The President’s Kill List: Assassination and US Foreign Policy since 1945

Intelligence, Surveillance and Secret Warfare

by Luca Trenta

From Fidel Castro to Qassem Soleimani, the US government has been involved in an array of assassinations and assassination attempts against foreign leaders and officials. The President’s Kill List reveals how the US government has relied on a variety of methods, from the use of poison to the delivery of sniper rifles, and from employing hitmen to simply laying the groundwork for local actors to do the deed themselves. It shows not only how policymakers decided on assassination but also the level of Presidential control over these decisions. Tracing the history of the US government’s approach to assassination,the book analyses the evolution of assassination policies and, for the first time, reveals how successive administrations - through private justifications and public legitimations – ensured assassination remained an available tool.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction

400 pages, Hardcover

First published May 31, 2024

Reviews

[Black Rabbit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting read. I learned a lot of things from this one. I wouldn't call it 'fun' though, it is quite technical and some parts can feel like they just repeat the same definitions, but I would totally recommend it for those who are dying to know!