Why the no-fly zone is the wrong move.

Hello. It's the 21st century.

Let's have a look first at the no fly option.

1 Will take ages to set up.
2 Will be controversial.
3 May not stop the problem.
4 Very, very expensive.
5 Decisions and enquiries will all be secretive.

Basically your looking at planes permanent flying over the country, refueling planes flying about. Ships and massive movement of people.

Now here is my high tech option.

Step one.

Satellite. Probably already been done anyway.

Get a snapshot of the country. Eliminate all the areas where there are definitely no airplanes or helicopters.

Step two.

Droids. Probably also already done.
Send in high altitude drones to monitor the active areas. Locate and track airborne vehicles.

Step three.
Open source.
Open the droid feeds. Tell the whole world what they have, where they are and how often they have been used since surveillance started. Broadcast live(ish) feeds of the big threats. So if they are used the world knows.

Obviously you may be saying they will shot down the droids. Maybe but they are relatively cheap and no humans will die. It will show they have something to hide if they do start shooting. There is always the option that they may not shot. Maybe their technology will not be as agile as the droids. Maybe they will think the publicity would be bad. Maybe they will flee realizing the game is up.

Step 4
Missiles.
Hands up if you have seen on tv someone explaining how we have missiles that can be flown for many kilometers and hit a car in a field.

We have some very smart weapons. Unfortunately often with dumb humans controlling them.

You plan out the best way to target and destroy the aircraft. Be it from planes, ships or another continent.

Announce when you will do it. Noon on a clear day would be best.

Keep the droids monitoring the situation in case of hostages being amassed around crafts. Leaflet the areas making sure everyone knows the times and places.

If everyone does the sensible thing of getting the hell out of the area. You blow them all up.

If they gather round the crafts to protect them. Well then they can't be used. So double win.

Step 5
Compensation
After the trouble has settled down. You use the money you saved to pay the (hopefully) new government for their loss.

Which does not have to be used for military purchases.

Can't quite see the Yanks or Brits governments going for this though and you know the French and Russian governments will object.

It may have flaws, but it's got to be worth a shot as a cheap option.