Anwar al-Awlaki Dead

[David Craik]

Assange? You've got to be kidding. He's at worst a criminal, not a terrorist.

"Terrorists" are criminals, and if there were no scummy little countries for them to hide out in they would be wholly a law enforcement issue, not a military one. I note that when they are detected in the US and Europe, cops are sent; not drones.

We have already seen since 2001 how broadly (and incorrectly) the term "terrorist" can be applied, by no less than our own government. Assange ain't no Osama, but with the right rhetoric he could be absolutely painted as a terrorist for giving aid and comfort to the enemy. Remember Ol' Iva Toguri D'Aquino ("Tokyo Rose") was tried with 8 counts of treason for broadcasting a radio show. Who's the next "terrorist"?

Since I have a Sea Shepherd sticker on my truck, maybe I should be watching the skies....

[Webmaster]

Very interesting. Although the memo justifying al-Awlaki remains secret, "anonymous" sources are explaining its contents. Sounds to me like some careful CYA going on to me.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/wo...n.html?_r=2&hp

[Mekugi]

Is anyone really buying into this?

So, if I understand this correctly: it's now acceptable to write secret laws, pass them without anyone's permission and only reveal them after they have been carried out.

Is that about right?

[Erik]

Never thought I'd say this but I'm thinking impeachment.

[Jonathan Randall]

Never thought I'd say this but I'm thinking impeachment.

I started thinking that way after he went into Libya without following the law. Administrations have always (or, almost always) skirted the law and many have at some point broken it outright here and there. President Obama is the first to do so so brazenly and, apparently, without fear of consequence.

[David Craik]

Libya had me confused. Haven't the foggiest notion what that had to do with us, particularly with the economy in the tank and carrying an absurd deficit. The Federal military was raised to "provide for the common defense" of the nation. I'm quite certain I read that somewhere. What threat does Libya represent now that it didn't decades ago? It'll be a case of "meet the new boss, same as the old boss" in a few years. We also had a unit scheduled to go to Bahrain when they were raising hell, then the deployment was called off - after all of their equipment had been sent ahead of them by ship. So they puttered around for months waiting for their stuff to come back. Your tax dollars at work...

Funny, Obama doesn't strike me as any less warlike than ol' Dubya was.

Of course, nothing will come of this. People will shift their attention to Amanda Knox, football or something. In a nation seemingly afflicted with ADD, a president rarely has to answer for anything. As noted in the article that Robert linked, the administration will simply refuse to talk about it and it will be forgotten.

"War", and all the powers that entails, is invoked as it suits our needs and rejected when it doesn't. They are "enemy combatants" right up until the time that we have to honor the Geneva Conventions or the Law of War, then they are simply "criminals" or in limbo - having no particular status. We can then drop them off in some third world nation to be tortured, most assuredly a war crime. Why is the Central Intelligence Agency piloting armed drones and carrying out what are essentially military strikes? Last I checked, the CIA wasn't a military branch.

On a lighter note, would that be Yellowbeard in your avatar Robert? Possibly the funniest movie ever filmed IMHO.

[Webmaster]

Never thought I'd say this but I'm thinking impeachment.

I've been thinking about this for a while. With Solyndra, Fast and Furious, and this, we are piling up those "high crimes and misdemeanors".

Administrations have always (or, almost always) skirted the law and many have at some point broken it outright here and there. President Obama is the first to do so so brazenly and, apparently, without fear of consequence.

The President has nothing to fear as the sycophantic media will cover for him and do absolutely everything necessary to ensure that he is not a failed president. Not to mention that absolutely gutless Republican's who are terrified at the prospect of bringing up the first Black President on Impeachment charges.

Of course, nothing will come of this. People will shift their attention to Amanda Knox, football or something. In a nation seemingly afflicted with ADD, a president rarely has to answer for anything. As noted in the article that Robert linked, the administration will simply refuse to talk about it and it will be forgotten.

Yep, and add the "Occupy Wall Street" protestors as a further distraction. Oh course the protestors are being encouraged and even organized by the 'far-left", and it's likely that it goes all the way to the Oval Office as well. After all, the one job skill that our Community Organizer in Chief had was stirring up crap and ginning up protests/civil disobedience. He's just taken it from the streets of Chicago and gone nationwide.

On a lighter note, would that be Yellowbeard in your avatar Robert? Possibly the funniest movie ever filmed IMHO.

Captain Yellowbeard to you, ya scum!!

Definitely one of my favorite movies at all time. Not sure they could they have packed any more comedic talent in one movie!

[David Craik]

Hehe, I was actually thinking of including the Wall Street protest.

I stand corrected on my lack of protocol. Captain Yellowbeard.

I wonder sometimes if the internet and round-the-clock news reporting has inadvertantly given people the attention span of a goldfish. We aren't interested long enough to be outraged or demand answers, because there is always something new.

[Mekugi]

At least the president would have the benefit of a trial if impeached. Furthermore we don't need new laws to outline treason. We already have treason in the constitution....Article III.

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

The president is sworn to protect the constitution. Did he? Did he really? (Just my rant...sorry).

[Webmaster]

I wonder sometimes if the internet and round-the-clock news reporting has inadvertantly given people the attention span of a goldfish. We aren't interested long enough to be outraged or demand answers, because there is always something new.

I think you're right, but I think that the 24 hour news cycle has probably been more of a positive than a negative. Folks who are more inclined to pay attention to what is going on have access to more news sources today than ever before. That makes it more difficult for the authorities to filter the news to what they want us to hear. The problem is that the current media have figured out that they can actually influence events rather than simply report them and are influencing what those who are barely paying attention (the majority) are allowed to hear.

[Mekugi]

The problem is that the current media have figured out that they can actually influence events rather than simply report them and are influencing what those who are barely paying attention (the majority) are allowed to hear.

