After the assassination of 16 year old American citizen Abdulrahman Al-Awlaki it has become apparent that the U.S government's practice of targeted killing is a greater threat to our democracy than it is a boon.
This practice has been historically banned by Presidents Ford, Carter and Reagan. President Reagan's stand on this issue was especially unwavering. In Executive Order 12333, Article 2.11 Reagan wrote:
No person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, assassination.
This article was revoked by President Bush in October, 2001.
This was viewed as necessary, however as with the practice of torture, it seems more likely that this method will only lead to the radicalization of those who have been our allies in the past.



