European University Institute Library

Targeting Americans, the constitutionality of the U.S. drone war, H. Jefferson Powell ; foreword by Philip Bobbitt

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

index present

non fiction

Targeting Americans

bibliography

922836332

H. Jefferson Powell ; foreword by Philip Bobbitt

the constitutionality of the U.S. drone war

Targeting Americans: The Constitutionality of the U.S. Drone War focuses on the legal debate surrounding drone strikes, the use of which has expanded significantly under the Obama Presidency as part of the continuing war against terror. Despite the political salience of the legal questions raised by targeted killing, the author asserts that there has been remarkably little careful analysis of the fundamental legal question: the constitutionality of the policy. From a position of deep practical expertise in constitutional issues, Prof. Powell provides a dispassionate and balanced analysis of the issues posed by U.S. targeted killing policy, using the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki in September 2011 as a focus for discussion. While Powell concludes that the al-Awlaki strike was constitutional under 2001 legislation, he rejects the Obama administration's broader claims of authority for its drone policies. Furthermore, he argues, citizens acting as combatants in al-Qaeda and associated groups are not entitled to due process protections: by due process standards, the administration's procedures are legally inadequate. A fundamental theme of the book is that the conclusion that an action or policy is constitutional should not be confused with claims about its wisdom, morality, or legality under international norms. Part of the purpose of constitutional analysis is to draw attention to these other normative concerns and not, as is too often the case, to occlude them.--, Provided by Publisher

Introduction Chapter One The Constitutional History of the War on Terror Chapter Two How to Think Constitutionally Chapter Three The War Powers of the United States Government Chapter Four The Killing of Anwar al-Awlaki: A Constitutional Analysis Chapter Five Targeted Killing and the Future: Three Speculations Conclusion Index