There is no agreed-upon definition of terrorism, which makes it a difficult and divisive subject. It is the targeted use of physical force, psychological coercion, or other forms of coercion against an unarmed civilian population for the sake of political, religious, or cultural goals (Hunter et al., 2021). Terrorist acts are deeds committed by non-state individuals or secret organizations with the intent of causing widespread fear, chaos, and instability.

Figure 1: Terrorism definition
(Source: anthromania, 2022)
Targeted assassinations and drone strikes are two examples of the employing of force that has been questioned as a legitimate reaction to acts of terrorism. The ethical, moral, and strategic stances on this topic differ. The viewpoints are-
Some people believe that targeted executions and drone operations are acceptable ways to respond to terrorist assaults. They argue that an administration has an inherent obligation to defend itself when confronted with a significant danger to its stability or the security of the people it governs (Potter and Wang, 2022). Those favoring this strategy say it can stop future attacks by eliminating the danger at hand and disrupting terrorist networks. Advocates argue that civilian fatalities are kept to a minimum via targeted murders and drone operations by adhering to the standards of proportionality with necessity.
The employing of force to counter-terrorism, however, has been met with criticism. They worry that their constitutional rights to life, proper trial, and the assumption of innocent might all be violated by the use of targeted murders and drone assaults. Directly, via unforeseen consequences, and indirectly, by stoking hatred and radicalism, these acts, critics argue, may lead to the deaths of innocent people. Extrajudicial executions are especially controversial since they are sometimes carried out in nations without the knowledge or approval of the government.
Targeted assassinations and drone strikes may or may not be lawful depending on the rules of international law, human rights legislation, the laws of the nation which is carrying them out, and the specifics of the situation. Self-defence is a fundamental human right, but the rules of moderation and necessity must always be kept in mind (Polo, 2020). Extrajudicial killing is illegal under the laws of nations, and targeted murders that occur in areas other than war zones are routinely scrutinized.
The ethical implications of the topic also factor heavily into the discussion. Even in the face of terrorism, opponents of the employing of force believe that society should put people’s lives and the pursuit of their justice via legitimate channels first. In order to deal with the root cause of terrorism and avoid such attacks, they call for more information collecting, diplomatic initiatives, and global cooperation.
Some analysts and policymakers worry that military action alone won’t solve the problems that fuel terrorism. They argue that military actions only radicalize more people and attract new members to extremist organizations (Johnston and Bose, 2020). They advocate for more holistic strategies that go beyond simple protections to also resolve complaints, advance development, and create more welcoming communities for all members of society.
In summary, terrorism might be defined as the political, religious, or philosophical use of assault, dread, or intimidation against people. The use of lethal force, including targeted assassinations and drone operations, in retaliation for terrorist acts is still debated. Legal, moral, and strategic factors all lead to different points of view on this issue. At issue is how best to ensure national security while also protecting individual liberties and making counterterrorism efforts sustainable over time.
Reference
Hunter, L.Y., Ginn, M.H., Storyllewellyn, S. and Rutland, J., 2021. Are mass shootings acts of terror? Applying key criteria in definitions of terrorism to mass shootings in the United States from 1982 to 2018. Behavioral sciences of terrorism and political aggression, 13(4), pp.265-294. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lance-Hunter-3/publication/341383888_Are_mass_shootings_acts_of_terror_Applying_key_criteria_in_definitions_of_terrorism_to_mass_shootings_in_the_United_States_from_1982_to_2018/links/6259e53b4173a21a0d151778/Are-mass-shootings-acts-of-terror-Applying-key-criteria-in-definitions-of-terrorism-to-mass-shootings-in-the-United-States-from-1982-to-2018.pdf?_sg%5B0%5D=started_experiment_milestone&origin=journalDetail&_rtd=e30%3D
Johnston, N. and Bose, S., 2020. Violence, power and meaning: the moral logic of terrorism. Global Policy, 11(3), pp.315-325. https://www.academia.edu/download/61876919/GP.pdf
Polo, S.M., 2020. The quality of terrorist violence: Explaining the logic of terrorist target choice. Journal of peace research, 57(2), pp.235-250. https://repository.essex.ac.uk/23838/1/Polo_Final.pdf
Potter, P.B. and Wang, C., 2022. Governmental responses to terrorism in autocracies: Evidence from China. British Journal of Political Science, 52(1), pp.358-380. https://scholar.archive.org/work/z26jqzkk3bcq5kssk76qnlf2wi/access/wayback/https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/762DB27C97507AFB5A35BF1B6625BE87/S0007123420000514a.pdf/div-class-title-governmental-responses-to-terrorism-in-autocracies-evidence-from-china-div.pdf
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