Panetta: Decision to Kill Americans Suspected of Terrorism Is Obama's

[Octafish]

3. Secret panel can put Americans on 'kill list'

Secret orders given to robots programmed to kill sounds like Science Fiction.

Yet, it's real.

Secret panel can put Americans on "kill list"

By Mark Hosenball

WASHINGTON | Wed Oct 5, 2011 7:59pm EDT


By Mark Hosenball

WASHINGTON | Wed Oct 5, 2011 7:59pm EDT

(Reuters) - American militants like Anwar al-Awlaki are placed on a kill or capture list by a secretive panel of senior government officials, which then informs the president of its decisions, according to officials.

There is no public record of the operations or decisions of the panel, which is a subset of the White House's National Security Council, several current and former officials said. Neither is there any law establishing its existence or setting out the rules by which it is supposed to operate.

SNIP...

But at the time the White House was considering putting Awlaki on the U.S. target list, intelligence connecting Awlaki specifically to Abdulmutallab and his alleged bomb plot was partial. Officials said at the time the United States had voice intercepts involving a phone known to have been used by Awlaki and someone who they believed, but were not positive, was Abdulmutallab.

SNIP...

While Gadahn appeared in angry videos calling for attacks on the United States, officials said he had not been specifically targeted for capture or killing by U.S. forces because he was regarded as a loudmouth not directly involved in plotting attacks.

SOURCE: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/05/us-cia-killlist-idUSTRE79475C20111005

Is there a nominating process?