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DRONE ATTACKS

Obama's Case for Killing Americans Revealed

Drone killings allowed even when there is no evidence of an active plot to attack the U.S.

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by Lisa Fine

Staff Writer t

Image: AP

A confidential Justice Department memo says the U.S. government has the right to order the killing of American citizens who are believed to be senior leaders of al-Qaida or "an associated force," according to an exclusive report from NBC News

The targeted killings are allowed even if there is no evidence of an active plot to attack the U.S., the 16-page memo said. The document sheds light on the legal reasoning behind killing American citizens in overseas drone strikes, one of the Obama administration's most controversial policies.

"The condition that an operational leader present an - imminent' threat of violent attack against the United States does not require the United States to have clear evidence that a specific attack on U.S. persons and interests will take place in the immediate future," the memo states.

A September 2011 drone attack in Yemen killed alleged al-Qaida operatives Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan, both U.S. citizens who had not been indicted by the U.S. government or charged with any crimes, NBC wrote.

"A lawful killing in self-defense is not an assassination," the memo says. But groups like the America Civil Liberties Union, which is suing to obtain documents related to drone attacks on U.S. citizens, slammed the memo.

"This is a chilling document," Jameel Jaffer, deputy legal director of the ACLU, told NBC. "Basically, it argues that the government has the right to carry out the extrajudicial killing of an American citizen."

Via NBC News
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What's your reaction to the policy for drone attacks on Americans?

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Comments (view in Forum)

  • Food4thoughts
    !
    Started reading Hobbes today and thought of this article...

