[KarlInOhio]

So what is the legal difference among a strike by manned aircraft, a cruise missile strike and a strike by an unmanned aircraft? We've done the first two for decades.

In my opinion there won't be pilots in combat aircraft for long. The pilot is the weak spot (airframes can be made to handle far tighter turns than pilots can stay conscious through) and takes up weight for him, his life support and cockpit. Also, unmanned aircraft can have far larger "crews" - imagine having observers constantly looking out each direction of the aircraft rather than a single pilot having to swivel his head - and can have specialized crew swapping in and out so that a carrier certified pilot is only needed at take off and landing if launching from sea.

[marron]

So what is the legal difference among a strike by manned aircraft, a cruise missile strike and a strike by an unmanned aircraft?

Or a commando raid in the middle of the night?

None, in my view.