Targeted killing of suspected terrorists

Targeted killing by drones has become a common tool of lethal force in the "war on terrorism" in the past decade. Owing to the specific nature of targeted killing by drones and suspected terrorists, this method of warfare does not easily fall under one particular model of international law. The author will examine targeted killing of suspected terrorists under the law-enforcement model, the right of self-defense under article 51 of the United Nations Charter and the armed conflict model. The author will illustrate the difficulties of each model when subsuming targeted killing of suspected terrorists under it. Furthermore, this paper will refer to targeted killings perpetrated by the United States in Yemen and Pakistan under e ach model. On the basis of this examination, the author will discuss the need for a new model in order to cover the issue of targeted killing of suspected terrorists comprehensively. Afterwards, this paper proposes new models in order to cover this type of killing. In this context, this paper will also consider the effect of establishing such new legal model to the law itself.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Public Law

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Kisla, Atilla

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Powell, Cathleen

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19748

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/19748