TY - JOUR
T1 - Targeted killings
T2 - Contemporary challenges, risks and opportunities
AU - Bachmann, Sascha Dominik
N1 - © Oxford University Press 2013
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - The use of drones and other forms of targeted killings are being increasingly criticized at the international and domestic level. Before the backdrop of the most recent news that the United Nations has launched an inquiry into the overall legality of such a method of warfare and counterterrorism and its associated loss of civilian life, this article aims to give an overview on targeted killings as a means of warfare. The article asks what constitutes targeted killing and what distinguishes it from assassinations. It reflects on the safeguards, which are necessary to ensure the legality of the targeting process. This article further introduces the reader to an updated account of the use of Unmanned Combat Aircraft Systems, or 'drones', in targeted killings, employed as a means of warfare by the USA in its 'War on Terror'. The US drone campaign in Pakistan also raises questions in respect to State Sovereignty and potential violations of this central tenet of International Law. The article will also touch upon another field of global security, so called 'Hybrid Threats', where the use of targeted killing may have an operational military benefit as part of a holistic counterstrategy. It concludes with a sobering warning that while targeted killing operations may be an effective means of achieving short-term tactical goals within the scope of a wider operational objective, the unregulated and increased use of targeting killings by the USA in the 'War on Terror' would be both immoral as well as illegal in the long run.
AB - The use of drones and other forms of targeted killings are being increasingly criticized at the international and domestic level. Before the backdrop of the most recent news that the United Nations has launched an inquiry into the overall legality of such a method of warfare and counterterrorism and its associated loss of civilian life, this article aims to give an overview on targeted killings as a means of warfare. The article asks what constitutes targeted killing and what distinguishes it from assassinations. It reflects on the safeguards, which are necessary to ensure the legality of the targeting process. This article further introduces the reader to an updated account of the use of Unmanned Combat Aircraft Systems, or 'drones', in targeted killings, employed as a means of warfare by the USA in its 'War on Terror'. The US drone campaign in Pakistan also raises questions in respect to State Sovereignty and potential violations of this central tenet of International Law. The article will also touch upon another field of global security, so called 'Hybrid Threats', where the use of targeted killing may have an operational military benefit as part of a holistic counterstrategy. It concludes with a sobering warning that while targeted killing operations may be an effective means of achieving short-term tactical goals within the scope of a wider operational objective, the unregulated and increased use of targeting killings by the USA in the 'War on Terror' would be both immoral as well as illegal in the long run.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84881344110&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/jcsl/krt007
DO - 10.1093/jcsl/krt007
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84881344110
SN - 1467-7954
VL - 18
SP - 259
EP - 288
JO - Journal of Conflict and Security Law
JF - Journal of Conflict and Security Law
IS - 2
ER -