The Legitimacy of U.S. Drone Strikes

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Introduction

September 11 attacks marked an unprecedented development and advancement of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones. Because of their technological capabilities and strategic advantages, drones have been used by the United States government as one of the main weapons in ‘war against terrorism.’ An unmanned aircraft was first used by Elmer Sperry, creator of the gyroscope, when sinking a German captured battleship, but its usage for military purposes began after 1985 (Shaw, 2012, p. 1490). As the United States initiated the use drones against Al-Qaeda and Taliban forces, vast criticism sparked throughout the world questioning its legality under the international law. In this paper, I will focus on the legitimacy of targeted killing, its ambiguous lawfulness under jus ad bellum [Latin - right to war], and humanitarian problems caused in Pakistan during Bush and Obama administrations. I will conclude my paper by claiming that the current drone policy of the U.S. government is illegitimate, counterproductive, and inhumane while drones itself are extremely important against terrorist organizations. In other words, I will argue that by reforming some aspects of the drone policy and by using it in accordance to the international law, drones are important for the U.S. security.

Success & Importance

Despite the fact that drones became enormously popular after September 11 attacks during the Bush administration, its usage against Al-Qaeda and Taliban has sextupled since Barack Obama’s inauguration as the president of the United States in 2009. Although the exact amount of victims is unknown due to confidentiality from the CIA and the U.S. government, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) has ga...

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Plaw, A., & Fricker, M. S. (2012). Tracking the Predators: Evaluating the US Drone Campaign in Pakistan. International Studies Perspectives, 13(4), 344-365. doi:10.1111/j.1528-3585.2012.00465.x

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