U.S. Decision to Approve Killing of Cleric Causes Unease

[RainMickey]

Source: The New York Times

The Obama administration’s decision to authorize the killing by the Central Intelligence Agency of a terrorism suspect who is an American citizen has set off a debate over the legal and political limits of drone missile strikes, a mainstay of the campaign against terrorism.

To eavesdrop on the terrorism suspect who was added to the target list, the American-born radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who is hiding in Yemen, intelligence agencies would have to get a court warrant. But designating him for death, as C.I.A. officials did early this year with the National Security Council’s approval, required no judicial review.

Administration officials take the view that no legal or constitutional rights can protect Mr. Awlaki, a charismatic preacher who has said it is a religious duty to attack the United States and who the C.I.A. believes is actively plotting violence. The attempted bombing of Times Square on May 1 is the latest of more than a dozen terrorist plots in the West that investigators believe were inspired in part by Mr. Awlaki’s rhetoric.

“American citizenship doesn’t give you carte blanche to wage war against your own country,” said a counterterrorism official who discussed the classified program on condition of anonymity. “If you cast your lot with its enemies, you may well share their fate.”


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/world/14awlaki.html?hp

---

My question is, who the fuck determined that he's waging war against his country? What evidence was used? This is sick. The evil of Bush/Cheney continues.

[Angry Dragon]

1. "The times, they are a'changing"

and not for the better

[cliffordu]

2. Mostly, words and deeds design the traitor.

Mostly.

And bush and cheney gots nothing do do with that.

Ask Benedict Arnold.

[RainMickey]

6. That should make the teabaggers legal targets as well, right? n/t

[cliffordu]

8. If they take up arms against the US or cause others to do the same, yep.

[RainMickey]

10. Sure, if I had proof of that. Do you have proof of Awlaki taking up arms?

Please show it. I'm listening.

[cliffordu]

17. The google is your friend.

I ain't your mother.

[ima_sinnic]

23. the accuser is supposed to provide proof

-- and if it's so "obvious" and "easily proven," why wouldn't they want to bother to get a warrant or judicial review?

targeting people for death without a warrant is the hallmark of a dictator--but you knew that, right?

[cliffordu]

25. I know that traitors actively picking up arms against their own country

are summarily executed.

That's been going on since the Greeks, but you knew that, right??


He's lucky. In some countries, his whole family would be executed.

[Robb]

3. No sympathy here.

I'll need a lot slipperier slope than Awlaki to worry about it.

[RainMickey]

4. Yeah, his name alone sounds evil. I agree. Kill him. EOM

[Robb]

5. LOL

Perhaps you should educate yourself a touch. He's no Mickey Mouse.

[RainMickey]

7. So where'd you learn about his evil deeds? From the same folks who brought us...

....WMD's in Iraq?

[Alamuti Lotus]

34. Though the hype about him is gross hyperbole, he is largely as advertised

For reasons that the CIA might find somewhat uncomfortable, I have studied his articles for years; the hype is typical nonsense, but the militant reputation is not undeserved. Though doing so may land you on a watch-list of some sort, he is a prolific writer and his articles are easily found. I rarely will agree with Robb on such matters on this subject, however on general principles we may agree on the nature of the man and he is clearly an inspiration for acts of war against the imperialist entity and its satellite lackeys and I would personally not trust such foolish rogues as the United States Government (under whatever faction of the ruling party currently acting as window dressing for business as usual) to discern such matters for me.

[ima_sinnic]

9. yeah, I believe everything "the government" tells me, too

especially when it has no axe to grind by stomping around in other people's countries, murdering people and stealing their resources. it would never set up other groups as "them," or "the enemy," and it would NEVER lie about anything.

oh no, no doubt whatsoever. :eyes:

oh, on edit: if this guy's so totally "evil," it should have been a snap to get a warrant or judicial review or whatever--I wonder how come they didn't bother?

[RainMickey]

12. Principled Americans were appalled with Bush's war crimes and said so here and at the ballot box..

Now some of those who would have had us believe they were principled go through all sorts of amazing mental contortions to justify the same sort of crimes by another president. Disgusting.

[Iowa]

29. +1

[Mari333]

11. knr : the same bush cheney policies that seem to be in place, sadly

[RainMickey]

13. Unfortunately, this policy is even lower than anything Bush proposed, if that's possible.

I don't recall those evil bastards intentionally targeting an American citizen for death without so much as a trial.

[Robb]

14. Obama is worse than Bush, Stalin and Hitler combined!

Your slip is showing.

[RainMickey]

15. Thanks for putting words in my mouth.

So, could you explain to us why it is you have no problem with this new policy? Alternately, were you outraged about the constitutional rights we Americans lost under the Bush/Cheney regime's spy programs, warrantless searching, eavesdropping, etc.?

[Robb]

16. Nope

Get whatever attention you seek from some other rube. :hi:

[RainMickey]

18. That pretty-well establishes your logic on the subject. Thanks. n/t

[ima_sinnic]

22. imagine that, a "democrat" who doesn't care about rights or the rule of law

makes me even gladder I reregistered as an Independent a few months ago, if that is what the Democratic Party has become.

[cliffordu]

26. Thanks for the inclusive spirit!!!

I'm glad you registered independent, too...

[cliffordu]

19. A-A-A-and don't forget LEX LUTHOR!!!

Obama is WORSE than LEX LUTHOR!!!

[ima_sinnic]

21. it's just a laff riot, isn't it? btw, ironic sig line you've got there

funny how "rights" are precious when they're our own.
when they're others, they don't mean squat, they're just a joke.

and, yes, bush never had the chutzpah to propose anything like this. not openly, anyway.
I guess the "openness" is what makes it "not as bad" by Obama?

[cliffordu]

24. Heads of state, and even Presidents have been doing this since Washington.

Treason is punishable by death.

On the battlefield it comes without trial.

Always has.

Sorry it won't fit your sanctimonious views, but there you are...

Just because there's a new procedure in place to do it aloud doesn't mean shit, or denigrate my stance on human rights.


The naivete and willful ignorance here is really funny. You 'specially

[Flaneur]

27. What battlefield? The whole fucking planet?

[cliffordu]

28. Wherever they hide.

[elias49]

30. Under your bed? In the closet?

Wherever you think they are...

[cliffordu]

33. Que??

:hurts:

[keopeli]

32. Because they kept everything a secret. n/t

[Jefferson23]

20. "the National Security Council’s approval, required no judicial review. "

This should concern every American.

[elias49]

31. "...and a few dozen nearby civilians."

Give or take. What's the prob? They're just (innocent) brown folk...:sarcasm: :sarcasm: