Dozens of U.S. Citizens May Be on Obama Assassination List

The New American ^ | 6/28/2010 | Thomas R Eddlem

[IbJensen]

The Washington Times reported June 24 that dozens of U.S. citizen may be targets for assassination by the Obama administration. “There are, in my mind, dozens of U.S. persons who are in different parts of the world, and they are very concerning to us," John O. Brennan, Deputy White House National Security Adviser for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, told the Washington Times June 24.

“If a person is a U.S. citizen, and he is on the battlefield in Afghanistan or Iraq trying to attack our troops, he will face the full brunt of the U.S. military response," Brennan said, adding: "If an American person or citizen is in a Yemen or in a Pakistan or in Somalia or another place, and they are trying to carry out attacks against U.S. interests, they also will face the full brunt of a U.S. response. And it can take many forms."

Slate magazine's Glenn Greenwald explained what Brennan's statement meant:

“Nobody — or at least not me — disputes the right of the U.S. or any other country to kill someone on an actual battlefield during war without due process. That's just obvious, but that's not remotely what Brennan is talking about, and it's not remotely what this assassination program is about. Indeed, Brennan explicitly identified two indistinguishable groups of American citizens who "will face the full brunt of a U.S. response": (1) those "on the battlefield in Afghanistan or Iraq"; and (2) those "in a Yemen or in a Pakistan or in Somalia or another place." In other words, the entire world is a "battlefield" — countries where there is a war and countries where there isn't — and the President's "battlefield" powers, which are unlimited, extend everywhere. That theory — the whole world is a battlefield, even the U.S. — was the core premise that spawned 8 years of Bush/Cheney radicalism, and it has been adopted in full by the Obama administration (indeed, it was that "whole-world-is-a-battlefield" theory which Elena Kagan explicitly endorsed during her confirmation hearing for Solicitor General).”

The Obama assassination list was first reported by the Washington Post's Dan Priest back on January 27, though at the time it was believed only three American citizens were on the list. Brennan's statement changes that math.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration and its spokesmen are still denying that having the U.S. military kill American citizens without trial far from the Afghan and Iraqi war zones constitutes an assassination list. CIA Director Leon Panetta did precisely that on ABC's This Week program June 27:

ABC's Jake Tapper: An American cleric who is now supposedly in Yemen, Anwar al-Awlaki. He has said to be on an assassination list by President Obama. Is that true and does being an American afford him any protection that any other terrorist might not enjoy?

CIA Director Pannetta: Awlaki is a terrorist who has declared war on the United States. Everything he's doing now is to try to encourage others to attack this country, there's a whole stream of intelligence that goes back to Awlaki and his continuous urging of others to attack this country in some way. You can track Awlaki to the Detroit bomber. We can track him to other attacks in this country that have been urged by Awlaki or that have been influenced by Awlaki. Awlaki is a terrorist and yes, he's a U.S. citizen, but he is first and foremost a terrorist and we're going to treat him like a terrorist. We don't have an assassination list, but I can tell you this. We have a terrorist list and he's on it.

The essence of Pannetta's statement means that if the President labels you a terrorist — whether you are guilty or not (and many Guantanamo terror suspects deemed the "worst of the worst" were later released in mistaken identity cases) — you are fair game for being killed without trial. President Obama and his officials may dispute the term “assassination list,” but they have without a doubt completely adopted the Bush administration policy of the world being a battlefield. And because there are no civilian rights on a battlefield, the “global war on terror” is by definition a war on the rights of Americans that are supposed to have protected by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Obama may have run on a platform of change, but he clearly hasn't changed course from the Bush administration attack on the U.S. Constitution.

[vanilla swirl]

I pray you are correct.

[Nowhere Man]

The media has been abuzz today at the prospect of Russian nuclear bombers being stationed in Cuba if the US goes ahead with plans for missile defense bases in Eastern Europe.

The story has riled the US enough that a US general has been wheeled out to tell the world’s press that any Russian attempt to build another nuclear base in Cuba would cross US “red line”.

Hmmmm. I remember before my maternal grandmother died in 1997, she always told me stories and believed the Russians never really took their missiles out of Cuba after the Cuban Missile Crisis. They are still there today she would say if she was still alive. She told me that she talked to a Cuban who defected here where he saw the canisters that were to take the missiles back to the USSR left Cuba empty on their ships.

