Al-Qaeda Joins Civil Liberties Groups in Questioning Legality of Killing U.S. Citizen Awlaki
- Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:29pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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According to a report in The Washington Post, al-Qaeda is, audaciously, questioning the legality of the killings of jihadists Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan — both of whom happened to be U.S. citizens. Al-Qaeda has criticized the Obama administration for killing U.S. citizens, asserting that doing so “contradicts” American law. Both men were killed in a U.S. drone strike last month.
“Where are what they keep talking about regarding freedom, justice, human rights and respect of freedoms?!” a statement made by the militant group says, according to a translation by SITE Intelligence Group.
But al-Qaeda is not alone in its thinking and the killing of Awlaki and Khan has even elicited scorn among U.S. civil liberties groups, as well as prompted debate in legal circles about the basis for the administration’s position on the two militants. The Post adds:
The Washington Post’s Peter Finn reported after the strike that Awlaki’s killing had been authorized in a secret Justice Department memo, a revelation that later prompted senior Democratic senators and scholars to call for its release. Over the weekend, The New York Times quoted people who have read the document as saying that the memo found it would be lawful to kill the cleric only if it were not possible to take him alive. The memo, the Times said, was narrowly drawn to the specifics of Awlaki’s case.
…
Among those who have raised legal objections to the strike: Samir Khan’s family in Charlotte, N.C.
In a statement, the family said that, Khan was a “law-abiding citizen of the United States” and “was never implicated of any crime.”
“Was this style of execution the only solution?” the family said. “Why couldn’t there have been a capture and trial?”
Khan’s relatives also described themselves as “appalled by the indifference shown to us by our government,” saying they had not been contacted by a U.S. official.
After the release of the statement, the Charlotte Observer reported, an official from the State Department called the family last week to offer the government’s condolences.
“They were very apologetic [for not calling the family sooner] and offered condolences,” Jibril Hough, a family spokesman, told the Observer.
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Comments (117)
TADTAD
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 5:22pmFor 9 millionth time, sigh.
Report Post »db321
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 7:12pmI warn you – this video is not sugar coated.
Wow! – Ann Barnhardt has more balls than most men I know – she is dead on correct – I warn you – if you can handle the truth go what CNN.
On Islam:
http://www.youtube.com/user/AnnBarnhardt?feature=mhum#p/u/3/aCfbYkXtHuA
The Koran:
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/user/AnnBarnhardt?feature=mhum#p/u/13/_LCLDjPNpf4
rose-ellen
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 12:52pmA regime that stalks and murders a citizen is a nazi regime. he was not killed in an ongoing battle hence it was an illigal cold blooded murder.We have not declared war on yemen but to declare the whole world a battlefield in this war on terror is tyranical and makes us a nazi regime. if he was a traitor he should have been tried. if he expressed anti-american beliefs, that is protected speech under american values and laws. If he plotted to commit crimes he should have been tried. Giving wannabe terrorists theological views regarding just war theories is no different then what christian americans do every day to justify killing people with bombs or even using torture. America has turned a new leaf with this stalkings and murders of civilians. the world is watching and our unamerican thin skinned hypocrisy is exposed. we’re a hypocritical people with a nazi regime in power.
Report Post »gipb
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 5:22pmI dont care what anyone says – islam IS NOT a peaceful religion… Execute the All AL-QAEDA & CIVIL LIBERTIES GROUPS that and WHO are opposed to Christianity and America – gimmie a fight, PLEASE….
Report Post »GUYFROMMAINE
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 6:46pm@GIPB— your wrong for not thinking Islam is a pieceful religion. They would love to see the infidels like you and me in all sorts of pieces!!!
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 5:03pmBecause it is nutjob crazy.
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 5:03pmoh whatever.. jeeze…
Report Post »PAWatcher
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 5:02pmWhat would have happened to GW if he had done this (assasinations), gone into Lybia without congressional approval/discussion, gave approval to the OW/arab spring/government overthrows of foreign nations, arm Egypt/muslim brotherhood, or bowed to muslim leaders? Whatever you think would have been done to GW, do to obama.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 5:22pmIt has been confirmed that SA-24 (manpads) were taken from the Libyan armories. They are the Russian version/copy of the Stinger. The chemical & nuclear material are secure.
Anyone want to fly? Thank you Obama
Report Post »TxMadMac
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:55pmLet’s see if they can put president obama on trial for war crimes !
Report Post »euragone
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:59pmNow that would be funny…!
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 5:35pmUnfortunately , they will seek revenge on everyone in our country. It seems like the US will be targeted much like Israel. Obama seems like he is setting us up for disaster under the guise of being our fearless leader, protecting us from terrorism , finishing the job that Bush failed to do. Yet it feels like there is an underlying plan to turn the terrorist against us even further to accomplish the progressive agenda. Its as though he is secretly working with other world leaders for the bigger plan that will undoubtably change the world as we know it. First he makes all these promises tto get elected, then he appologizes to other countries for the actions of the US. Suddenly he takes on terrorism and sends drones and special ops on missions to kill them? All the unrest worldwide and now its here. Was it insitgated and are we pawns in a movement that goes worldwide and always manages to stay one step ahead of us? While we uncover portions here and there it almost seems like the information has been planted to throw us off course and then it take us in so many directions . Are we missing the actual road to follow that would reveal our destiny they have planned? Tell me if I need to walk away from this and regroup my thoughts or do any of you think the same thing?
