White House invokes state secrets privilege to block targeted killings suit

The Hill ^ | 25 Sep 2010 | Bridget Johnson

[Palter]

The White House on Saturday invoked the state secrets privilege to toss a lawsuit brought by civil liberties groups against an assassination plan against terrorists that would also target a U.S. citizen.

Anwar al-Awlaki, an alleged al-Qaida regional commander born in New Mexico and reportedly hiding in Yemen, has been linked to the Fort Hood shootings and the attempt by a Nigerian man to blow up an airliner over Detroit on Christmas Day. He's said to be on a U.S. list that approves death or capture of key terrorist suspects.

Al-Awlaki's father enlisted the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights to challenge the program in court and declare the targeted killings unconstitutional.

The lawsuit also aimed to block the assassination green light against al-Awlaki, and compel the U.S. government to disclose the guidelines for putting a U.S. citizen on such a list.

According to the Associated Press, the administration invoked the rule that asserts court proceedings and evidence revealed in such would endanger national security. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in the declaration filed in federal court, said he was invoking the military and state secrets privilege because of information that could be disclosed on possible military operations in Yemen.

"I am invoking the privilege over any information, if it exists, that would tend to confirm or deny any allegations in the complaint pertaining to the CIA," CIA Director Leon Panetta's court statement said.

"The idea that courts should have no role whatsoever in determining the criteria by which the executive branch can kill its own citizens is unacceptable in a democracy," the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights said in a statement, according to AP. "In matters of life and death, no executive should have a blank check."

[Mmogamer]

Darn that Bush! Oh, wait...

[Don Corleone]

"In matters of life and death, no executive should have a blank check."

Especially one like Obama.

[chadwimc]

“...The lawsuit also aimed to block the assassination green light against al-Awlaki, and compel the U.S. government to disclose the guidelines for putting a U.S. citizen on such a list...”

I wonder if the guy holding the “birth certificate” is on that list???

[Wyatt's Torch]

Good for them. I’ll give credit where it is due, this is the right move. Now, back to my hating this fascist asshat...

[Bubba_Leroy]

But it’s o.k., because Obama is good. Anything that The One does must be for the best.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

I would bet the U.S. citizen targeted is a terrorist that is a citizen now because he went on welfare and ObamCare.

[Carling]

Yep. Good move by the Obumble WH, although I know it is for political reasons, and not national security reasons.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Palter.

...an assassination plan against terrorists that would also target a U.S. citizen. Anwar al-Awlaki, an alleged al-Qaida regional commander born in New Mexico and reportedly hiding in Yemen, has been linked to the Fort Hood shootings and the attempt by a Nigerian man to blow up an airliner over Detroit on Christmas Day.

[listenhillary]

compel the U.S. government to disclose the guidelines for putting a U.S. citizen on such a (hit) list.

That would be useful to know. Does anyone think this would compromise our effort to fight terrorism?

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

THE Center for Constitutional Rights was set up by the Communist Party USA and its congressionally identified legal front, the “National Lawyers Guild” in the early 1960’s. It has been marxist in orientation since the day it was launched and if you look at the terrorists it is protecting, you will understand that they are sympatico.

The ACLU is almost as bad. It’s national leadership is redder than the locals and they form a parallel legal protection shield for our enemies under the guise of “civil rights”.