Making the case what is the problem with targeted killing?

Abstract

What is the problem with targeted killing? The problem is not simply the legal and moral grounds for the policy, nor the tactical implementation of the policy. Rather, the problem is that current research does not convincingly articulate the causal relationships of a targeted killing program. In this thesis, we propose a six-step methodology with an embedded robust analytic framework for determining those relationships and, ultimately, the effectiveness of targeted killing. By analyzing Israel's program during the Second Intifada, this thesis demonstrates a causal understanding of whether targeted killing is efficacious. While we ultimately conclude that targeted killing was not effective during the Second Intifada, our analysis provides insight into the effectiveness of targeted killing-findings that can be used by a state to determine whether the costs of targeted killing are worth bearing.