Yemen Defense Ministry: Anwar Al-Awlaki, Dead

[ForTehNguyen]

its funny how some people freaked out when we waterboarded people now when we kill a US citizen without charges filed, a trial, or due process its applauded. I, like anyone else, would like to see a terrorist take a dirt nap but NOT at the expense of our liberty and rights. Its funny, how back in the Bush years many of these politicians including Obama had a cow when Americans were to be eavesdropped without a search warrant. Now when in office, this Nobel Peace prize winner signs unilateral death warrants to kill US citizens and no one says anything.

When The President Can Kill Who Ever He Wants
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnem1...&feature=feedu

[Irish]

I see both sides of the coin. Happy that a bad guy's taking a dirt nap and conflicted in the fact that he should've been proven guilty and not just got smoked on allegations. Just because BHO said he's guilty doesn't prove shit to me. If we're simply going by allegations, assumptions and finger pointing we should just smoke all the Gitmo prisoners and should've done the same at Abu Ghraib.

We've got plenty of good people who've been proven innocent in prison with DNA after they've been locked up for 20 years. And all this coming from a government that holds no accountability for itself on matters like Fast & Furious and a plethora of others.

I also think we should've captured OBL and given him a trial. He was unarmed and could've easily been captured and whisked away. We would've gotten lots of valuable intelligence from him and proven his guilt beyond a doubt putting all claims to rest.

Definitely conflicted. We gave Saddam Hussein a trial, the Nazis, Tim McVeigh, etc. Happy to see bad guys dead but I think we should capture these "leaders" if at all possible. Obtain valuable intel, prove their guilt and then hang'em in a public square as an example.

During a videotaped message, Paul pointed out that Awlaki “was never tried or charged for any crimes. No one knows if he killed anybody.” The Texas Congressman added that “if the American people accept this blindly and casually that we now have an accepted practice of the president assassinating people who he thinks are bad guys. I think it’s sad.”

RP has also said that he considers the killing of AAA to be a "net positive" but would rather follow the rule of law.

Judge Napolitano has an interesting dialogue with Glenn Beck about the incident. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3xf56nWU0E

[variablebinary]

I wouldn't waste a SEAL team to get this traitor. Why should we risk another black hawk down for one shit head.

He took up arms against the United States. Sought shelter among enemies of the United States in a foreign land.

**** him. Enemy combatants get weapons of war. Don't want bombs on your head, turn yourself in at the nearest American embassy and get your miranda rights and a trail.

[armakraut]

I'm wouldn't waste a SEAL team to get this traitor. Why should we risk another black hawk down for one shit head.

He took up arms against the United States. Sought shelter among enemies of the United States in a foreign land.

**** him. Enemy combatants get weapons of war. Don't want bombs on your head, turn yourself in at the nearest American embassy and get your miranda rights and a trail.

Big +1 there.

[ForTehNguyen]

youre right, american rights come second to military/law enforcement convenience

[Belmont31R]

I'm wouldn't waste a SEAL team to get this traitor. Why should we risk another black hawk down for one shit head.

He took up arms against the United States. Sought shelter among enemies of the United States in a foreign land.

**** him. Enemy combatants get weapons of war. Don't want bombs on your head, turn yourself in at the nearest American embassy and get your miranda rights and a trail.

Then there needs to be a court that approves such actions. I think we can all agree the dude was an enemy, and the world is better off without him. But all we're saying is we need to look at the implications of allowing the gov to kill people without any due process who are American citizens abroad just because they are put on some list.

[Irish]

He took up arms against the United States. Sought shelter among enemies of the United States in a foreign land.

**** him. Enemy combatants get weapons of war. Don't want bombs on your head, turn yourself in at the nearest American embassy and get your miranda rights and a trail.

When did he take up arms? Is there proof of that or do you believe everything your government tells you?

Also, with what he's been accused of he was really smart to seek shelter outside of America. If not they would just throw him in a jail to rot for years and years and years without even so much as charging him for anything. Welcome to the Patriot Act and the "War on Terrorism". There are plenty of examples of people rotting away at Gitmo and even here on U.S. soil as "enemy combatants" with absolutely no prrof and where they don't get lawyers, trials or anything that our American justice system is supposed to provide them.

In essence I agree with you. Show me proof and not just headline grabbing accusations with no substance. With that in hand I'll pull the trigger myself.

[variablebinary]

Then there needs to be a court that approves such actions. I think we can all agree the dude was an enemy, and the world is better off without him. But all we're saying is we need to look at the implications of allowing the gov to kill people without any due process who are American citizens abroad just because they are put on some list.

Civlian courts should not be litigating war.

This is an issue of war not shoplifting. He is 100% a member of an organization at war with the United States, and guilty of the greatest act of terror in American history, by his own admission.

The instant you become an enemy combatant, you are subject to the full might and wrath of the American military until you surrender, get captured, or get injured and then captured...or you could end up dead.

[Sensei]

Civlian courts should not be litigating war.

This is an issue of war not shoplifting. He is 100% a member of an organization at war with the United States, and guilty of the greatest act of terror in American history, by his own admission.

The instant you become an enemy combatant, you are subject to the full might and wrath of the American military until you surrender, get captured, or get injured and then captured...or you could end up dead.

Exactly!

This issue is where my libertarian tendencies end. On one hand, killing Osama was a crime because we violated Pakistan's sovereignty. On the other hand, we should create some type of civilian court to adjudicate warcrimes committed on foreign soil by a citizen acting as an enemy combatent. Keep in mind these trails would be held in absentia without the defendant ever being served with an indictment. No problem, let me get out my handy pocket Constitution that deals with these matters...

Also, people should not call this unpresidented. Keep in mind that Presidents have used military force on American soil against citizens throughout our history - all without court oversight or objection. It started with Washington and the Wiskey Rebellion. Then, there was that little West Point class reunion called the Civil War.

Finally, for all those people like Ron Paul who claim that we assassinated an innocent American civilian, think very carefully before you make that claim. That means that you knowingly pay taxes to a government, and live under the protection of a country, that murders it's citizens. I for one would be a Canadian if I truly believed this was happening.

[variablebinary]

On the other hand, we should create some type of civilian court to adjudicate warcrimes committed on foreign soil by a citizen acting as an enemy combatent. Keep in mind these trails would be held in absentia without the defendant ever being served with an indictment

Absentia trials are a waste of time and money.

We have Marines for dealing with enemy combatants. Don't want to face them, don't be an enemy combatant.