The New York Times quoted the Project on Extrajudicial Execution’s Senior Advisor Hina Shamsi on the legality of “targeted killings”:

"Hina Shamsi, an adviser to the Project on Extrajudicial Executions at New York University, said that any calculation about inserting an assassination team would have to consider the following: the violation of the sovereignty of the country where the killing occurred; the different legal status of the C.I.A. compared with the uniformed military; and whether the killing would be covered by the law of war. “The issue is a complex one under international law,” Ms. Shamsi said, “and it encompasses all of the contentious issues of the years since 2001.””

Additional news coverage of the Project's work on targeted killings:

• C.I.A. Had Plan to Assassinate Qaeda Leaders – NYTimes
• No Longer A Debate About Targeted Killings - CBS News OpEd
• Jane Mayer, The Political Scene, “The Predator War,” The New Yorker
• Use of drones in Pakistan and Afghanistan: deadly, but legal? – Christian Science Monitor
• Igniting The Debate Over Obama's Secret War – Atlantic Politcs Channel
• Philip Alston on UN TV 27 October 2009
• UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings, Philip Alston: Record AfPak Drone Attacks Under Obama May Violate International Law

On 18 June 2009, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions concluded his 8-18 June fact-finding mission to Colombia. He investigated killings by the military, police, guerrillas, paramilitaries and other illegal armed groups.

• Colombia mission press statement - English
• Colombia Mission press statement - Español