By Steve Neavling
Ticklethewire.com
The potential for weaponized drones has never been greater.
Fearing that terrorists could use drones to attack Americans, Homeland Security is urging Congress for more authority to stop malicious drones.
Intelligence officials are warning that terrorist organizations like ISIS have mastered the use of weaponized drones.
In Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro was almost struck by explosives dropped from drones earlier this year.
“Any time drones are used for an attack, what appears to have been an assassination attempt, it’s gravely concerning,” DHS’ top intelligence official, David Glawe, told CBS News.
Glawe fears that a weaponized drone could threaten the Super Bowl or White House, for example.
But no law enforcement agency has the authority to jam or shoot down drones, Glawe said.
“I think we want the opportunity to have all tools in the toolbox for our law enforcement officers. To identify good from bad is a key component,” Glawe said.
DHS has asked Congress to give the agency power to “redirect, disable, disrupt control of, seize, or confiscate, without prior consent” a drone that “poses a threat.” But after a Senate committee approved the legislation last summer, the bill stalled over concerns from civil liberties groups.
“It’s a problem because it means that DHS can shoot a drone out of the air or seize it and they can do so without ever having a judge look at their actions and determine if they were right,” said Neema Singh Giuliani, legislative counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union.
Glawe said there is no time to debate the issue.
“This threat is upon us today. I wake up in the morning and night just hoping we don’t have an attack,” Glawe said.
