ABSTRACT
Despite the controversies and ambiguities, the findings in this book, discussed in Chapter Five, indicate that nations should try to minimize harm to civilian populations when conducting targeted killing operations, not only out of moral considerations but also, quite compellingly, in order to enhance their operational effectiveness in mitigating terrorism and achieving their military goals. The issue of unintended deaths and their effect on counterterrorism is of the essence, as its implication may go well beyond the policy issue of one type of counterterrorism tactic against one type of terrorist threat in one type of conflict theater. Indeed, the findings may serve as some guidance for counterterrorism and warfare doctrines in general. The model and parameters employed in this book for assessing the impact of unintended deaths on effectiveness could potentially support further research, the planning and assessment tools available to policy and decision-makers faced with the decisive challenges of preserving national security and ultimately obtaining peace.
