Lawyers argue over CIA drone strikes: Illegal assassinations or legitimate terror operations?

Legal questions raised over CIA drone strikes

WASHINGTON — The CIA’s secret program of drone strikes against terrorists in Pakistan and Yemen is coming under fire from critics who say the attacks may violate international law.

Several legal scholars on Wednesday called for greater oversight by Congress, arguing the attacks may put intelligence officers at risk of prosecution for murder in foreign countries.

Conflicting views offered by four law professors underscored the murky legal nature of America’s nine-year-old war against extremists. The conflict has spread from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to a complex campaign against al-Qaida, the Taliban and other insurgents worldwide.

Both the Bush and Obama administrations have defended the use of attacks from unmanned aircraft. But they have also tiptoed around the issue because the CIA program is classified.