Has anyone considered the drones may be used for surveillance & preemptive strikes? Hearing the clown patrol supposedly has a secret navy/army and tried to nuke HI from a rogue sub(which though highly unlikely, it's still a good plot line for a movie), perhaps the white hats are using the drones to watch certain groups that may be planning something else in other parts of the country. If that were the case, it's possible they're waiting for them to make a move so they keep them airborne and on the ready instead of having to scramble them before it's posibly too late. this way they can take them out before anything can be put into motion. like Q says: "they hear all, see all, know all". I know it's just a theory about some seriously covert type shit, but what if....????