[dmm]

FWIW, the CIA has been using remote-control drones in Afghanistan for both recon and attack. (They have 2 Hellfire missiles.) Granted, this is remote-control, but we're not yet ready for interstellar colonization either, so I think drone manufacturers have some time to develop more independent operation.

Slightly off-topic: One drone killed a group of Afghans that included a tall guy with bodyguards. They are now comparing the tall corpse's DNA against the DNA of bin Laden's relatives. I kid you not.