. >> reporter: edward barrett is director of strategy and research at the u.s. naval academy's stockdale center for ethical leadership. he says, in fact, high-tech sensors on the drones give operators a very detailed picture of what they are doing. >> they're operating from afar, but their senses are very close to the situation. they see very clearly the battle damage that they are doing and thereforthey know that there not playing a video game. >> reporter: he says the distance allows operators to make moral decisions about the use of force. >> a soldier in the situation is scared and possible hasty in deciding what to do and acting and possibly even angry whereas an operator who's not threatened can use tighter rules of engagement and is not going to be fearful and therefore is going have a much cooler head. >> reporter: deptula says much ethical oversight surrounds the u.s. military's use of drones. >> you have many, many more sets of eyes that are watching what's going on and many, many more people in the decision loop in terms of employing lethal ordinance