Before he retired from his job as US Secretary of defence, Leon Panetta announced a new ‘distinguished warfare medal to be given to drone pilots who sit thousand miles away from the action. This upset many service people and their families because it has a higher ranking than the ‘bronze star’. The bronze star has been given to those who have given their lives for their comrades in battle. This gives some insight into Panetta’s view of the drone wars.
Russian Today: Medal of Droner
Now CNN has reported that Panetta’s successor, Chuck Hagel who has two purple hearts, has set up a review that will most likely lower the medal’s ranking. Read the CNN story – Hagel ordering review of new drone medal ranking