http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/news/2012/04/sec-120430-voa01.htm

Obama officials have called drone strikes in foreign countries “legal, ethical and wise”.

OK.  What if China used a drone to take out the blind activist who was recently transported to this country?  Killed him, and 10 or 20 supporters of him who were nearby.  American citizens.  Did $2,000,000 damage to a hotel.  Did it in downtown LA.  Said he was an escaped fugitive who was a threat to their national security.  A real badguy.

Would that be “legal, ethical and wise”, or an act of war?

Or are “legal, ethical and wise” acts of war only that because they are performed on small, helpless countries?

BTW, Pakistan has withdrawn permission for US drone attacks, which keep happening.  So “permission” is not an issue, even though small countries can be coerced into “permission”.  The US does not require “permission” to launch these.