Targeted Killings: Carte Blanche To Kill?
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2013-02-07/targeted-killings-carte-blanche-kill
A Justice Department "white paper" released this week offers a legal rationale for the Obama administration's targeted killings of alleged al-Qaida operatives who are also American citizens. But legal experts say the document's broad interpretation of who represents a legitimate target -- and an imminent threat to U.S. safety -– gives commanders carte blanche to kill. Kojo explores the legal and ethical issues with a legal scholar who formerly advised Israel on targeted killings.
Guests
Amos Guiora
Professor of Law at the S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah; retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Israel Defense Forces; author of "Legitimate Target: A Criteria-Based Approach to Targeted Killing"
Comments
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How does a drone strike on another country differ from sending a tank into that country to kill individuals or destroy facilities considered by the US to have "military" significance? Isn't that an act of war? Allowing a few individuals in the government have that authority without external oversight is inherently risky.
Also, isn't it inevitable that other nations and groups will eventually use drones to attack individuals in the US? With drones and malicious code like Stuxnet, the US has opened a Pandora's box of evils as likely to harm us as our opponents.