[MUST READ] Drone Expansion in Afghanistan

USA Today reports:

The Pentagon is building a series of air bases in eastern Afghanistan as part of its massive expansion of a system that uses drone aircraft to spy on and attack Taliban insurgents, according to interviews and documents. [...]

Last year, the Pentagon received authority from Congress to shift $1.3 billion in its budget to pay for more drones and the systems needed to fly them. It will shift at least $750 million this year. In addition, it will spend more than $3 billion to buy and develop new unmanned systems this year

More:

• U.S. military advancing drones to survive regional winters
• The military now has over 6,000 drones, up from 167 in 2001.