[caption id=”attachment_145860″ align=”aligncenter” width=”1024″] Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson takes a tour of the border between the U.S. and Mexico near Naco, Ariz., with Sheriffs Paul Babeu and Mark Dannels, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015. (Nick Oza/The Arizona Republic via AP)
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Ben Carson has walked back his comments about border security and accused the media of twisting his words about drones on the border.
Appearing on CNN’s State on the Union on Sunday, Carson explained his interpretation.
“In no way, did I suggest that drones be used to kill people,” he said. “And I said that to the media at the time.”
The Hill reports that Carson instead wants to use drones to eliminate caves used by smugglers near the border, but he does not want to kill people in that effort.
Last week, Carson spoke to the Arizona Republic after law-enforcement officials flew him around the border to explain drug-trafficking routes.
Referring to smuggling caves, he said, “Some of these caves that are out there, one drone strike and, poof, they’re gone. And they’re easy to find.”
Whether drone strikes and border intelligence could be reliable enough to destroy those caves without injuring anyone is an open question, but American experience with drones overseas gives enough evidence for skepticism.