This is the crux, and exactly why I watch several news sources. There is so much spin going on today it is unbelievable. I was watching five newscasts in Japan and reading news overseas during the Fukushima meltdown...which all led me to believe that they didn't really (and still don't) know how much damage has been done. It also gave me a little more faith in the US Consulate over here who were releasing very accurate reports on what was (and is) going on. I appreciate the constant banter of news...despite the relentless crap in between and the spin.

[Ramirez]

Libya had me confused. Haven't the foggiest notion what that had to do with us, particularly with the economy in the tank and carrying an absurd deficit. .

my guess, it wasn't just a US issue, Libya's oil I think is important for the production of jet fuel, it was more like the West in general picking a winning side to keep the oil flowing.

[Ramirez]

Yep, and add the "Occupy Wall Street" protestors as a further distraction. Oh course the protestors are being encouraged and even organized by the 'far-left", and it's likely that it goes all the way to the Oval Office as well.

Bait and switch mate, I'm not sure what platitudes he had to say about OWS, but don't take them seriously, his economic team is made up entirely of ex Wall Street, his earliest backers were investment bankers, even Krugman constantly berates him for doing nothing about reining Wall Street or anything to prevent another financial crisis.

Now there is a reason for impeachment, although I'll grant you could probably go after every world leader on this one.

[Don Roley]

my guess, it wasn't just a US issue, Libya's oil I think is important for the production of jet fuel, it was more like the West in general picking a winning side to keep the oil flowing.

I can understand why America would be doing what it did. What I think a lot of people have trouble with is that he broke the law by saying that bombing folks isn't consider a hostile action.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/us...pagewanted=all

[Ramirez]

I can understand why America would be doing what it did. What I think a lot of people have trouble with is that he broke the law by saying that bombing folks isn't consider a hostile action.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/us...pagewanted=all

Good point, I just get tired of America being the designated whipping boy while every other country stands back and enjoys the work of its military defending global resources. The usual suspects will go on about American imperialism, although Obama seems to escape the worst of that, as Dave pointed out he is no less ruthless than Bush....maybe more so considering his taste for assassination by drones.

If its a hostile action so be it, just come forward and admit Britain, Russia, Canada, Spain, Japan etc were all on board with the action in Libya

[David Craik]

Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act

And here lies the problem. Formulated to avoid abuses such as in the England of yore, it makes treason nearly impossible to prove.

[Webmaster]

Hypocrites...

White House lawyers who drafted secret Awlaki kill memo were critics of Bush’s war powers

[Ramirez]

Hypocrites...

White House lawyers who drafted secret Awlaki kill memo were critics of Bush’s war powers

They are lawyers, they aren't particularly trained in morality but in how to achieve a result, the ends not the means. As I think about it , wasn't Obama the head of the Harvard Law Review?.....just saying.

PS: I shouldn't be demonizing lawyers, when you need one you definitely want the most ruthless shark....whether that is desirable in a chief executive is another issue.

[Ramirez]

I thought everyone would get a kick out of what Bob Park had to say, he took a break from science to comment on al-Awklaki

http://www.bobpark.org/

1. THE CONTRACT: AWLAKIS U.S.CITIZENSHIP IS REVOKED.

Last week you will recall, American-born Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical Muslim cleric hiding in Yemen, had his U.S. citizenship permanently revoked by a CIA drone strike. But had Awlaki been accorded due process as guaranteed by the Constitution? War is due process, I wrote. Bad mistake! We are not at war with Yemen. Angry readers, many of them old friends, objected to what they saw as my support for an illegal action of the administration, and threatened to unsubscribe to WN. Its not like I get paid to do this, but they were right. A part of me had enjoyed too much the adrenalin rush that comes when your team scores a goal, even if its against an inferior opponent. Awlaki was an instigator not a fighter; his offences were deplorable and illegal, but not capital. To me the most troubling aspect of the whole affair was how good the U.S. is at this assassin stuff. Satellite images tracked the target. A drone waited for the order to launch its missile. It was not just a lucky shot. We have the power to take out anyone on Earth. I hope we dont. But if we do, would someone please take a look at my list?
2. THE SECRET: DEMOCRACY IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SECRECY.

We are told that a Justice Department memorandum, drawn up by a couple of Justice Department lawyers following months of interagency deliberations, sanctioned the Awlaki hit in spite of an executive order banning assassinations, a federal law against murder, protection under the Bill of Rights, and numerous international agreements. Charlie Savage, writing in the NY Times, says the legal debate led to one of the most significant decisions made by President Obama - to move ahead with the killing of an American citizen without a trial. Then why is the memorandum classified as secret? This is bull **** the Presidents decision led to the memo, not the other way around.
3. THE MARTYR: GIVING THE DARWIN AWARD A WHOLE NEW MEANING.

Two years ago on board a Northwest Airlines flight en route to Detroit, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab allegedly attempted to detonate plastic explosives hidden in his underwear. The flight from Amsterdam was just moments from landing when Abdulmutallab tried to detonate the bomb in his pants. It failed to go off, but his pants caught fire. Passengers jumped him when they saw smoke and flames. At a hospital after landing Abdulmutallab was treated for burns to his uh, groin. Yesterday, in a Federal Court in Detroit, Abdulmutallab pleaded guilty in the attempted murder of 289 fellow passengers. He said he targeted the U.S.-bound flight at the urging of Anwar al-Awlaki. The episode will no doubt be immortalized in a new volume of the brilliant Darwin Awards, created by Wendy Northcutt, that commemorates individuals who improve our gene pool by removing themselves from it, or in this case, removes their gene- delivery device, from it.

[Webmaster]

Here is the latest from Attorney General and Gun Runner Holder...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...FtR_story.html

So much for that "due process" nonsense.