Drones and Targeted Killing in the Middle East and Africa: An Appraisal of American Counterterrorism Policies

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Description

The United States has repeatedly used drones to kill terrorists in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen in an effort to decrease terrorism and the vitality of terrorist groups. Targeted killing through the use of drones has become a foreign policy weapon to keep the United States safe from further terrorist attacks. However, it is suspected that these killings has actually led to an increase in terrorist group recruitment, terrorist attacks, and empathy for the terrorist group from the local population in addition to several other unwanted repercussions. The two part research question this book attempts to answer is, What is the effect of drone targeted killing on Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen And is it a successful method in the War on Terror

Reviews

Rinehart provides a deeply empirical look at the challenges of drone warfare and targeted killing based on thoroughly documented research, systematically examining the results of U.S. counter-terrorism policy in multiple theaters of conflict. Giving context and substance to the security situation in each country, she carefully chronicles the successes and failures with data-driven analysis balanced by observations from outcomes on the ground to the pilots remote control rooms. Her well-reasoned evaluation of counter-terrorism efforts finds striking failures in each country reviewed, noting an increase in terrorist attacks and suicide bombings, while meticulously tabulating the full costs of the U.S. drone program. Her timely work will greatly contribute to the dialogue on the effectiveness of new technologies in warfare. -- James DeShaw Rae, California State University
Christine Sixta Rinehart has managed to capture the essence of the drone targeting campaign being waged by America in undeclared battlezones across the Muslim world in this fascinating volume. A must read for scholars interested in probing beyond the headlines into the murky world of drone counter terrorism operations. -- Brian Glyn Williams, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Christina Sixta Rinehart has produced a compelling account of how the use of drone warfare has hurt American interests. In this comprehensive study, Rinehart details how drones have destabilized allies, recruited more terrorists than it has eliminated, expended scarce resources and all the while failing to weaken terrorism or make America safer. Clearly written and supplemented with a wealth of data, this is a must read for anyone interested in drone warfare and the war against terror. -- Steven David, Johns Hopkins University

Author Bio

Christine Sixta Rinehart is assistant professor of political science at the University of South Carolina Palmetto College.