“Oddly though, Cain rejected the idea of a president authorizing the death of American citizen, as in the case of Anwar al-Awlaki, without due process guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment”.
Have to agree with him here - what is not to agree with? Do you really think that a President has the authority to kill an American citizen?
I think Vince Foster would say no to that question.
When the American is in the field, actively fighting with the enemy, he is an enemy combatant.In effect, he was evading capture after being charged.
However, I do worry that the Obama Administration didn’t go through the FISA courts or Congressional security committees.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/05/us-cia-killlist-idUSTRE79475C20111005
http://www.forbes.com/sites/harveysilverglate/2011/10/06/obama-crosses-the-rubicon-the-killing-of-anwar-al-awlaki/
There was a sort of due process, when the ACLU challenged placing Awlaki on the kill or capture list last year. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/world/middleeast/08killing.html
The Federal Court had ruled that if Awlaki wanted the protection of the US courts, he only had to surrender to US forces. Look at where Al-Awlaki was: in Yemen, running around with Al Queda and plotting to attack the UK and the US, and continuing to target people for speaking out against the terrorists.
Are you saying that federal marshalls, secret service agents and FBI agents cannot take lethal action against a crazed gunman? What about killing a US citizen fighting along side Taliban fighters? A little clarity of language and thought would be helpful in discussing this issue.