The Constitutional and Counterterrorism Implications of Targeted Killing : Hearing Before the S. Judiciary Subcomm. on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights, 113th Cong., April 23, 2013 (Statement by Professor Rosa Brooks, Geo. U. L. Center)

Authors

Rosa Brooks, Georgetown University Law CenterFollow

Document Type

Congressional Testimony

Publication Date

4-23-2013

Abstract

Mr. Chairman, the mere mention of drones tends to arouse strong emotional reactions on both sides of the political spectrum, and last week's tragic events in Boston have raised the temperature still further. Some demonize drones, denouncing them for causing civilian deaths or enabling long-distance, "video game-like" killing, even as they ignore the fact that the same (or worse) could equally be said of many other weapons delivery systems. Others glorify drones, viewing them as a low- or no-cost way to "take out terrorists" wherever they may be found, with little regard for broader questions of strategy or the rule of law.