Law Commons^™

"Kill 'Em And Sort It Out Later:" Signature Drone Strikes In International Humanitarian Law, Kristina Benson

K Benson

As of this writing, signature drone strikes have been used to kill thousands of people in Yemen, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Signature strikes, where unknown individuals are targeted for their “signatures,” or behavioral patterns, have killed or injured hundreds of civilians, caused massive psychological trauma among civilian populations, complicated the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan, and compromised the stated objective of winning hearts and minds. Even so, no scholarly articles have focused on signature strikes’ legality under International Humanitarian Law. This paper uses on-the-ground investigative reports and recently leaked, Justice Department legal analysis to argue that signatures are a problematic …