Anwar al-Awlaki killed

[Major Robert Dump]

Darn, who is gonna pay the pirates?

[drone]

A US citizen killed by his country without judicial process. Lovely.

[Samurai Waki]

What the hell is going on, lately?

[drone]

Correction - Two US citizens killed by their government without due process. Since we are talking rampant executive power, maybe we should just merge this in with the police abuses thread.

[Hax]

Well, if he was killed by Yemeni forces, he was sentenced to death in absentia a while ago.

[drone]

The reports are that they were killed by a CIA drone.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...O9K_story.html

Anwar al-Aulaqi, a radical U.S.-born Muslim cleric and one of the most influential al-Qaeda leaders wanted by the United States, was killed Friday in a CIA drone strike in northern Yemen, U.S. and Yemeni authorities said, eliminating a prominent terrorist recruiter who inspired attacks on U.S. soil.

The strike also killed a second U.S. citizen — Samir Khan, the co-editor of an al-Qaeda magazine — and two other unidentified al-Qaeda operatives, the Yemeni government said. But tribal leaders in the area said at least seven people were killed. They identified one of the others as al-Qaeda militant named Salem bin Arfaaj.

[PanzerJaeger]

The strike also killed a second U.S. citizen — Samir Khan, the co-editor of an al-Qaeda magazine — and two other unidentified al-Qaeda operatives, the Yemeni government said. But tribal leaders in the area said at least seven people were killed. They identified one of the others as al-Qaeda militant named Salem bin Arfaaj.

Does this mean Lemur won't be able to share any more issues of Inspire with us?

[Tuuvi]

A US citizen killed by his country without judicial process. Lovely.

I first heard the news on radio the other morning (or maybe it was this morning? I don't remember) and I thought the same thing. It doesn't seem right to me for the US government to strike one of it's own citizens, even if he/she is a terrorist.

[Papewaio]

So only US citizens should get judicial process?

Seems a case of what's fair for the goose is fair for the gander. Nomone can really call hypocrisy on this one.

[drone]

Double standards aside, we are talking about the assassination of US citizens by executive order. They have not been declared guilty in a court of law, they are not in a war zone, they are not a direct threat to US military personnel, and they are being targeted by the CIA. This is more than the killing of some terrorists in some made up "war". This is the dismantling of the 5th amendment. Well, continued dismantling, I keep forgetting about Kelo...

[a completely inoffensive name]

Constitution doesn't just apply to US citizens.

[classical_hero]

So what if a US citizen died in a hostage situation being the hostage taker? Clearly he did not have his due process. The fact that he was killed while committing a crime means that he violated his standing as a citizen and then the option is to minimise risk to innocent civilians. If you can end a situation where you take out a criminal and leave less innocent people dead, then you take that opportunity. Clearly these people committed crimes against America and as such they are legitimate targets for action, since they are in a foreign country and planning attacks on America, so that means they need to be taken out with the least chance of losing innocent lives. That is the prerogative of any nation.

[Hooahguy]

Double standards aside, we are talking about the assassination of US citizens by executive order. They have not been declared guilty in a court of law, they are not in a war zone, they are not a direct threat to US military personnel, and they are being targeted by the CIA. This is more than the killing of some terrorists in some made up "war". This is the dismantling of the 5th amendment. Well, continued dismantling, I keep forgetting about Kelo...

Thanks Obama!

[Fisherking]

From my reading of the NBC report, all they need do is say they think you are a terrorist. No proof, no evidence, just the word of someone, anyone they choose to believe. No court hearing before they kill you.

This is clearly beyond the pale. It is unconstitutional and unlawful. The administration needs to be called on this and reigned in by Congress, the Media, the States, and the people.

This is no bull and no small matter.

This goes way beyond party politics. I don’t see how anyone can justify this sort of thing.