Secret U.S. memo sanctioned killing of Aulaqi

Washington Post ^ | Sept. 30, 2011 | Peter Finn

[Free ThinkerNY]

The Justice Department wrote a secret memorandum authorizing the lethal targeting of Anwar al-Aulaqi, the American-born radical cleric who was killed by a U.S. drone strike Friday, according to administration officials.

The document was produced following a review of the legal issues raised by striking a U.S. citizen and involved senior lawyers from across the administration.

There was no dissent about the legality of killing Aulaqi, the officials said.

“What constitutes due process in this case is a due process in war,” said one of the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss closely held deliberations within the administration.

[Uncle Hal]

Folks if this had been a GOP president the MSM and the liberals would gone ballistic. Guaranteed.

[Meet the New Boss]

When a US citizen joins a foreign army and is in the field overseas coordinating military or terrorist attacks against the United States or our military personnel, his rights are no different than that of any other member of that foreign army.

Al Qaeda is a foreign army with whom we are in a state of war.

What is bizarre is Obama and Holder treating Khalid Sheikh Mohammed like a criminal instead of an enemy combatant.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

This guy is an enemy combatant. It doesn’t matter where he was born.

[rockinqsranch]

Seems to me if the guy was an American citizen plotting nefarious deeds, and death against persons of his own country while in the service of a foreign enemy that he is/was a traitor to his country, and his people, and therefore absolutely must be targeted as an enemy combatant.

I’d say the Obama Administration finally got one right, but I won’t shout it from the rooftops.

[Larry - Moe and Curly]

Where is the line?

Conservatives are considered terrorists by our current government. Where is the line that says it’s okay to take out one American, but not okay to take out another. I’m pretty sure this government doesn’t see much difference.

There’s some stupid note in some old document about a right to due process of law. It either applies to ALL Americans or it applies to none.

[Chode]

when Anwar al-Awlaki came to study in the US, he came on a foreign student visa. You see, even though al-Awlaki was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, his parents were not American citizens. In fact, after his father completed his studies here, the family returned to Yemen. Anwar would not even be considered a 14th Amendment citizen, which states "All person born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." Anwar's parents were never US citizens, nor did they intend to become citizens; neither did his parents have "a permanent domicile and residence in the United States,"  which is the standard according to the Supreme court decision in United States vs Wong Kim Ark.

According to the State Department, there are different rules, and, since al-Awlaki came to the US on a scholarship from Yemen, we can assume that he renounced his US citizenship, because Yemen does not recognize dual citizenship. Furthermore, his father was the Agriculture Minister in Yemen. Otherwise, why would al-Awlaki have come on a foreign student visa to study in Colorado in 1991?

when Anwar al-Awlaki came to study in the US, he came on a foreign student visa. You see, even though al-Awlaki was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, his parents were not American citizens. In fact, after his father completed his studies here, the family returned to Yemen. Anwar would not even be considered a 14th Amendment citizen, which states "All person born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." Anwar's parents were never US citizens, nor did they intend to become citizens; neither did his parents have "a permanent domicile and residence in the United States,"  which is the standard according to the Supreme court decision in United States vs Wong Kim Ark.

According to the State Department, there are different rules, and, since al-Awlaki came to the US on a scholarship from Yemen, we can assume that he renounced his US citizenship, because Yemen does not recognize dual citizenship. Furthermore, his father was the Agriculture Minister in Yemen. Otherwise, why would al-Awlaki have come on a foreign student visa to study in Colorado in 1991?

when Anwar al-Awlaki came to study in the US, he came on a foreign student visa. You see, even though al-Awlaki was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, his parents were not American citizens. In fact, after his father completed his studies here, the family returned to Yemen. Anwar would not even be considered a 14th Amendment citizen, which states "All person born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." Anwar's parents were never US citizens, nor did they intend to become citizens; neither did his parents have "a permanent domicile and residence in the United States,"  which is the standard according to the Supreme court decision in United States vs Wong Kim Ark.

According to the State Department, there are different rules, and, since al-Awlaki came to the US on a scholarship from Yemen, we can assume that he renounced his US citizenship, because Yemen does not recognize dual citizenship. Furthermore, his father was the Agriculture Minister in Yemen. Otherwise, why would al-Awlaki have come on a foreign student visa to study in Colorado in 1991?

[marron]

I agree that he was a legitimate target. I also agree that had Bush taken him out, English professors all over America would be quivering with rage.

[healy61]

All I can say for Ali Ali Infree is

Bye bye and buy bonds. LOL

[Makana]

I feel much more secure in my citizenship since Eric Holder made this decision about killing same.

Now I understand the Obama policy - Due Process in civilian courts for hostile foreign actors versus a Post-Hellfire memorandum is Due Process when killing US citizens.

[teenyelliott]

I can't believe this article only got nine replies, and I REALLY can't believe that freepers are saying it's okay. And not only one American, but TWO were killed...

A second American killed in Friday’s attack was Samir Khan, a driving force behind Inspire, the English-language magazine produced by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. An administration official said the CIA did not know Khan was with Aulaqi, but they also considered Khan a belligerent whose presence near the target would not have stopped the attack.

Ohhhh, he was belligerent. Okee dokee then. AND he published hate speech.

Forget about all the details; if the government is allowed to kill U.S. citizens based on their own set of acceptable criteria, wait until you are declared the enemy.

According to the article, the CIA would never ever ever have killed a US citizen unless they had written clearance from the justice department, which they did for American #1. They did not have such written authority from our good friend Eric Holder for American #2, but they killed him anyway because he was there, even though they would not kill an American without written authority from the justice department.

This is clearly a political stunt hoping to make people think that Obama is kicking ass in the WOT, which of course the left is totally okay with now, to draw attention away from the rest of his sucky presidency, and people are buying it.

Both sides will justify this however they see fit.

[zzeeman]

Great points, thanks. The two best:

...if the government is allowed to kill U.S. citizens based on their own set of acceptable criteria, wait until you are declared the enemy.

This is clearly a political stunt hoping to make people think that Obama is kicking ass in the WOT, which of course the left is totally okay with now, to draw attention away from the rest of his sucky presidency, and people are buying it.

[Phlap]

Do I hear any liberal outrage? Anyway, it's good to know that Obama is upholding the Bush, dead or alive policy and just like Cheney use the CIA to do it.

[GregNH]

Melancholy, Just received this FReep mail from Lucy asking me to post this story but this thread looks like the same story from a different source. She also asked me to tell you to ping everyone, she was headed out for an appointment.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/10/the-secret-memo-that-explains-why-obama-can-kill-americans/246004/

Thanx, Greg