Abstract
Targeted killing has been heralded as one of the most effective methods for reducing the terrorist threat in the Middle East, yet its legality remains a point of controversy. At issue is the question of whether the United States is, or even can be, at war with al-Qaeda, as a state's recourse to violence is severely restricted under international law in the absence of such a war. This paper analyzes the three main frameworks under which America's lethal actions have been evaluated: law enforcement, armed conflict, and self-defense. It concludes that while the United States has a legitimate claim to self-defense against these terrorist networks, targeted killing as currently practiced by the Obama administration cannot be justified under international law.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 68-87 |
Number of pages | 20 |
Journal | Journal of Public and International Affairs |
Volume | 22 |
State | Published - 2011 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Political Science and International Relations