    "For as for witches, I think not that their witchcraft is any real power; but yet that they are justly punished for the false belief they have that they can do such mischief, joined with their purpose to do it if they can."
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    tomincali
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    well what is to keep them from doing the same thing to any citizen who disagrees with them. so much for a fair trial,another attack on the constitution. if they are willing to do this in another country,nothing is to stop them from doing it here by other means.
  • PoliticalSpice
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    They did it here without drones to dozens, possibly hundreds, in the 1970's. FBI targeted and killed Black Panthers, members of the American Indian Movement and others throughout the 1970's. Hardly anyone said a peep.
  • u
    tomincali
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    @NormalFlora thats true, yet how do we know that is the case? it has happened here and in other countries,are we to take the word of those who had it done? have these same folks ever gave misleading info? if so why take their words for anything,it could be you or me who pushes them the wrong way at anytime they choose.
  • View all 14 replies >
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    Cheenoguy
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    If an American is training with Al Queada and we drone attack the training location I feel no sympathy. When we attack him directly I'm not cool with that. As Americans they have the right to a trial. On the other hand should we risk the lives of soldiers (or CIA agents) trying to arrest someone who is clearly a traitor? This system needs to be better, but can I honestly say a traitor's right to trial is more important then a soldier's life? No.
    What I want is better information on how they make these decisions with more people involved.
  • u
    Libertyiskey
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    But without a trial we don't know what they're saying about however they're killing is true, that's why we have trials. I know we all hate terrorist but do we trust everything the government says? No matter what side, left or right, you have to realize that this power will be in the oppositions hands one day and I don't want either side having this power of killing American citizens without trials.
  • stepped_in_it
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    @Libertyiskey Hence @Cheenoguy statement "What I want is better information on how they make these decisions with more people involved"
  • u
    Cheenoguy
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    @Libertyiskey
    That's why I have concerns about the way this is done.
    If I had to sum up my stance: I oppose this as it is currently done and demand a reliable system that Americans are aware of before this is considered. At the very least Congress should know and as of last night they don't. I recognize that there is a need for adaptation to the world we live in, but we need to adapt better then this. And I've actually stated elsewhere here my concern for a different kind of president having this kind of authority.
  • Neo_NtheMatrix
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    So should police officers pursue criminals even though they may risk their lives doing so? Or should they just be killed with sniper attacks instead? In this country we are willing to sacrifice our lives for the rule of law. If al-Awlaki really did commit treason and was behind terrorist attacks against the U.S. then by all means we should have done what was necessary to apprehend him and try him in a court of law. If found guilty then the death penalty should be administrated. He should first have his day in court though.
  • u
    Cheenoguy
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    @Neo_NtheMatrix
    All I am saying is that there are instances where this could be acceptable. Problem is the lack of information on the process.
  • View all 19 replies >
  • blue_yahoo
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    Does merely being a citizen give you the "right" to go to a foreign country and plot for the destruction of the nation you are a citizen of? Why should we look upon these men any differently than any other person set on the same agenda just because of a piece of paper? These men where on foreign soil plotting with enemies of this country to destroy it and acting not as citizens of this country but as enemy combatants. If they were so intent on not being a US citizen when why not relinquish the citizenship, maybe because they thought it would protect them against just such an action? When people go to another country and put forth actions against their country of citizenship, to destroy it, I'd say they no longer are a citizen in any sense of the word.
  • u
    Cheenoguy
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    I think the concern shared by those to the left and the right is the concern of "what if they are wrong about the terrorist affiliation" and for the precident set. The information we have is so vague that there is some validity to concern about how far could they go. Imagine if someone like Dick Cheney had this power. Still okay with the status quo?
  • blue_yahoo
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    @Cheenoguy Well considering his teachings, which are documented, where the inspiration for a continued jihad against the US and any country not of Islam, I'd say your concerns are not real relevant. He willingly linked himself to Al Quada and the attempts against the US all which are well documented.
  • u
    Cheenoguy
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    @blue_yahoo
    Not relevant or not relevant in this situation? He's far from the only American we have assassinated. I want a clear and transparent policy not because of lack of trust for this administration (I have some, not a lot, but some) but because I would be terrified of some tea bagger president having this kind of authority.
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    blue_yahoo
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    @Cheenoguy Well you might have a point. Although, I am much more concerned with the current administrations thoughts on control of the general populous than any conservative party that may be in charge. Although, for now, I think I'm safe as I have no plans to join an Al Quada movement here or abroad.
  • View all 6 replies >
  • stepped_in_it
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    "The document sheds light on the legal reasoning behind killing American citizens in overseas drone strikes" READ that 3rd word from the end...."overseas". Not in the United States of America. Pull your proverbial panties out of your crack....Don't you think if an American is overseas and has now joined a group that's avowed to attack America or American's, he is still an America. A majority of us seem to have no problem shooting to kill someone who has entered our domain to harm us (and I'm one of those people). I have very little problem eliminating a terrorist no matter what country they "used" to call home!
  • jessejaymes
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    We could probably save each other a lot of wasted time on here by simply alternating days to post since we say the same thing most the time.
  • u
    fayban
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    So basically if me and youwere at the local mall togather and i pointed at a person and told you that guy looks like maybe he would rob you in the future. Its ok just kill him now
  • u
    Yank
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    The US constitution does not end at our boarders, nor does a US citizen stop being a US citizen because they are "overseas".
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    seedtick
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    As Americans we should be kept safe by our government. But, as Americans, we should remain loyal to our nation. And, when we decide to join a foreign enemy to our nation we can expect to be treated like a foreign enemy. If traitors can be killed in battle on the battlefield they can also expect to die in a drone strike.
    THE DAY YOU BECOME A TRAITOR, YOU CAN NO LONGER EXPECT TO BE TREATED LIKE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.
  • u
    RobertJHarsh
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    Loyal...no matter what? Tell me when it crosses the threshold and to stop being loyal. Just curious. Because the way I read most news and policies shat out by the government, the people of the United States are the enemy.
  • Neo_NtheMatrix
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    @RobertJHarsh - Amen Mr. Harsh. There should at the very least be official publicly documented charges leveled against any U.S. citizen before such an attack on their lives can be carried out by our government. What proof did obama have that Anwar al-Awlaki committed treason against the U.S. or planned to launch terrorist attacks against us? There is a reason we have a Constitution and American citizens deserve to have their day in court. Ruthlessly murdering American citizens with no proof they did anything wrong is not going to keep us safe.
  • Denizen_Kate
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    "THE DAY YOU BECOME A TRAITOR, YOU CAN NO LONGER EXPECT TO BE TREATED LIKE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. " The problem I have with this is in the proof. Shouldn't the presumption of innocence apply, even to a citizen not currently residing here?
  • Mbjhug
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    @Denizen_Kate Exactly! Due Process! If we can give it to Hussein, then why the hell can't we give it to the people on our soil?
  • View all 6 replies >
  • PNWest
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    I have no problem with the government going after these terrorists whether they are American or not. Not only does it stop potential attacks on innocent Americans it hopefully acts as a deterrent to other who might engage in "jihad" against us. As for the civil rights of those Americans? When they start plotting against my country I feel no need to stand up for their rights.
  • Neo_NtheMatrix
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    PNWest: "As for the civil rights of those Americans? When they start plotting against my country I feel no need to stand up for their rights. "

