In much of the world, the Predator drone symbolises US power. It is ubiquitous, stealthy and can strike at any moment. They patrol the skies of central Asia, north Africa, the Arabian peninsula – and now Iraq. Other countries have nuclear weapons and aircraft carriers. But nobody else can match the lethal ingenuity of America’s Hellfire missile. Little surprise that two US presidents – George W Bush, and now Barack Obama – have resorted to them so frequently. But their heyday is waning. America’s unipolar drone moment is ending.
在世界上很多地方，“掠夺者”(Predator)无人机象征着的美国的威力。它们无处不在、无法探测，还能随时发动攻击。它们游弋在中亚、北非、阿拉伯半岛——如今还有伊拉克——的上空。其他国家也有核武器和航空母舰，但美国“地狱火”(Hellfire)导弹的独创性和杀伤力无可匹敌。难怪乔治•W•布什(George W Bush)和现在的巴拉克•奥巴马(Barack Obama)两位美国总统屡屡动用无人机。但无人机的全盛时期正在过去。美国单极垄断无人机的日子即将结束。