Killing of U.S.-born terrorist raises questions (Can the rookie Hussein assassinate?)

The Eagle ^ | 10/01/11 | MATT APUZZO

[Libloather]

Killing of U.S.-born terrorist raises questions
By MATT APUZZO
Associated Press
Published Saturday, October 01, 2011 12:06 AM

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama steered the nation's war machine into uncharted territory Friday when a U.S. drone attacked a convoy in Yemen and killed two American citizens who had become central figures in al-Qaida.

It was believed to be the first instance in which a U.S. citizen was tracked and executed based on secret intelligence and the president's say-so. And it raised major questions about the limitations of presidential power.

**SNIP**

"This court recognizes the somewhat unsettling nature of its conclusion -- that there are circumstances in which the executive's unilateral decision to kill a U.S. citizen overseas is 'constitutionally committed to the political branches' and judicially unreviewable," Bates wrote. "But this case squarely presents such a circumstance."

[edge10]

Gotta kill em all!

[DManA]

I'm shocked at all the folks who think any US Citizen being deemed a target for killing by a President is just dandy.

Some not very deep thinkers here. Can't seem to grasp the precedent establish here.

[Alberta's Child]

I agree with you, but if the guy’s status as a U.S. citizen is now being called into question then I’m not sure there’s a precedent being established in this case at all.

[verity]

Do unto others BEFORE they do unto you.

[Little Ray]

Much as I detest Pres. Obama, it was not an “assassination.” It was strike against enemy staff and command. That is perfectly legal under any concept of the "Laws of War."

[IceAge]

This guy’s birth circumstances sound a lot like those of Obama.
Did Obama just kill a man who could have run for the WH if he had the same friends as Obama?

Just wondering.

[Lady Lucky]

Good, useful, and interesting information knowledge! Thank you very much!

[This I Wonder32460]

Goes to show there is a difference between being American born and being born an American citizen. American citizens can be born abroad and it makes sense that non Americans can be born abroad in America. It makes natural sense that a child receives it’s parents’ citizenship at birth and not the citizenship of the country where the child is born. It would make sense if the parents had filed but not yet received citizenship, that any child born during this time would be allowed naturalization and not be quick stamped American citizen. Citizenship is IMPORTANT as the loyalty of citizens is what keeps a country STABLE. Allowing anyone born in a country to be quick stamped citizen is folly. No, they are foreigners born abroad in America and when of age should be allowed a faster track to naturalization depending on their history, such as were they raised here. It is insane to hand out citizenship as if it means nothing. Why not just declare the whole wide world America and everyone on the planet a natural born American citizen? This seems to be the way they are heading, they are mixing up citizens and families for some outrageous social experiment at the expense of those who are natural born citizens of not just America but of other countries as well.

[Lady Lucky]

Some not very deep thinkers here. Can't seem to grasp the precedent establish here.

I grasped it just fine during the Terri Schiavo episode. "Due process" is whatever -- well, whatever.

[Coldwater Creek]

Don't give Obama credit for the CIA’s success’s. My guess is that he learned about the strike when the rest of us did.

[ridesthemiles]

“All person born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” Anwar’s parents were never US citizens, nor did they intend to become citizens; “””””

Indonesia also does NOT recognize dual citizenship, & Barry the Imposter was listed as an Indonesian citizen on his school records there.

Too bad no one would pay attention to such facts when he was running for the Dem nomination.

[This I Wonder32460]

I’m with you. I am conflicted about this, though I am glad the b-st-rd is dead, the means worries me. A conservative Republican would never have been given a pass for such actions, never mind approval which the media is given Obama. I fear there is much more a work here then meets the eye. Especially since some dems are calling for the 2012 elections to be put on hold so they can beat the GOP back into submission, I mean force, no, I mean, come to a compromise with the GOP and create a final solution to the problem of America. (Yes, I am going for either sarcasm or satire in regards to my previous sentence. Not sure which as one usually annoys me and the other puzzles me with it’s disturbing reflection of what could be truths.)

[DaveyB]

Can't seem to grasp the precedent establish here.

In Government, the ends never justify the means if the means are unconstitutional. Did this scum have the right to a trial or to confront his accusers. These are his rights if he is still a citizen as declared in the bill of rights? Don't get me wrong, I think the nation is better off with him dead, but she is far worse for tolerating a precedent of peace trumps justice. I would have preferred a public trial even in abstentia, where representation would have been provided - a verdict and then a lawful execution. Even the Nazis were allowed Nurenberg.

[trebb]

Just a “feeler” to determine if they can move the philosophy to the homeland...lack of condemnation by the same folks who would be howling for Bush’s impeachment over it is a damning testimony to what they really think.

[DManA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2785920/posts?page=24#24

[DManA]

guy’s status as a U.S. citizen

That is an interesting twist. Did the President site that in his legal defense of his action?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

First, for purposes of combat actions such as the targeted killing of Awlaki, the battleground in our war against al-Qaeda is not “everywhere.” It is in those few countries that either willingly or unwillingly provide significant safe havens for al-Qaeda. Yemen is in the first rank of that group of countries, along with Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Somalia.

Second, legitimate al-Qaeda targets in each of those countries are subject to attack pursuant to Congress’s 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force after 9/11, which even Vice President Biden has deemed a constitutionally sufficient declaration of war. That disposes of the concern that the executive branch is operating without the imprimatur of Congress. And the president is at all times subject to a variety of laws that constrain his conduct as commander-in-chief. Just because this particular killing is not justiciable (on the facts known to us) does not mean that federal courts cannot hold the president to account for violations of U.S. law.

[This I Wonder32460]

During the election he also said he would have no problem bombing Pakistan if he thought it was necessary. I wager he is a dangerous man. I am just not sure whether it is him alone or if it is organized psychosis orchestrated by the powered by the moneyed ideological elite.

[hal ogen]

While it is wonderful that the terrorist moozlums are blown to charred pieces, there is an irony in nobama, peace-prize recipient, killing an American citizen without any pretense of judicial consideration. Just when should we Freepers be concerned for the shadows of nobama’s wrath from above?

[EBH]

I think this relates to the odd curiosity about his education in the U.S. on a student visa from Yemen. He may have been born in the U.S., but if he was a U.S. citizen there would have been no need for him to obtain a visa to come back here as a young adult. From what I've read on this subject, I suspect his parents actually went through the trouble of establishing Yemeni citizenship for him as a child, which would have required them to strip him of his U.S. citizenship under Yemen law (again, this is partly speculation on my part but does explain that oddity of his student visa).

Which that whole idea is turned on its head when you consider the adoption of 0bama by his father in Indonesia. Indonesia doesn't recognize dual citizenship either. LOL. The adoption would have stripped him of his citizenship.