I’ve never been terribly comfortable the degree to which citizenship is considered relevant on this subject. If we suppose that these sorts of extrajudicial killings are justified, I think it’s fair to say that they should only be conducted when the judicial system in place is unable to handle the problem. I suggest that this standard is never met within the borders of the United States, nor within any relatively stable and ideologically-aligned nation. Only in aforementioned locations does citizenship really matter (in the context of extradition and the like). And whether or not death is an appropriate penalty or action depends on the crime committed and the threat posed, not on the nationality of the subject. Any international political repercussions would be less for killings of US citizens, not more.

So why do should* we quibble so much over the extrajudicial killing of US citizens versus internationals?