Posted on 11/22/2011 7:19:35 AM PST by PilotDave
I remain utterly confused how people who could be so outraged at the Bush administration over enhanced interrogation used against a few foreign terrorists who participated in killing thousands of Americans can remain silent when it comes to the Obama administration killing American citizens without due process.
Where are the screams about abuse of executive privilege?
A few short weeks ago, a 16-year-old boy — an American citizen — died in the desert in Yemen. It does not matter that this was al-Awlaki's son. This was the death of an innocent. Seeing the young face of this child broadcast on Fox News gave me a moment of pause.
It was the death of an American that we should all stop to consider, for beyond its obvious sadness, it has broad implications for our nation, our constitutional values, and what we are willing to tolerate as the limits of the American presidency.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
And there are short-sighted FReepers who support Obama on this!
Here, let me spell it out for you. If it weren't for double standards, the left would have no standards at all.
A lesson for 16 year olds ~ when there’s a war going on watch out who you hang around with and remember to duck.
most americans either are too busy at work,
with families, or with football, hollywood, drugs and alcohol
to notice.
He almost certainly was a willing enemy combatant. Just because he was from Denver doesn't give him immunity on the battlefield.
It is not as though the United States could have simply arrested them.
I’m not going there. Before WW2 Hitler called on “Aryans” to returen to defend the Fatherland. Some did, and some of those were American citizens. If they died on the battlefield, so what?
Now if al-Awlaki’s 16 year old son was living in the US and following observing our laws — different story entirely.
“If you take your child into combat”
He was killed at a barbeque in Yemen, not on a field of battle. We have NO combat troops in Yemen. Are OK with killing US citizen children without even an allegation of wrongdoing? Do you have any link of ANY wrong doing of this 16 year old kid? You’re just OK with assassinations of US children because your sure he must have done something wrong? Wow.
The other guy was a web master who Obama didn’t like. Never accused of being on the battlefield. Are you ok with Obama executing US citizen web contributors for posting things against Obama?
"Almost certainly" is a great standard you have there!
Yemen is in the middle of a civil war, where large areas are in the control of tribes hostile to the U.S. By your reasoning, no U.S. combatant should ever shoot artillery beyond the front line or drop bombs in enemy territory. Many 16 year olds are combat troops in the Islamicists war against the West. You are implying that we need to have proof that would stand up in a court of law before we attack people who have often stated that they are at war with us and who want to destroy us.
The islamacists call this using our law against us.
The Constitution recognizes that Constitutional rights do not apply to those who are trying to destroy us, either by insurrection or war in a foreign country.
“Now if al-Awlaki’s 16 year old son was living in the US and following observing our laws — different story entirely.”
Do you have any evidence that this kid was breaking any law? What difference does it make where he was living? If it’s ok for Obama to target and kill an American child (without even an allegation of a crime)in Yemen but not on US soil could you please rule on some other countries? How about Canada, Bahamas, Turkey, Ireland?
Do we know that the child was even ‘targeted’? Or was the method of attack intended to nail the kid’s “Old Man”? I suspect the latter.
Taking your kid to a war zone or hotbed of terrorism isn’t too smart, even if it is your “right”. There is less likelihood of becoming collateral damage by staying out of rough neighborhoods. Some people (and their progeny) that lack common sense get thinned out. No sympathy.
You have just set the world record in the leap of logic event.
You should apply for a job in the Obama administration’s “Department of Justifying Missile Strikes on American Children”.
By your reasoning, any US child traveling in Yemen with parents is a justifiable target.
Did you read the article? Did you miss the part where this kid was targeted after his Dad was already dead? At a evening dinner? That doesn’t bother you even a little? Not even curious?
“Or was the method of attack intended to nail the kid’s “Old Man”? I suspect the latter.”
I posted the article, start there. Then maybe try a web search. Then come back and tell us you were wrong and try to post something useful to the conversation.
These are not innocent tourists in that part of Yemen, just as there were not innocent tourists in Japan during WWII, or if some innocents were trapped behind the lines, it is impossible to be certain that no innocents will die when you strike at the enemy.
This article puts a little more context into the events you reference.
Al-Awlaki’s Son Among Al Qaeda Militants Killed in Yemen Air Strike
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/15/yemen-says-local-al-qaeda-media-chief-six-others-killed/
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/15/yemen-says-local-al-qaeda-media-chief-six-others-killed/
According to the article from Fox News, the “boy” was among 9 al Queda operatives killed in a drone strike. The “boy” was not specifically targeted.
Oh, and the article that you posted was an “opinion piece”. It had no facts relating to the actual strike mission. Looks like my assumptions held up better than yours.
The fox article is actually an AP article. It makes no claim as to who was targeted. It claims the boy was 21, when in fact he was 16. It lists as it’s source “tribal elders”.
My “opinion” piece was written by the chairman of the House Intelligence committee.
But I’m happy to count you in the “kill American children” side of the argument.
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