ACLU Condemns Killing Of Anwar Al-Awlaki…
The trifecta is now complete: ACLU, CAIR and Ron Paul.
NEW YORK — U.S. airstrikes in Yemen today killed Anwar Al-Aulaqi, an American citizen who has never been charged with any crime.
ACLU Deputy Legal Director Jameel Jaffer said, “The targeted killing program violates both U.S. and international law. As we’ve seen today, this is a program under which American citizens far from any battlefield can be executed by their own government without judicial process, and on the basis of standards and evidence that are kept secret not just from the public but from the courts. The government’s authority to use lethal force against its own citizens should be limited to circumstances in which the threat to life is concrete, specific and imminent. It is a mistake to invest the President — any President — with the unreviewable power to kill any American whom he deems to present a threat to the country.”
ACLU National Security Project Litigation Director Ben Wizner said, “Outside the theater of war, the use of lethal force is lawful only as a last resort to counter an imminent threat of deadly attack. Based on the administration’s public statements, the program that the President has authorized is far more sweeping. If the Constitution means anything, it surely means that the President does not have unreviewable authority to summarily execute any American whom he concludes is an enemy of the state.”
Posted by ZIP on Friday, September 30, 2011, at 12:21 pm | 
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“If the Constitution means anything, it surely means…”
What hosers. They only recognize meaning in the Constitution if it gets them a headline.
Jesus H … this guy declared war on the U.S. and renounced his citizenship – how many Americans have to die at his hands before he is declared a concrete, specific and imminent threat to life…no reasonable person would fail to come to the conclusion that he was an enemy of the state and would have killed more Americans given the chance!
Was Al-Awlaki killed in South Philly while eating a cheesesteak? No? Then STFU.
Ubama quietly nods in agreement.
That’s all well and good, except that the threat to life IS concrete, specific and imminent. So we did what we needed to do. And by golly, we’ll do it again.
I condemn the ACLU.
I applaud the killing, but condemn the procedure.
Obama had all the time in the world to revoke his citizenship, and then declare him a ‘foreign attacker’. Instead of being snuffed out as an act of war, he was killed while still legally within the jurisdiction of criminal law.
Our White House still refuses to acknowledge that terrorism is an act of war. Revoking Awlaki’s citizenship would refute the Liberal’s own position.
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Someone’sGottaSayIt; an I thank you for it.
He was clearly a member of a hostile force that has delared war against this country, he was on the FBI’s wanted lest and had every opportunity to turn himself in and face U.S. law as a citizen and instead he chose to engage in combat against his own country. He renounced his own citizenship by engaging in warfare against the U.S.
Once again the ACLU comes to the assistance of an enemy of this country and this is no surprise. If this is the constant position of the ACLU, THEY should be brought up on charges with helping an enemy force.
Al-Awlaki de facto renounced his citizenship when he moved to Yemen and joined a foreign power (Al Queada) and actively helped them plan the death of American citizens and destruction of the United States. Al-Awlaki would have stated he is a citizen of Islam, not the United States.
The ACLU merely demonstrates once again that they are an intellectual enemy of the Republic. Think of it: The ACLU has a higher regard for a murderous international terrorist than an innocent baby in a womb.
I’m listening to Ron Paul supporters on local talk radio trying to justify his statements on Al-Awlaki. Unbelievable. You cannot compare what Al-Awalki has done and wanted to do to any American bank robber, drug dealer or run of the mill gang-banger.
just kill all those fucking arabs!!!! they’re a waste of our time anyway!! THEY are the cancer that plagues our planet and the ony way we can live in peace is if we exterminate them. God Bless America!
The entire ACLU orginazation is a support wing of the terrorist groups out there. Proof we have aplenty. Time for all aclu lawyers to be declared enemy combatants and arrested on charges of treason and giving aid and support to the enemy. Im sick and tired of these aclu assholes getting away with all the morale support, but support nonetheless, they give to these groups that want to murder us anyway, anyplace, anytime they can.
Each year as the time draws near for Christmas Cards, I have a special group of people that I share my Christmas Joy with.
My first three Christmas cards (and I make sure that they are as filled with as much Christian Joy as possible) are the dedicated for the ACLU folks.
National, State and Local. It always makes me feel so good…………….
Think it through, folks…I hate his rotten guts and I hope he burns in hell, BUT he was an American citizen. Does that count for nothing?
While he lived here and went to school here, didn’t al-Awlaki constantly lie about being born in Yemen in order to get financial aid and qualify for benefits? He himself refused to admit his American citizenship when he lived here, so it’s ridiculous that these nuts are now clamoring to invoke it now that he’s dead.
@gastorgrab
Well said.
Even the Washington Post is picking up on the fact that all Obama had to do to make everything right was to revoke Awlaki’s citizenship.
Why didn’t they do that?
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/checkpoint-washington/post/aulaqi-gets-new-designation-in-death/2011/09/30/gIQAsbF69K_blog.html
U.S. officials have given Anwar al-Aulaqi a newly elevated designation on the day of his death by drone strike, describing him as “chief of external operations” for al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen.
The new title, cited by officials at the White House and the CIA, reflects Aulaqi’s evolution from Muslim cleric to alleged terrorist plotter, as well as a desire by American officials to persuade the public that the extraordinary killing of a U.S. citizen overseas was warranted.
(continued)
Yeah well, there are Republicans (some of whom are candidates in the Primary) who pretty much have the same attitude and opinion as Biden.
Ron Paul is a traitor.
Funny, I don’t recall an outcry by the ACLU when Brian Terry was murdered as a result of illegal dealings by this regime.
