Glad to see an IISS article gets a mention here (I am a member too) and the article awaits my attention back home - thanks for the reminder to read it.

Added elsewhere: Have a look at Professor John Radsan's writings on this theme, I listened to him applying these issues to the use of drones a few months ago. Bio: http://www.wmitchell.edu/academics/faculty/radsan.asp and this abstract: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.c...t_id=1349357##

John Radsan has an interesting past, notably being a lawyer at the CIA, so IMHO adds to the value and insight provided.

Killing HVT or allegations of this occurred several times during the Northern Ireland 'Troubles', a taster is provided by: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoot-t...rthern_Ireland or just search on John Stalker, an English senior police officer who tried to investigate one allegation and his career ended. The allegations are still "alive" (no pun intended) as indicated by BBC reports.