    I agree with you 100% on that point. The question is, who decided these Americans were plotting against the U.S.? Was there a trial? Were there any charges brought against these people? What makes obama the Messiah, judge, jury, and executioner?
  • PNWest
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    @Neo_NtheMatrix Someone has to make the decisions. I will trust the Commander in Chief and those around him to make them. It is his job to keep the country safe and unlike his predecessor he has done so. Do you believe that this policy should be stopped? If so this makes me sad.
  • PNWest
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    @Denizen_Kate No. This should be thought of as acts of war. These guys are traitors and deserve to be treated as such. I lose no sleep at all about the fact they they may have been deprived of their civil rights. I'm just glad we stopped them before they hurt innocent Americans.
  • bsking
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    It's an outrage. Obama Biden and Panetta should be on trial before the Hague ..... just like you people wanted Bush Cheney and Rumsfeld for water boarding three terrorists
  • o
    WattheTyler
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    I agree. Obama, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and well basically almost the entire US Congress need to be on trial for crimes against humanity. This criminal regime in Washington D.C. of the Demo-Republican dictatorship needs to be taken down.
  • o
    WattheTyler
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    @bsking Anything is better than what we have now. Direct democracy would be better than this crap. It's completely stupid for us to elect people who will represent the will of corporations. Democrats and Republicans are both the same sh*t. Both controlled by big corporations and wallstreet.
  • Buzzfriendly
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    And you gun control emotional folks wonder why people want more than 10 bullets. Let's see if we can get a national overreaction by the same crowed when the government wants to kill you for any given reason, unmanned and from above. Better build your kiddy's a bomb shelter for the swing set.
  • DARSB
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    A little due process would be nice... judicial oversight... checks and balances... repeal the USA PATRIOT Act maybe...
  • u
    BelinKS
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    We all knew who and what Anwar Alaki was. But killing Americans is a slippery slope. How long before the drones we already have flying over our heads will be killing inside the US. I never thought I would see the day that drones sent out by our own goverment to spy on our citizens would ever happen. Are they already armed? This is more and more like a socialist regime instead of democrats!
  • WMCOL
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    We've been attacking enemies and threats to this nation in foreign countries ever since this has been a nation. All of a sudden we are expected to impose U.S. law in some foreign nation. Only difference is these kind of attacks used to fly under the radar, now they are publicly highlighted.

    If an American citizen who is complicit in planning to carry out terrorism against this nation wants protection of U.S. law then he/she needs to come to the USA and do the deeds, like Timothy McVeigh. If McVeigh had been discovered in some country, say the MId-East plotting to do damage to this nation he would deserve to be Drone bombed into oblivion. Due Process applies in the U.S. and its Territories, and less in the latter. There is not way to give due process to an American citizen in the Afghanistan mountains who is planning or plotting against us. Give him the virgins.
  • Dan_Tien
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    The United States has been at war with Al Qaeda for over a decade. It is not a war between countries, it is unconventional war. We did not arrest German-/Americans who went back to fight with the Nazis, and we should not go to extreme measures to arrest American citizens who become enemy combatants. You don't arrest enemy combatants, you kill them. It doesn't matter if they are on an active mission or sleeping in their bunk, they are fair game. Why would an "innocent" American citizen be hunkered down with Al Qaeda operatives in a foreign country known for harboring terrorists? I know that some people think that our own government is America's greatest enemy, but I think they are deluded.
  • u
    S-N-A-F-U
    !
    IMO - this is a canard and a back-door approach of controlling the population if folks raise up against his Marxist policies. If one does a little research, he has been exposed at an early age to communist ideology through his parents, grand parents and his early mentor, Frank Marshal Davis, not to mention being an aspiring supporter of Saul Alinsky's concept of "Rules for Radicals," which community organizing (ACORN) gained prominence through Alinsky's book with the same title.

    The Obama File...http://www.theobamafile .com/BarackObama.htm

    We have this president ordering millions of rounds of ammo recently for civilian agencies, such as the IRS and homeland security....What?!? Can't he depend on our military to safeguard us from civil unrest? And why is his focus entirely on guns instead of our economy? If one remembers, during in his first term he floated the idea of having his own armed agency, separate from the military -- one has to ask why?
    (you can google it)

    New Litmus test for military officers -- "would you fire on American Citizens?" http://www.plaintruth.com/the_plain_truth/the...

    For years, gun-grabbers were concerned with hand guns only. Now it seems that Obama is more concerned with banning Shoulder type weapons, and not so much pistols. Considering that long-guns are hardly a blip in causing murders. More killings are accomplished through baseball bats and knives than the aforementioned. It has to give a thinking person pause -- why is he traveling the country to get support for trashing the 2nd Amendment, when jobs and the economy are upside down, and with this administrations uncontrolled Spending and burgeoning Dept at 175 TRILLION DOLLARS with over 4 BILLION being added daily. It seems to me his priorities are amiss, or are they???
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