JSIS 495: Task Force - Winter 2014: Task Force H

Adam Smith MW 8:30-10:20

The used of unmanned aircraft to strike against Al Qaeda linked terrorists in several foreign countries has both become a key tool in the US war with the terrorist organization and one of the more controversial aspects of that war.  This class will examine all aspects of this policy and make a recommendation to the President on whether to continue the policy and if so how it should be changed and updated. As a starting point we will look at three main issues.  First, the original Authorization for the Use of Military force passed by Congress in September of 2001 in response to 9/11 and since updated by the courts’ interpretation of that law and by Congress in 2011.  These laws gave the authority to the executive branch to use force against Al Qaeda and are the basis for the use of drones in that fight.  Should it be updated?  What are the implications of having a seemingly never-ending executive power to wage war anywhere in the world against Al Qaeda and their affiliates?  Should the executive branch be required to be more transparent in how it makes the decisions on whom to target in this war?  Second, does the benefit of disrupting terrorists plots against us with our drone strikes outweigh the cost in terms of the strong negative reaction around the world and even in the United States to the use of drones in this war? Third, is there something different about using a drone as a weapon of war?  Something that makes it worse than attacking with traditional forces, or something that requires a unique set of policy restrictions? The implications of the use of drones in this war and in any future conflict are far ranging and the class will be encouraged to look as broadly as possible at those issues and give us some guidance on how to best manage those implications.

These databases allow you to search across a particular scope of publications, primarily periodicals such as scholarly journals and newspapers. 

Emily Keller
Political Science and Public Policy Librarian

emkeller@uw.edu

Books provide both breadth of treatment and in-depth analysis and historical background. Additional  titles on drones, military robots, and ethics.