Re-evaluating the Efficacy of Targeted Killing

Cleary, Zachary

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/113613 Copy

Description

Title

Re-evaluating the Efficacy of Targeted Killing

Author(s)

Cleary, Zachary

Issue Date

2018

Keyword(s)

• Targeted Killing
• Security Forces
• Policy Lessons

Abstract

The purposeful killing of select individuals is a cornerstone of modern counter-terror and insurgency doctrine. The CIA’s drone fleet strikes targets across the globe, while Israeli strikes on Hamas leadership have become so routine as to be compared to “mowing the grass” (Inbar & Shamir, 2014). Despite the ubiquity of targeted killing, the academic community is divided as to its effectiveness. This article seeks to demonstrate that, as the literature on targeted killing has matured and become more rigorous, the consensus has shifted from seeing targeted killings as an ineffective or counterproductive measure to viewing them as an effective tool. After reviewing the early arguments against targeted killing, this article assesses these claims in light of more recent research. It explores why and how targeted killings aid security forces and concludes with four policy lessons.

Publisher

Program in Arms Control & Domestic and International Security

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/113613

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2018 Zachary Cleary

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