I believe it about the bombers, looks like we will see more Tu-95 Bear sightings off of Florida. Hopefully if push came to shove, the Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama Air National Guards can deal with them.

I doubt you'd see a return to the USSR as it was, but Russia is used to being a great power and with the Bamster in office, he is alienating us by getting the world mad at us so I'm not surprised in that case either. I think we blew it in the 1990's, we could have made Russia more our friend had we played our cards differently.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

It should of gotten ugly thirty years ago, when Ronald Reagan was POTUS! The left has gotten away with many things, ever since FDR’s New Deal went into effect, but the changes came very slowly. People too often tend to get away with things that are barely noticed by the majority of the general public.

[DGHoodini]

Dan Priest and Glenn Greenwald should both be on that list.

[ELS]

Interesting ... marking link for later reading.

[mojitojoe]

I’m more worried about a convenient accident for one of our Supreme Court justices. If he can get the Supreme Court, it’s over folks. Take it to the streets or kiss it goodbye forever.

[mojitojoe]

and after American Idol is over.

[ScottinVA]

I’m more worried about a convenient accident for one of our Supreme Court justices.

Oh, I have no doubt that's been a goal of theirs since Day One. I totally agree.

[Candor7]

PING!!!!

This action on the part of Barry Soetoro is meant to be understood as being used against US Muslims who go oversees on fighting tours against the US military.I mean in some Muslim College circles, US Muslims are known to do this over their summer breaks and come back to the USA for a fall semester.

But the real reason our Fascist president would want to have this power established is to have a process in place where he can LATER direct it at his political adversaries here in the United States.Its simply how fascism works.

BTW, doesn't surprise me much.

Assassinations abroad will result in assassinations right here at home. Sarah Palin, purchase body armor! We are on the road to Zimbabwe.

[WVKayaker]

The Supreme Court just re-confirmed the right to keep and bear arms for every state.

Makes me want to go out and "release" a few rounds! I love the sound of freedom!

[ETL]

I doubt you'd see a return to the USSR as it was, but Russia is used to being a great power and with the Bamster in office, he is alienating us by getting the world mad at us so I'm not surprised in that case either. I think we blew it in the 1990's, we could have made Russia more our friend had we played our cards differently.

Russia isn't doing what they're doing today (building up Chavez, Cuba, other Marxist dictatorships, conducting joint war games with the ChiComs, backing North Korea, Iran, etc) because Obama made them mad. He is expectedly bending over backwards to appease them on everything from missile defense to "total nuclear disarmament". He shares the same "new international order" worldview with the Russians, ChiComs, Chavez, Castro bros, etc. His "new comrade" KGB Putin is an evil tyrant who has political opponents (journalists, former KGB agents now spilling the beans on him) assassinated. He attempted to assassinate the former president of the Ukraine. He may well have been behind the plane crash that wiped out the entire leadership of Poland. He seeks a return of the old Soviet Union.

[The Comedian]

and after American Idol is over.

After watching "Braveheart" or "300" again.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[bgill]

I wonder who among us might be included?

The entire FR list and any other forum that dares question his authority. Mmmm mmmm.

[bgill]

I think that Obama could shoot Palin in full view on the White House lawn and nothing would come of it.

The entire leadership of Poland was vaporized, and there was hardly a peep out the rest of the world.

You are not the only ones wondering if the time to act has passed or if anyone will have the fortitude to take a stand in the future.

[calex59]

Or if they did put a handle on it they had an explosive booby trap hooked to the door itself.

[melancholy]

Thank you for the ping, Codor7.

I agree with you completely.

One disagreement, though. We are NOT on the road to Zimbabwe, rather, we are ALREADY Zimbabwe!

0b0z0 will name us, Zombiafra, that of course if act like zombies and let him have his way with us.

November IS the last straw!

[RoadTest]

Barack Hussein Obama has exhibited three out of four of Satan’s characteristics: liar, thief and and destroyer (John 10:10). The fourth is murderer.

[RoadTest]

The other pertinent reference is John 8:44.

[Centurion2000]

Sarah Palin’s right at the top.

[Boucheau]

“If he can get the Supreme Court, it’s over folks.”

They don’t need the Supreme Court. They will achieve all that they need to achieve through 0bamaCare (socialized medicine) alone.

Time is on THEIR side, unless it is repealed completely.