Guest commentary: Executed without due process

[The Northerner]

The recent extrajudicial executions of two American citizens in Yemen have set a troubling precedent and seemingly mimic the actions of regimes we have long criticized.

Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan both advocated wanton violence against civilians, including their own countrymen, which is counter to the teachings of all faiths and values of every civil society. Indeed, I have given sermons and lectures in mosques throughout metro Detroit specifically denouncing the repugnant rhetoric of al-Awlaki while warning youths that he was not a legitimate scholar.

And there is no doubt that al-Awlaki gave inspiration to Nigerian national Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who attempted to bring down an airplane over Detroit. As troubling as al-Awlaki's speech was, however, his targeted killing without due process is problematic.

The Fifth Amendment of the Constitution states that no person shall answer for a capital crime without having been indicted by a grand jury to then face the charges levied. Given that al-Awlaki was never indicted or charged with one crime, nor was he on a battlefield actively engaged in combat, it appears that his constitutional rights were violated.

Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20111006/OPINION05/110060425/Guest-commentary-Executed-without-due-process

[FSogol]

1. Pure Bullshit. unrec.

[Bake]

9. I wouldn't call it pure bullshit.

He makes some very good points. But I guess IOKIODI.

Bake

[FSogol]

11. He makes no good points.

1. This meme is just part of the run up to the GOP trying to impeach Obama after the 2012 election. They seem to have a lot of help here.
2. Whether anyone likes it or not, we are at war with Al Qaeda. Just because the battlefield and methods used for fighting are different, it is still a war. Enemies will always be killed during wars without judicial proceedings. Fact of life.
3. How many #2 of Al Qaeda did the Bush admin manage to kill? No one here was bemoaning their deaths. They justly bemoaned rendition, invading Iraq, and torture. No one begrudged Bush his minor successes.
4. You state IOKIODI. Would you rather Obama invade some 3rd country instead of taking the battle directly to the people involved?

[Bake]

12. You trust the administration. I don't.

You trust that they have made the proper determination that AA had to die. I don't trust this administration, or any other administration, with that kind of unrestrained power. This wasn't a military battlefield operation, it was an execution of an American citizen.

If nothing about that bothers you, then you're pretty naive. Either that, or you have no principles and it's all about winning. That's why you defend Obama at all costs.

Bake

[FSogol]

14. How soon until you call for his impeachment?

:puke:

[Bake]

18. I won't, if he did nothing illegal.

IF he did something illegal? Should we just let him stay, and "overlook it?"

Bake

[Tesha]

2. Rec'ced back up near 0. (NT)

[monmouth]

3. Two pieces of scum we no longer need to fear...n/t

[peace13]

5. First they came for the scum and I said nothing......n/t

[RC]

7. So, you are saying our courts are superfluous then?

Have you ever wondered why WE kill the high ranking terrorists like this while the low level ones are captured and imprisoned and "interrogated"? Ever wonder why the "War" on terror has been going on for so long?

[Bake]

27. Fear is a great reason to murder someone.

Oooooh, be afraid! Better kill 'em all!

What if one day everyone else is afraid of YOU?

I wasn't afraid of them in the first place.

Bake

[DrDan]

4. K&R

[Taverner]

6. Funny how many DUers here don't give a shit about the Constitution

They just want them some KILLIN'!!!

[Vattel]

8. +1

[monmouth]

10. Well you know when a couple of guys are threatening to kill their

fellow Americans I really have trouble conjuring up a lot of sympathy for them. Since the Justice Department had no problem with this, I don't either.

[Bake]

13. There are plenty of teabaggers here in the U.S. threatening to kill their fellow Americans.

YOu know, "second amendment remedies." Maybe we should just execute them.

Bake

[hack89]

15. Sure - because Yemen is just like America

American cops can go anywhere and arrest anyone.

Yours is a fucking stupid argument - here is a man in a basically lawless country surrounded by violent armed men and we can arrest him just like some teabagger Iowa.

[DrDan]

23. "teabaggers" - you don't have to go that far

We have DUers who have specifically stated that to threaten to steal a ball point pen is adequate justification for use of a firearm.

Seems bypassing of the judicial system is a fairly common-place path to resolution.

[Bake]

26. But only if it's THEIR ball point pen!

If it's YOUR pen, they don't give a shit.

Bake

[Taverner]

20. It's about law, not sympathy

Think about the BTK Killer. Ted Bundy. Berkowitz. All of them had their day in court.

Even the Nazis were tried.

[Angry Dragon]

28. Since when are lawyers the judges??

or did we get rid of them??

[FrodosPet]

17. It's simple as soup

You convene a Grand Jury and present your case for probable cause. If and when you have an indictment, the State Department goes to the government of the country where they are located and requests arrest and extradition. If that government is willing and able to arrest and extradite, fine, if not, STFU and leave them alone. No killing, no bombing, no kidnapping.

Why is it so hard for them to understand?

[Bake]

19. You have ZERO posts?

I d'nt have to STFU. I'm a Democrat. Only Pukes tell each other to shut the fuck up.

Newbie!

BAke

[Taverner]

22. Wait - how can you have zero posts if you just made a post??

Now I am confused

[Bake]

25. I think he's a terrorist.

Better put him on "the list."

Send in the drones ...

Bake

[DrDan]

24. I have never seen "0" posts before

[bluestate10]

16. Either that.

Or have terrorists kill thousands or millions of americans without a single one of those people getting due process. I vote in favor of the exceptional drone strike.

[Angry Dragon]

29. 'exceptional drone strike'

How about all the innocent Afghans and Iraqis you have killed just because
they lived in the wrong country

[EFerrari]

21. K&R