Targeted Killings - New Frontiers in Counter Terrorism 21st Century

The Killing of Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi - a Saudi National and an American Permanent resident is just another chapter in targeted killings which we have observed. Khashoggi was lured into the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul Turkey and killed by Saudi Assassins. Targeted killings have become a contemporary tool in counterterrorism, or just as a tool to eliminate political opponents and many are questioning the effectiveness of this tactic. Academicians, pundits and policy-makers have mixed responses about this technique. Some believe in its effectiveness within a larger counterterrorism strategy while others think it has a negative impact. This book argues that though current studies are valuable in understanding targeted killing effects, they do not provide the basis for making general assertions on its effectiveness. Some of the problems deal with divergent definitions, the dearth of evidence, and its ability to measure "success." While the evidence does not allow scholars, experts and policy makers to make general pronouncements on its effectiveness it does provide grounds for a normative debate over whether such policies are appropriate.