Targeted Killings

Abstract

This paper discusses the highly debated use of Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPV) in response to the Al- Qaeda threat. The United States has the technology to target Al-Qaeda locations and eliminate the threat using RPVs, but current moral and legal debates stand in the way. This paper provides a historical summary of the Al-Qaeda threat as well as details about events following the 9/11 attack that launched the United States into armed conflict with Al-Qaeda. The paper defines targeted killing to set the stage for the legal policy discussion. It defines the legal status as unlawful combatants. The paper applies the three principles of the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) to address frequently debated legal considerations and the Feasible, Acceptable, Suitable (FAS) test is used to confront the moral debate. Both analyses clearly support the use of RPVs against Al-Qaeda targets. It concludes with several recommendations to enhance the capabilities and situational awareness of this program so that the United States can continue to use the RPV as a tool to destroy Al-Qaeda in the future.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA590342

Entities

People

  • Louis A. Zeisman

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Counterterrorism
  • Governments
  • International Law
  • International Relations
  • Law
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Remotely Piloted Vehicles
  • Situational Awareness
  • Students
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • United States Military Academy
  • Vehicles
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Aerial Unmanned Vehicle Swarm Micro Periodontal Dentistry.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.
  • Strategic Security Studies