Bend But Don't Break: Why Obama's Targeted-Killing Program Challenges Policy & Legal Boundaries But Rarely Breaches Them
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Date
2014-05-20
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Johns Hopkins University
Abstract
This thesis portfolio examined the targeted-killing program inherited – then enhanced – by President Barack Obama. These topics were selected because as future officials and scholars make important decisions about the future of the program and conduct research on it, it is important to better understand the impacts of what has been dubbed a new way of war. Chapter One examined whether the targeted-killing program hindered the pursuit of U.S. foreign policy goals in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Chapter Two examined whether access to armed drones and elite commandos transformed what many experts considered an anti-war philosophic Liberal into a hawkish Realist. Chapter Three examined the program’s legality. The portfolio analyzed scholarship on U.S. war powers, the Constitution, existing U.S. laws, as well as Obama’s statements, writings, actions and his administration’s internal policy documents that were germane to his philosophy and the targeted-killing program during the examined span (early 2007-May 2014). Chapter One determined the program had a net positive effect on the pursuit of U.S. goals in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region during the examined timeframe (between September 2001 and December 2012). Chapter Two determined the program did not alter Obama’s philosophy, but in many ways, embodied his hybrid philosophy. And Chapter Three concluded that the program challenges some boundaries, but overall is legal. This research is important because the use of drone strikes and special operations raids – this new way of war – inside sovereign countries where the United States has not formally declared war is expected to continue under future commanders in chief. Therefore, this portfolio makes a contribution by shedding more light on the targeted-killing program’s real-world impacts, and could help better inform decision-makers and scholars as they shape the future scope of the program and conduct additional research about it.
REVIEWERS
Mr. John Gans
Mark S. Zaid, Esq.
THESIS ADVISORS
Dr. Rameez Abbas (Chapters One and Three)
Dr. Alexander Rosenthal (Chapter Two)
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Keywords
Targeted-killing, drones, al-Qaeda, terrorism, Obama, international relations, executive powers, war powers