For the United States, the battle against global extremism has been fundamentally different from any previous armed conflict. Effectively combatting a decentralized global insurgency has necessitated the development of new technologies and unconventional strategies. Extraterritorial abduction and targeted killing are two such tools which have been used effectively against high-value enemy targets. The thesis examines Israel's capture of Adolph Eichmann as an example of extraterritorial abduction and America's killing of Osama bin Laden as an example of targeted killing. A discussion of the legal, political, and moral questions surrounding the employment of these unconventional tactics follows. Finally, the paper offers some suggestions on how the United States can preserve the option of conducting extraterritorial abductions and targeted killings while remaining in accordance with domestic and international law.
