as per Capt. Noah Klein. THE EVIDENCE: The drills, conducted on Jan. 28-29, involved assembling, preparing, and operating these
remote systems, along with firing M249 and M240 machine guns. The CROWS system, produced by companies like Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, has been a staple in the US military arsenal for over two decades. (Kongsberg, 2024) THE CONTRADICTIONS: While 'sold' as enhancing troop safety, the proliferation of remote and eventually autonomous weapon systems consistently lowers the political and
psychological barriers to deploying force. The transition from direct exposure to 'safety of the cockpit' doesn't just protect soldiers; it reframes warfare as a technical exercise, distancing operators from the direct consequences of their actions. This was a core concern raised by various international bodies, including Human Rights Watch back in 2012, regarding the ethical implications of
'killer robots.' The 'danger to our troops' narrative is often a convenient framing device for the adoption of more advanced, and often more expensive, military hardware. After all, what truly enhances safety more: advanced weaponry, or a robust diplomatic framework that prevents escalation? Curiously, the latter rarely gets the same headline treatment. THE NETWORK: The primary beneficiaries of