Given what they are willing to do, why aren't there more? Of course, there are still plenty of people that are disappeared, in China and Russia, in particular. And some edge cases, like Princess Diana, where we aren't sure it was an assassination or not.

Here are few proposals on why there aren't more in places like the USA and the Netherlands, excluding dictatorships or 3rd world countries. Please add more.

1. If you're in the public eye, it looks too suspicious.

2. Counter-blackmail.

3. Most people aren't worth killing. Character assassination is more effective at silencing people.

4. Fear of assassination and counter-assassinations spiraling out of control. This assumes there are multiple groups of competing elites.