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The U.S. and the Policy of Targeted Killing

(Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University) Yoram Schweitzer and Einav Yogev - U.S. policy on targeted killings in the war on terror made headlines with the May 2011 raid by the Navy SEALs in the heart of Pakistan that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. This and other targeted killings are part of an intensive campaign in the war against global terrorism begun by the U.S. immediately after 9/11. In this way, the U.S. has succeeded in killing or capturing the commanders of the special al-Qaeda unit responsible for terror attacks abroad. At the same time, the U.S. has succeeded in foiling most of the attempted terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda and global jihad activists. The faint criticism of the intensive targeted killings campaign by the U.S. is especially noteworthy in light of the serious condemnations Israel has received for the same conduct. Israel has fought terrorism by making sparing use of targeted killings against prominent terrorist leaders, using it especially on the most prominent and dangerous planners and perpetrators of large-scale suicide terrorism during the Second Intifada.
2011-06-24 00:00:00
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