I think some of the objections are more than reflex. I agree that when they killed Anwar al-Awlaki it was justified because he was a proven leader in al Qaeda and deserved it. I really don't care if he was a US citizen or not. He was a proven terrorist, at war with America. But they also blew his 16 year old son Adulrahman (born in Colorado with no known al Qaeda ties) into a million pieces with a HellFire missile in a separate attack. I guess it's like the Tom Cruise movie where they prosecute people for “pre-crime”. I am not ok with that. Of course, this is from CNN reports so who knows what the truth really is.
There mere fact that Obama decides who lives and who dies is extremely disturbing to me.
http://amanpour.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/05/grandfather-grieves-teenage-grandson-killed-by-u-s-drone/
I think the kid was probably in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sounds like we killed al-Qaeda leader Ibrahim al-Banna in the same strike along with others. Look the kid is running around with al-Qaeda, I'm sorry but I have no sympathy for him and I don't mind at all that the US government is taking these schmucks out.
“a proven terrorist, at war with Americans”
What war? When did Congress declare it, and against whom? These are not idle questions. Our national government has been on perpetual war footing since the lead-in to WWII, and it has bred a panoply of evils. There are those of conservatives who believe in the National Security State and those of us who think it’s as bad as the Welfare State. Nevermind for now what’s more truly conservative. I am of the latter.
Let Congress declare war on Al-Queda and members or fellow travellers of whomever you want to kill. Let the White House be prepared to prove itself whenever it wants to kill U.S. citizens. After the fact, if that’s what the situation demands. But don’t give me this privilege crap. Show judges or Congressmen in secret if you absolutely must.