Basically, they can be decisive. But they can drive a backlash that no rational analysis can explain. (No, our drones aren't spying on your scantily clad women--have you even been on the Internet?) So it is best to get by without them if possible:
In sum, drones are on probation with the Yemeni public, and even a friendly Yemeni president can still be pressured to disallow drone strikes. Drones can help manage instability but they cannot, by themselves, create stability in Yemen. Under these circumstances, the United States must move aggressively to help Yemen with an wide range of counterinsurgency and counterterrorism measures and also treat the moderation and professionalization of the Yemeni military as serious priorities. Drones, for all their value, cannot replace a legitimate government with a competent military in ensuring the national security of a strategically important country such as Yemen.
They're a tool among many, and not a panacea.
