Even though they were vicious Muslim terrorists who had just killed an American citizen and were on their way to freedom in Egypt?
If USA does not have to respect the law, no one else will have to give us a break.
Similar argument on “torture”. We should not do it or they will do it to our troops. They probably will do it anyway, always have, always will.
It is best and moral to take the lawful, higher road, not get down in the gutter with the scum.
Vigilanteism is not a sound USA foreign policy.