On February 4, 2002, one of the most controversial US military programs began nearly 5 months after 9/11. In January of this year, that same US military program was responsible for the friendly fire deaths of two aid workers, one American, one Italian. This program, which has been globally contested for well over a decade, is known as the drone program.

On April 23, the Wall Street Journal published an article on newly declassified information which prompted President Barack Obama to hold a press conference on why this drone program caused collateral damage. Warren Weinstein of America, and Giovanni Lo Porto of Italy, were two “selfless” aid workers who devoted their lives to making the world a better place, according to Obama. Both Weinstein and Lo Porto worked in Africa and in the Middle East in attempts of giving children and families better opportunities and resources. Back in 2011, Weinstein was taken hostage by al­ Qaeda, and in 2012, so was Lo Porto.

In a drone strike intended to kill senior al­ Qaeda officials, the two aid workers were caught in the crossfire of the single most unfortunate drawback in the war on terror.

This article, however, is not about Weinstein and Lo Porto. As important as it is to acknowledge the selfless work they involved themselves in throughout their lives, we must use this unfortunate happening as an opportunity to continue the dialogue on the drone program. In a war on terror that’s as advanced as it is, we mustn’t allow ourselves to let these programs work without certainty. Just as we progress in our technology, so do the radicals. If it is getting to a point where radical Islamist groups are finding ways put their hostages in compounds which appear to the United States to be housing terrorists, then how do we continue this fight?

Moving forward, the CIA and US Department of Defense must think of new ways to be absolutely sure that they do not have to report to families that their loved ones were killed in crossfire. The war on terror is now more dangerous than ever, and an ample balance between eliminating terrorists and keeping friendlies safe at all times must be found.