ACLU= American Communist Lawyers Union………
@ Thunder Lizard
Concur, although I understand the concern of Gastor and others, no doubt worried about the “sippery slope”. However, international law generaly permits the use of lethal force against individuals and groups that pose an imminent threat to a country. Also Congress approved the use of military force against Al Qaeda after the 911 terrorist attacks. al-Aulaqi in essance revoked his own citizenship when he joined Al Qaeda – an organization sworn to the destruction of America – and launched operations against us. Revoking someone’s citizenship is a formality that offers no protection – if the government can order your execution then they can certainly revoke your citizenship. I am perhaps more relieved that they did not – for how long until they revoke the citizenship of say – Tea Party members?
This guy declared open war against us and left our country never to return until/unless we are defeated. A trial would have been a dog-and-pony show that would have benifited the radical Muslims recruting efforts.
I’m not overjoyed, but am OK with this. This guy needed killing.
Well we did grant him the right to remain silent. But seriously,why would we risk any military lives to go and capture this TRAITOR. Buh-bye.
“However, international law generaly permits the use of lethal force against individuals and groups that pose an imminent threat to a country.”
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That only clears our nation in the eyes of the international court.
What i’m talking about is how does this fit within the US legal system. The short answer is that it doesn’t.
The revocation of citizenship is a formal legal process in which evidence is presented, and arguments are given. The White House knew that their own platform would be harmed by a careful examination of the issue. The judge hearing the case would conveniently point out that the government has no grounds for revoking the citizenship of someone who they claim only committed a “criminal act, but not an act of war”.
Progressive Liberals painted themselves into a corner and had to break the rules again to get out.
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Ron Paul is dangerous.
I still demand to see the corpse, btw…
@gastor
Totally understand your point/concern. I would point out that we are dealing with a new kind of threat here – terrorists with affilations/allegiances to a cause, not a country. No uniform, no formal structure.
The authorization for this action went through legal review at the NSA. I’d hate to think we’d prosecute those who carried out the strike.
Gastor, no way to paint this one pretty. Let’s hope we don’t have to do it again.
CAIR is buying friends at the ACLU.
I’m betting Janet N. is frothing at the bit to use these drones on the “real” terrorists in the US……you now, those tea party types that cling to their guns and religion (armed religious fanatics, right?)…..KSM gets a trial….Hassan gets a trial…..but “real” terrorists (as deemed by the POTUS), even though citizens of the US, aren’t afforded their constitutional rights…..these are scary times we live in….
““Outside the theater of war, the use of lethal force is lawful only as a last resort to counter an imminent threat of deadly attack.”
in this current war eveywhere is part of the Theater of War. this is not like WW2 or Korea or Vietnam. Attacks/plots can take place anywhere and have
OK, who’s next on the list? This is getting fun.
Muzz outreach gone wrong.
@ aeroman
It’s just too bad that some of the threat we face was made possible by the idiotic policies of the Progressive movement.
They are enabling terrorism by refusing to call it what it is. It is an act of war!
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The definition of “theater of war” changed after 9/11, Wizner, so get over yourself.
@Gastor
Totally 100% agree.
A SLAP ON THE HAND IS QUITE CONTINENTAL,THE ACLU IS A TERRORISTS BEST FREIND
He’s dead, we’re better off, so who cares what the dumb-ass lawyers think?
Even the monsters captured during WWII were given trials…..am I the only person here familiar with the Nuremberg Trials? Had this monster been killed in the heat of battle, I would have NO issues with his death, but he wasn’t……he was specifically targeted, as a solitary person, for death with NO trial or any pretense of capture….and I’m not positive, but I don’t think we ever declared war on Muslim Terrorists, which would make his assassination slightly easier to swallow….and I would LOVE to see a link proving me wrong….
Well, what is next? Doesn’t Obama consider the Tea Party a terrorist organization? Does this mean he can go after anyone he considers a terrorist no matter what their citizenship? I wonder if this is an impeachable offence?
ACLU-ATHEISTS,COMMUNISTS & LAWYERS UNDERGROUND
What is this, drone justice? Is it acceptable just because it was carried out in a foreign country? Anybody remember the minor detail in the US CONSTITUTION called DUE PROCESS? It’s a slippery slope most of these Bubbuh Dumbfuck’s are spewing in justifying this particular scumbag’s killing, but remember, justice is supposed to be blind in that EVERY citizen is entitled to due process, even if it is inconvenient to follow. No doubt this POS probably deserved what he got. But look at the big picture- a government can put out a death warrant on any citizen it deems as an enemy of state.
Theoretically, by disagreeing with our government, you and I could become an enemy of state and have a death warrant placed on our heads- see where it’s going? A Facist cork sucker like Hitler gets in the driver’s seat in this country, and it’s possible.
Our Constitution is the only thing keeping us from vigilantism. Wise up. Follow due process. And then kill the mother fuckers.
If the Constitution means anything I hope a drone is targetting CAIR and the ACLU right now.
I agree with both Vagabond and Uphold. With Vagabond, that the regime planned Fast and Furious to take away our 2nd Amendment rights. They just happened to kill Brian Terry and several hundred Mexican citizenswhile building their case. And no, they don’t give a rat’s ass about those dead people. Uphold, you are correct in supposing a ‘hitler’ could take over and arbitrarily execute Americans here and abroad. I believe this is in fact what they intend. First, they will take away our right to defend ourselves and property. Then, they will simply execute us. Could it happen in America? Yep. Would this current regime do it? I believe they want to.