Activists Protest in Des Moines Against Drone Plan

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By Ellen Kurt

Story Created: Jan 23, 2013 at 4:14 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jan 23, 2013 at 4:14 PM CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Peace activists don't want drone aircraft hovering over Afghanistan to be powered from a control room in Iowa.

Waving signs that said "No War Drones, Des Moines," activists protested Wednesday morning outside the Des Moines Air National Guard Base.

The military plans to pilot drone aircraft at the base, now that the F-16 jets based there will be removed.

Local military and elected officials support the move to operate what are known as "remotely piloted aircraft" from Iowa, noting that this will preserve most of the roughly 1,000 jobs on the base.

But Leah Bolger, national president of Veterans for Peace, say U.S. drones have killed thousands of people and the military's program has limited oversight.

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