PERSPECTIVE
Trigger Happy
Shoot first, ask questions later
STEVEN POOLE
Towards the end of 2024, something strange began happening in the skies above New Jersey. People reported seeing airborne objects resembling SUV-sized drones trundling around above them in the skies, and also glowing orange or white “orbs” dancing around. The media was alerted. Sheriffs and then legislators were on the case. It went on for weeks. But what it was that was going on was a mystery.
Some people saw lights emerging from the ocean and performing manoeuvres impossible for any manned aircraft; some said they were government drones searching for a dirty bomb. Drones flew with impunity over US Air Force bases and were unaffected by their antidrone defences. The White House spokesperson said these were definitely not drones built by an “adversary” such as China. President-elect Trump said the government knew what was happening, but “for some reason they don’t want to comment”.