How do you protect civilians in war zones from armed drones? The U.S. State Department thinks the answer is selling more drones.
Last week, the State Department published a new policy allowing the sale of armed drones to certain allied countries. 
Any technology that keeps humans off the battlefield is great at first glance. And unlike previous forms of long-range warfare like bombers, drone pilots can work from the safety of U.S. soil.
However, just like previous forms of aerial warfare, a lack of precision has led to a high number of civilian casualties. By some estimates, drones have killed more than 1,000 civilians while operating in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. 
To be clear, drones have killed nowhere near the number of civilians as have traditional bombing raids. But that is, in part, due to the training and expertise of U.S. drone operators. 
To responsibly sell drones in foreign markets, the U.S. needs to invest in training foreign pilots as well. At minimum, U.S. officials should be present to help establish and oversee drone training programs in allied countries. 
According to the BBC, requirements for armed drone sales include an agreement that they would be used in accordance with international law. Countries would also be barred from using drones to spy on or attack their own populations. 
But these requirements seem vague and difficult to enforce, especially with the U.S.’s own questionable human rights record when it comes to drones. 
Even more troubling is the U.S. is not the only drone exporter on the market. China has also begun to sell drones to at least nine countries, including Pakistan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. 
Unfortunately, China has proven in the past that it is more concerned with making a profit than protecting human rights. It cannot be assumed that the Chinese government will go to great lengths to assure that exported drones are being used responsibly. 
On the other hand, the U.S. has the opportunity to ensure countries have the equipment and training to make drone warfare as safe and effective as possible. For this reason, the U.S. must work to get drones into the hands of its allies as quickly and responsibly as possible. 
Furthermore, the State Department needs to establish a more rigorous and enforceable set of guidelines for the use of drones, especially within a country’s own borders. 
It may seem counter-intuitive that the way to protect civilians from drones is to sell them to as many allies as possible. But governments that want drones will purchase them from one country or another, and international law cannot keep up with the rapid advance of technology. 
Therefore, it falls on drone suppliers to effectively train and supervise foreign pilots as well as develop drone policy. 
As it stands now, the U.S. is one of the few countries with the capabilities to accomplish these goals. But we will not hold an advantage in drone
technology forever. 
The U.S. can have a heavy hand in developing a humane international drone policy. Supplying foreign governments with U.S. drones and training will go a long way toward accomplishing this goal. But the State Department needs to act before it’s too late. 
Alex Mendoza is a 22-year-old political science and international studies senior from Baton Rouge. You can reach him on
Twitter @alexmendoza_TDR.