Posted on 01/25/2010 9:48:43 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
According to ABC News, the US may have missed an opportunity to kill radical US-born cleric Anwar al Awlaki because those prosecuting the attack feared "the possibility of criminal prosecution without approval in advance from the White House."
White House lawyers are mulling the legality of proposed attempts to kill an American citizen, Anwar Awlaki, who is believed to be part of the leadership of the al Qaeda group in Yemen behind a series of terror strikes, according to two people briefed by U.S. intelligence officials.
One of the people briefed said opportunities to "take out" Awlaki "may have been missed" because of the legal questions surrounding a lethal attack which would specifically target an American citizen.
A spokesperson said the White House declined to comment.
While Awlaki has not been charged with any crimes under U.S. law, intelligence officials say recent intelligence reports and electronic intercepts show he played an important role in recruiting the accused "underwear bomber" Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Awlaki also carried on extensive e-mail communication with the accused Fort Hood shooter, Major Nidal Hasan, prior to the attack that killed 12 soldiers and one civilian.
According to the people who were briefed on the issue, American officials fear the possibility of criminal prosecution without approval in advance from the White House for a targeted strike against Awlaki.
(Excerpt) Read more at longwarjournal.org ...
fyi
Ping received!
Comment: For crying out loud. This administration is overly lawyered-up!!!
They are incompetent...
Holder would want to read him his rights!
What a joke of an administration.
This clown Awlaki renounced his U.S. Citizenship when he joined a terrorist entity and began killing American Citizens.Now what’s the big deal?
We have probable cause to believe he’s planning another terror attack and we’re going to do nothing.There is no legal reason we should not be able to take him out before he accomplishes his plans.
Without an explicit A-OK from the One, why would any serving officer order such a strike knowing full well the past year’s history of Obama’s double dealing jive talking about CIA officer?
Lessee -
An avowed enemy of America
Non resident in US
Actively involved in instigating plots and terror attacks against America
And we respect his damn passport? Oye Vey!
No wonder jihadi putzes laugh at us schmucks.
Must be some internal administration fighting if this story has been leaked......we used to hate it when anonymous leaks got published.....
But this situation is not new....remember when we failed to kill the oneeyed mullah back in Nov 01........
The Clinton years have returned. Walls, lawyers prevail.
This is so scary. If they were outside of our houses encouraging killers to kill us would the “lawyer authorities” say to the police, hold your fire?
“Hey, he was shot while tryin’ to escape.”
Thanks Ernest.
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