Morning Browse: Reapers, Nerve Gas, and Taxes

The MQ-1 Predator has been retired from service. All Air Force Squadrons have now switched over to the MQ-9 Reaper. War on the Rocks has a good piece tracing the history of MQ-1 Predator and its evolving capability. In short, UAVs have transitioned from being merely intelligence gathering platforms to true hunter-killers.

Given the unwillingness of American society to sustain heavy casualties, such a capability will become increasingly important. Instead of people whining about this, we should just accept and adapt.

Over in Britain, the Prime Minister has stated that the Russians was highly likely to be behind the attack on Sergei Skripal. Either Russia lost control over the nerve agent used or authorized its use. Truly shocking. Russian diplomats should be PNG'd. The United States also agrees with this assessment.

Finally, I happened across some interesting figures, showing who pays taxes and where that money goes. Progressive taxation is often justified on the grounds of taking from the rich to give to the poor. But look at government transfers. It is the worst off Americans that receive the least benefit from the state. It is the middle class that receives the most benefit. Source.