DeletedUser22575
Not arguing for anything. Just pointing out that the argument here is grumbling about bureaucratic red tape, not about right or wrong of it. There is ample evidence, clear statements made by Awlaki, that he is and has been working with and for Al Qaeda, a terrorist organization that specifically targets civilians, particularly Americans. This, in and of itself, indicates that every minute he lives is an effort to take the lives of American civilians.
You seem to be under the misconception this man didn't make videos clearly indicating his actions, intentions, plans, and directives, nor of his contact and involvement with the terrorists of 9/11, or his direct emails to Major Nidal Malik Hasan just prior to the attack at Ft. Hood, etc and so on. Perhaps you and others should review his recruitment videos and rethink your arguments.
Anyway, here's a judicial review on the issue (prior to the killing) --- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703296604576005391675065166.html
Just keep on stirring the pot Hel. :laugh:
Bottom line he was illegally killed and you know it.
In your example of the snipers shooting someone generally they are killing someone who is actively threating someones life at that time...pointing a gun at then, etc.
As far as what this dude flapped his mouth about on the internet..anyone can flap their gums there and say anything. Does this mean if it is anti-americian they should be targeted?
From your link you provided..
Judge Bates wrote that Mr. Awlaki had used the Internet in recent months to issue anti-American messages, while taking no action to indicate he wants the U.S. judicial system to hear his case. To the contrary, the judge wrote, Mr. Awlaki wrote an article in April asserting that Muslims "should not be forced to accept rulings of courts of law that are contrary to the law of Allah."
I think also we have to remember that the Judge punted on this case despite the "difficult questions" it brought up on the grounds his father "lacked legal standing". We both know during war time that Judges really hesitate to get involved giving the government (the President) as much latitude as possible.
The case, brought by the father of cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, raised difficult questions about the breadth of U.S. executive power, but U.S. District Judge John Bates said he couldn't answer them as the father lacked legal standing to bring the case.
How about his 21 year old son who was killed this week by a drone strike? He was an American citizen also. Where are his tapes at on the Internet? What about his due process?
Three problems here.
1 is the legal precedence that is set by actions such as these.
2 is how much do you trust your government. Do you trust some secret committee to make these decisions for you? Or should these decisions (guilty verdict..stripped of citizenship) be handle by a public trial by abstensia where the evidence against someone is publicly disclosed.
3. How often does our government really get it right. Remember, often "evidence" is from one Afghani pointing the finger at another whom they have a grudge or family feud against and someone ends up at Gitmo. What will they say in the hopes of getting out of there? Who will they incriminate when they are repeatedly ask "what about this guy"?
And how reliable is info gained by torture. Those known to be involved with the Danial Peril murder never mentioned Sheik Kalif. Yet when being water boarded he took credit for planning it. Did he? Or was being water boarded 100 times a month to much for him to be able to handle.
So when the next drone strike kills some American citizen we have never heard of (he son of Anwar al-Awlaki) is it still ok?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world...0/15/gIQAzogalL_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage
Bottom line the ends does not justify the means when you are a nation of laws. Both Obama and Bush are war criminals despite Obama trying to keep his hands clean through his "secret committee".
Nixon had to resign the Presidency for what? Covering up a break in?
Today we have Presidents killing American citizens by secret committee with no due process and POW's being tortured and everyone thinks its ok.
Well its not ok in the USA I grew up in and it should not be ok in this new police state we live in.
Face it. The terrorist have won.