Drones have become an essential part of U.S. national security strategy, but most Americans know little about how they are used, and we receive conflicting reports about their outcomes. In Drones and the Ethics of Targeted Killing, ethicist Kenneth R. Himes provides not only an overview of the role of drones in national security but also an important exploration of the ethical implications of drone warfare—from the impact on terrorist organizations and civilians to how piloting drones shapes soldiers. Targeted killings have played a role in politics from ancient times through today, so the ethical challenges around how to protect against threats are not new. Himes leads readers through the ethics of targeted killings in history from ancient times to the contemporary Israeli-Palestinian conflict, then looks specifically at the new issues raised through the use of drones. This book is a powerful look at a pressing topic today.

"No single book can do everything, of course, and this one achieves much. Himes shakes readers awake to some of the most pressing issues surrounding drones and the ethics of targeted killing today." - Studies in Christian Ethics

"Ken Himes' latest book, Drones and the Ethics of Targeted Killing...represents what I hope will be the first of many steps toward re-shaping the discussion of the ethics, legality, and wisdom of contemporary military operations. . . .I recommend the book...because Himes is asking all the right questions. In the hard ethical work that lies before us, Drones and the Ethics of Targeted Killing represents a necessary and timely contribution." - Journal of Military Ethics

"Kenneth Himes has provided a balanced, well-researched, and readable guide to the issues. His central purpose is to bring just war theory to bear on the targeting of individuals who are not on active battlefields. An associate professor of theology at Boston College, Himes dedicates the book to the students he’s taught over the years, and that is fitting: it is the sort of book one would expect from a fair and dedicated teacher because it explains complex topics clearly and presents both sides of fraught moral debates." - The Christian Century

"In grappling so prudently with the ethics of new technologies that intersect with very old moral quandaries regarding the justification of targeted killing, H[imes] produces a veritable masterpiece of ethical analysis. . . .In meeting the challenge of adapting established principles to new global conditions that may alter our evaluation of the use of force, it is hard to imagine a more insightful guide than H[imes]." - Theological Studies

"The chapters taken individually on the Christian tradition, the use of the just war tradition in public debate, US government policy in favour of drone use and ethical reflections on the US government’s use of drones each stand alone as solid introductions to their respective fields of enquiry." - Theology

"Himes’ approach is well organized, well researched, and clear. . . .Himes consistently asks and pursues the right questions. His book belongs in college libraries and on course syllabi." - Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society