Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain in front of the monitor with a joystick

Drone strikes and targeted assassinations are a dilemma for me. We have to get terrorists before they get us. If we don't want boots on the ground or air strikes and certain governments are unwilling to go after terror networks in their jurisdiction then what choice do we have ? I hate to see civilians killed or injured but what do we do ? The government in Pakistan is not willing to go after militants, and elements in the Pakistani intelligence and the military support and protect the Taliban. Widespread and powerful Islamic extremists at all levels of Pakistani society are responsible for this problem. The US has legitimate security concerns and a right to defend ourselves. Drones may be the best alternative to other kinds of force. Human rights groups and civil libertarians do not consider any of this.