combatant

One of the definitions of "armed combatant" is "person killed in a drone strike", so don't worry.

"The fact that the combatant is sitting very far away from the battle doesn't make the killing any less real"Oh yes it does.

" are just as disingenuous as the cries of "enemy combatant!

Further, an enemy combatant is usually considered to be someone armed on the field of combat.

The definition of what is and is not a combatant is rather blurry though, and ultimately comes down to the judgment of the individual soldier.

It upholds the law without further perpetuating the reputation of the US government as a body that will cry "enemy combatant!

The fact that the combatant is sitting very far away from the battle doesn't make the killing any less real, the stakes any lower or the human cost to the operator any cheaper.

Disregarding the national sovereignty of non-enemy combatant nations is moral because... that's what spies do?I hear that argument a lot on HN defending state vs state spying.

Butchering unarmed civilians sounds a lot more horrifying than annihilating non-combatant, but dangerous entities.> The because the first of all, Charlie, the number of requests are surprisingly small number one.

Actually you laugh, but being spied on by someone with no jurisdiction over you is better than being spied on by someone who can name you an enemy combatant because they misunderstand your e-mails that contain a plot synopsis for a book you're working on or that can label you a child pornographer because you have naked photos of your grandkids playing in your yard.