Since the US ME wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, drones have come into widespread use as a needed tool to fight the Taliban, foreign insurgents, and Al Qaida. But a new medal called the Distinguished Warfare Medal for the drone operators (aka "Joystick Jockeys") is causing quite a stir with angry ground troops and the Joint Chiefs of Staff over issue to personell that are never in harms way; in fact, their operating trailers may sit hundreds to thousands of miles away in luxury of air conditioning and heating, use of toilet facilities, and access to food. These personell never face the enemy on battlefronts, never fire an actual firearm, do not take real wounds, or get blown up by IEDs. So do they deserve a combat medal? Most think not even though they contribute to the war effort. In most cases. however, the presence of a Predator, Reaper, or Sentinel over the enemy just instills rage in them to hit physical US troop assest in the region or to harm innocent civilians in reprisal raids against villages. The operators effectiveness is less than impressive b/c of all the collateral damage they cause to take out as low as ONE terrorist, with hundreds killed or injured for life, many of whom are innocent women and children. Should they receive a medal of distinction for that carnage? Most are arguing NO!!!