Report Post »chips1
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 6:07pmSame thing. Your not alone!!!!
Report Post »arty6164
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:53pmThis from the radical nut-jobs who perpetrated and revelled in the destruction they caused on 9/11?
Report Post »chips1
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 6:03pmHasn’t anyone told him that this is only the start? There are millions of them. AND don’t call him an American. Once a muslim, always a muslim. He was just a citizen. Nothing more.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:51pmAre we suppose to send a seal team or a division of Marines to apprehend him just so he can stand trial? To the oh so righteous liberals,how many casualties are acceptable in bringing someone like AL Awlaki back alive for trial? Please answer that bitches.
We executed an American citizen working for the NAZIs during WWII. Do note however that he was relatively easy to catch. We did not have to go into another country to EXTRADITE him. That us a big difference right there. Second rounding up a band of several saboteurs is easier than going into the Hadramaut.
He renounced his citizenship. I understand that you are suppose to waltz you ass into an American Embassy & sign your name to some papers, but that is kind of hard to do if you are a terrorist. So he renounced his citizenship on line. So what that is good enough for Joe Average living in America.
I know that is not good enough for the ACLU, but Eff them!
ACLU & Al Qaeda are not such strange bedfellows.
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on October 11, 2011 at 2:11pmStrip ALL these Americans in Name Only (AINOs) of their citizenship, and judge them in absentia. That’s what Obama should have done, but he’s a hypocrite, a coward and an un-American plant himself.
Report Post »NDPINDNT
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:50pmGee, we are sorry guys. Tells us where you are at and we will come visit you work this out, one way or another.
Report Post »donflow
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:47pmDid I read that right? al-Qaeda is questioning the legality of killing a US citizen…
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 5:04pmThey didn’t seem to have that problem on 9/11.
Report Post »LIBERTYFADING
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 10:09pmWell said!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:46pm“Isn’t that special”… a perfect match!
Report Post »OICUR12
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:46pmThey took up arms to fight our country. Isn’t that renouncing your citizneship?
Report Post »MBA
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:46pmAclu = treason in action. The guy is dead–what are you going to do about it? One less enemy for the USA to worry about. No so with the aclu..
Report Post »MaxineH20Sux
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:45pmWhat a freaking joke….
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:43pmAl-Qaeda doesn’t care. They are only mocking us.
Report Post »docmo
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:43pmWaterboarding doesn’t seem to bad to the coward libs. Torture then death.
Report Post »Chr1st14n
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:43pm….lol? im glad to know what you think.
next.
Report Post »hereandnow
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:41pmAnyone heard of Ruby Ridge, Waco, or Elian Gonzales??? … Strange, weren’t those under another democrat administration?
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:46pmIndeed, interesting how the Democratic party gets away with such sanctioned murders and actions, yet the Republicans are called “terrorists, rouge troops, war criminals” and the like.
Report Post »hologram5
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:41pmHe preached violence against the USA making him a traitor and the penalty for treason is DEATH. There is no if and or but, it is plain and simple. When you preach death and destruction of the USA and you are a citizen, you give up all rights.
Report Post »Nanner-SW
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 5:02pmSection. 3.Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
Report Post »Yes, they still have rights and yes, the proper procedure would be to easily find them guilty and then kill them. In both scenarios they would have ended up dead but one gives power to the President and the other to a court. Question: Do the ends justify the means?
Patriot Z
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 5:34pmnannrswer is YES. this is war the simple fact is that they declared war on us, and have been fighting a war with us ever since. its time weforget the useless geneva convention which is written to hinder us and help our enemies. as far as im concerned we need to kill kill kill..bomb the area kill every man, woman and child of islam that dares goes against us. its nice to pretend that wars can benice and fair and polite. but in the end wars are fought because nice dose not work anymore.
Report Post »KidCharlemagne
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:45pmhologram5
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:41pm
He preached violence against the USA making him a traitor and the penalty for treason is DEATH.
======================================
Not necessarily:
“The Congress shall have power to declare the Punishment of Treason”
Report Post »http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_A3Sec3.html
ITSTYRANNY
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:41pmWe should take this seriously because we all know that al-qaeda is comprised of upstanding citizens. They always check on the legality of things before launching their savagery. Such role models….lol
Report Post »Col. HawK
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:40pmSimple…. End this discussion …. ‘Against all enemies foreign and domestic’…… Cheers.
Report Post »majorsco
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:39pmI always thought that the ACLU and Al Qaeda were birds of a feather.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:38pmWell, isn’t that special
Report Post »RIGHTHOOK
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:36pmAl-Qaeda is the enemy. They murder Americans and others not subscribing to their absurd and barbaric ways. Awlaki is a part of Al-Qaeda thus the enemy. We erase the enemy when an opportunity presents itself.
Report Post »Rubicon
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:38pmAmen to that.
Report Post »jaybo1970
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:45pmWell said!!
Report Post »Obama Snake Oil Co
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:47pmUhh, I think they shoot traiters….that is US law….someone needs to tell them that. I think we need to have a meeting between our military and Al Queda and lets discuss it….just tell us where you are and we will be there, don’t forget the beer…
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 5:16pmNOOOOO, the EEEVIL alcohol!!! I keeel you!!
Report Post »chuck_wagon
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:34pmMaybe they should all come forward to present their case.
Report Post »