ACLU sues Obama administration over targeted killings

[Bluebear]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Civil liberties groups sued the Obama administration on Monday over a program they said illegally tries to kill U.S. citizens believed to be militants living abroad, like the anti-American cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights filed a lawsuit on behalf of Nasser al-Awlaki, the father of the Muslim cleric, arguing targeted killings violate the U.S. Constitution and international law.

U.S. authorities have tied the cleric to the failed bombing attempt of a U.S. commercial jet on Christmas Day in 2009 and to an Army major who went on a shooting spree that killed 13 people last year at Fort Hood in Texas.

No charges have been publicly filed against al-Awlaki, who was born in the United States but left in late 2001. He is believed to be in Yemen, where al Qaeda has been growing.

"A program that authorizes killing U.S. citizens, without judicial oversight, due process or disclosed standards is unconstitutional, unlawful and un-American," Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU, said in a statement.

President Barack Obama's National Security Council gave the Central Intelligence Agency the green light earlier this year to kill al-Awlaki, officials have said. White House officials have also said Americans who fight alongside groups like al Qaeda are "legitimate targets" for lethal strikes.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/us_usa_security_alawlaki

[usregimechange]

1. Good, too much power for the State, I trust Obama but can't have a trend

[Luminous Animal]

2. Excellent news.

[Luminous Animal]

3. From the brief via Glenn Greenwald...

"The right to life is the most fundamental of all rights protected by the Constitution and by international law. Outside the context of armed conflict, the intentional killing of a civilian without prior judicial process is unlawful except in the narrowest and most extraordinary circumstances.

The United States is not at war with Yemen, or within it. Nonetheless, U.S. government officials have disclosed the government’s intention to kill U.S. citizen Anwar Al-Aulaqi, who is believed to be located there, without charge, trial, or conviction. . . .

Outside of armed conflict, both the Constitution and international law prohibit the use of lethal force against civilians except as a last resort to prevent concrete, specific, and imminent threats that are likely to cause death or serious physical injury. An extrajudicial killing policy under which individuals are added to "kill lists" after secret bureaucratic processes and remain on the lists even in the absence of any reason to believe that they pose a threat of imminent harm goes far beyond what the Constitution and international law permit.

That the government has kept secret the standards under which it targets U.S. citizens for death independently violates the Constitution: U.S. citizens have a right to know what conduct may subject them to execution at the hands of their own government. Due process requires, at a minimum, that citizens be put on notice of what may cause them to be put to death by the state."

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/index.html

Greenwald's article is worth reading in its entirety.

[inna]

4. thank you so much for the link

[Bluebear]

6. Thanks for the link LA

[Luminous Animal]

9. You are welcome, Inna & Bluebear. (And a kick)

[sabrina 1]

5. Excellent, someone had to do it.

We have abandoned the rule of law in this country and it is a shame. Good for the ACLU. One of the few organizations still deserving of funding as they appear to be the only ones standing up for the U.S. Constitution these days.

[ipaint]

7. Good. nt

[slipslidingaway]

8. knr nt

[Solly Mack]

10. k/r

[LAGC]

11. ACLU under the bus in 3.... 2.... 1....

Quit being like Bush, Obama.

[Winterblues]

15. It isn't so much like Bush* as it is Republican

Obama governs very much with a Republican mind set. While he may have coined the phrase "Main Street, not Wall Street" his actions have said the exact opposite.

[EFerrari]

12. Good.

:kick:

[Vinnie From Indy]

13. Sadly, 98% of Americans have no idea that this policy can be used

to kill Americans with names like Bob Jones or Bill Smith living in Ohio or Arizona. Allowing our government to murder people without trial is a very bad thing.

[Bluebear]

14. Indeed.

[newtothegame]

16. Nothing to see here. We made history. Move along people...nt

[pleah]

17. K&R!!!!!!!!!!