(San Francisco Chronicle) Abraham D. Sofaer - Targeted killing is sometimes necessary, because leaders are obliged to defend their citizens, just as police forces are obliged to defend communities. Leaders such as bin Laden or Yassin attempt to achieve their objectives through uses of force that are condemned by conventions subscribed to by all states. It is unlawful in all societies to kill people at random in order to secure any political objective, however sympathetic. It is essential not to allow loaded rhetoric to obscure the propriety of lawfully using deadly force in self-defense. When people call a targeted killing an "assassination," they are attempting to preclude debate on the merits of the action. Killings in self-defense are no more "assassinations" in international affairs than they are murders when undertaken by our police forces against domestic killers. The writer is former legal advisor to the U.S. Department of State.
2004-03-29 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive