Let’s play word association.  “Pakistan.”  What comes to mind.

The theme of this blog is a good clue: Pakistan is nearly synonymous with drones when it comes to American national security and military missions.

The use of U.S. drones in the airspace of a foreign country is riddled with significant issues of international law and the rights of nations in  the airspace of other nations – for any purpose, civil, commercial, public, military.  It is no surprise (see video, above) that drones should dominate U.S. – Pakistan relations and diplomatic efforts.

Even more perilous may be the issue of whether the U.S. can use drone strikes in its own airspace to hunt and kill suspected terrorists who are themselves U.S. citizens.  It is an issue of constitutional importance and yet it is not clear the law provides a clear answer.