Targeted Killing: Managing American Perceptions On Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operations

Abstract

The use of UAVs to preform targeted strikes on enemy personnel has changed the viewpoint of the American populace towards the military; in turn, causing change in how politicians choose to present their arguments for or against military campaigns. This research will analyze data from various sources in reference to the American approval rating for UAV targeted strikes. In addition, foreign policy, legislation, legal analysis, and exploration of moral and ethical consequences will be reviewed to answer the research question. This research will show that although these strikes have been useful in killing high level targets of terrorist organizations, it has also caused tension among nations and been used as a tool for terrorist recruitment. Additionally, this research will show the lack of transparency of the program, and that it continues to increase in criticism because the harm to civilians outweighs the good it does for the war on terror.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2016
Accession Number
AD1041056

Entities

People

  • Gregory D. Johnson

Organizations

  • Air Command and Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Counterterrorism
  • Foreign Relations
  • Geography
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Law
  • International Relations
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Unmanned Aerial Systems
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Readers

  • Strategic Security Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy