targeted killing
Deliberate lethal elimination
Targeted killing is the deliberate assassination of a specific individual, usually by a government or military force.
The term emerged in discussions of counterterrorism operations, particularly drone strikes against suspected militants: The program authorized targeted killings of terrorist leaders.
The phrase is sometimes criticized as a euphemism for assassination or extrajudicial execution.
Alien species hunting humans
- UAVCrewless aircraft
- unmannedHaving no human aboard
- remoteDistant or controller
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
airstrike · missile strike · CIA · counterterrorism · pilotless · airspace · operator
Targeted operation minimizing damage
- decapitation strikeAttack on enemy command
- neutralizationCanceling opposing forces
- special operationsCovert military missions
- direct actionConfrontational political tactics
sniper · assassination · elimination · precision · rules of engagement · preemptive · asymmetric warfare · covert operation
Right and wrong principles
- human rightsInalienable personal freedoms
- extrajudicialOutside court authority
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- legalityConformance with law
accountability · due process · international law · proportionality · justifiable · legitimacy · judicial oversight · transparency
Expert precision shooter
- marksmanPrecision shooter
- sniper rifleScoped firearm for distant targets
- scopedExamined or delimited
- crosshairsIntersecting sighting lines
aim · accuracy · trajectory · ballistics · long-range · spotter · concealment · one shot
Predator
Alien species hunting humans
surveillance · airstrike · missile strike · CIA · counterterrorism · pilotless · airspace · operator
surgical strike
Targeted operation minimizing damage
- decapitation strikeAttack on enemy command
- neutralizationCanceling opposing forces
- special operationsCovert military missions
direct action · sniper · assassination · elimination · precision · rules of engagement · preemptive · asymmetric warfare · covert operation · black ops
morality
Right and wrong principles
- human rightsInalienable personal freedoms
- extrajudicialOutside court authority
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
legality · accountability · due process · international law · proportionality · justifiable · legitimacy · judicial oversight · transparency · war crimes
sharpshooter
Expert precision shooter
- marksmanPrecision shooter
- sniper rifleScoped firearm for distant targets
- scopedExamined or delimited
crosshairs · aim · accuracy · trajectory · ballistics · long-range · spotter · concealment · one shot · trigger
- Assassinationsassassination, assassin, Kennedy assassination, Lincoln assassination, MLK assassination
- counterterrorismDelta Force, raid, Navy SEALs, SAS, intelligence gathering
- Doublespeakcollateral damage, enhanced interrogation, friendly fire, regime change, neutralize
- War on TerrorOsama bin Laden, IED, Guantanamo, regime change, troop surge
- political violenceassassination, insurrection, summary execution, state terror, state terrorism
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
targeted killingmass killing
indiscriminate bombing · carpet bombing · genocide · mass murder · massacre
targeted killingdue process
Guaranteed judicial fairness
judicial execution · fair trial · rule of law · capital punishment · legal execution
targeted killingconventional warfare
Armed conflict using standard military forces
pitched battle · declared war · military engagement · trench warfare · ground assault
target, targeted, targeting, targets, targetable, kill, killing, kills, killed