&gt; The Air Force also has contracted out more drone missions to private companies to meet what one general called “a virtually insatiable appetite” from military commanders for airborne surveillance.<p>It sounds like for now, contractors are only running surveillance missions.<p>What if contractors:<p>* Fly the drone and release ordnance that kills someone.<p>* Fly the drone but military personnel pushes the button that kills someone.<p>Does the contractor as a civilian bear liability differently than a member of the armed forces? Could a foreign country try to extradite and prosecute them? Could a foreign country arrest them if they left the USA?