Politics

Obama Admin. Refuses to Release Information on ‘Targeted Killing’ List: ‘Highly Classified’

Obama Administration Rejects Requests for Information on Targeted Killing Program

President Barack Obama. (AP)

(The Blaze/AP)  – The Obama administration has rejected requests from The New York Times and the American Civil Liberties Union seeking information about its “targeted killing” program against suspected terrorists, saying the release of the requested documents would harm national security.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, the Times and the ACLU sought records regarding the legal justifications for the alleged U.S. government killing of U.S. citizens and others associated with al-Qaida and other terrorist groups.

In a court document filed late Wednesday in New York in response to an ACLU lawsuit, the Justice Department said that “even to describe the numbers and details of most of these documents would reveal information that could damage the government’s counterterrorism efforts.”

The administration said the information requested is “highly classified,” even though details of such operations have been leaked to the media.

“For example, whether or not the United States government conducted the particular operations that led to the deaths of Anwar al-Awlaki and the other individuals named in the FOIA requests remains classified,” the government wrote. The U.S.-born al-Awlaki, an al-Qaida leader, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Yemen in September.

The Washington Post previously reported that a secret U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) memo ultimately authorized the killing of Awlaki. The document has since raised concerns on the legality of sanctioning the killing of U.S. citizens abroad. However, officials said there was no dissent among “senior lawyers” who reviewed the decision.

“What constitutes due process in this case is a due process in war,” one of the officials told WaPo, who was not identified.

Obama Administration Rejects Requests for Information on Targeted Killing Program

U.S. born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. (File photo)

“Likewise, whether or not the CIA has the authority to be, or is in fact, directly involved in targeted lethal operations remains classified,” the government wrote.

In response to the government filing, ACLU Deputy Legal Director Jameel Jaffer said Thursday: “The notion that the CIA’s targeted killing program is still a secret is beyond absurd. Senior officials have discussed it, both on the record and off.”

Lately, Obama has been seeing more opposition from leftist groups who are unhappy with some of the president’s policies.

The Justice Department, however, said, “None of those statements or reports constitutes an official disclosure that could vitiate agencies’ ability to safeguard the classified and other statutorily protected information at issue here.”

The administration acknowledged public concern about U.S. use of targeted killings, and said it has tried to “set forth for the American people the legal analysis and process involved in the determination whether to use lethal force.” Those efforts have included speeches by a number of U.S. officials, including Attorney General Eric Holder.

But it maintained that the requested records would reveal “whether or not the U.S. government possesses specific intelligence information about particular individuals. Yet, Congress has made the judgment in the CIA Act and the National Security Act that information concerning such intelligence sources and methods should be exempt from public disclosure.”

The ACLU’s Jaffer said, “The public is entitled to know more about the legal authority the administration is claiming and the way that the administration is using it.”

“We continue to have profound concerns with the power the administration is claiming and with the proposition that the president should be permitted to exercise this power without oversight by the courts,” Jaffer said.

Yesterday, Obama decided to assert executive privilege over “Fast and Furious” documents and then shortly after shot down FOIA requests from the New York Times and ACLU over the targeted killing program, actions seemingly at odds with a memorandum published in the Federal Register in which Obama says his administration is “committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government.”

Obama continues, “My Administration will take appropriate action, consistent with law and policy, to disclose information rapidly in forms that the public can readily find and use. Executive departments and agencies should harness new technologies to put information about their operations and decisions online and readily available to the public. Executive departments and agencies should also solicit public feedback to identify information of greatest use to the public.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Comments (53)

  • Dave In Arizona
    Posted on June 23, 2012 at 1:28pm

    I wonder how many Republicans are on the list?

    Report Post » Dave In Arizona  
  • Southernguy
    Posted on June 22, 2012 at 8:16am

    It’s “highly classified” because half of the country is probably on it.

    Report Post » Southernguy  
  • berlet98
    Posted on June 22, 2012 at 2:22am

    The Many Lies in Obama’s “Dreams”

    Most people don’t care how many angels can dance on the head of a pin since the question is pinheaded and the answer almost as incalculable as the number of lies in Barack Hussein Obama’s Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance.

    Obama’s “memoir,” first published in 1995 when the future president was all of 34 years of age and while he was still slaving away as a Chicago civil rights attorney, soared into the best-seller list after he addressed the 2004 Democrat Convention and rocketed following his election to the United States Senate in 2006 and began to make noises about running for the presidency.

    Revised and re-issued in 2004 after those noises became thunderous and Obama came to believe his wild ambitions thanks to aid, encouragement, and financial support from mysterious, unidentified “friends,” Dreams became a publishing phenomenon and helped make Obama a millionaire “one-percenter.”

    Barack Obama’s childhood dream of leading the Free World his Marxist father so detested was on the near horizon; America’s Left and America’s book-sellers welcomed him with open arms, open wallets, and open adulation.

    Gushing acclaim followed. , . .

    Report Post »  
  • berlet98
    Posted on June 22, 2012 at 2:21am

    The Many Lies in Obama’s “Dreams”

    Most people don’t care how many angels can dance on the head of a pin since the question is pinheaded and the answer almost as incalculable as the number of lies in Barack Hussein Obama’s Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance.

    Obama’s “memoir,” first published in 1995 when the future president was all of 34 years of age and while he was still slaving away as a Chicago civil rights attorney, soared into the best-seller list after he addressed the 2004 Democrat Convention and rocketed following his election to the United States Senate in 2006 and began to make noises about running for the presidency.

    Revised and re-issued in 2004 after those noises became thunderous and Obama came to believe his wild ambitions thanks to aid, encouragement, and financial support from mysterious, unidentified “friends,” Dreams became a publishing phenomenon and helped make Obama a millionaire “one-percenter.”

    Barack Obama’s childhood dream of leading the Free World his Marxist father so detested was on the near horizon; America’s Left and America’s book-sellers welcomed him with open arms, open wallets, and open adulation.

    Gushing acclaim followed. The book was variously praised as “extraordinary,” “daring,” “evocative,” “honest,” “lyrical,” and “candid” and was dutifully awarded a place on Time magazine’s list of the top 100 English non-fiction books writte

    Report Post »  
  • iac
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 10:39pm

    Barry Oblamer- The inverse President.
    He keeps secret, information that should be made public; but releases information that should be kept secret !

    Report Post »  
  • ALL4FREEDOM
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 9:03pm

    Now, this is rich! Setting the ACLU against Eric Holder’s (In)Justice Department!!

    Report Post »  
  • needmoinfo
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 8:05pm

    Highly classified wink wink

    Report Post »  
  • Bernice Durdan-Rowland
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 7:59pm

    Makes one wonder if Andrew Breitbart’s name was on that list – his sudden death still remains a mystery – - – - it won’t be forgotten – - – - – the truth always comes out – - – - – make take awhile

    Report Post »  
    • rickc34
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 9:27pm

      God knows the truth. No one escapes his justice.

      Report Post »  
  • VotersOfNY
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 6:40pm

    Anyone remember this?

    From Obama’s weekly address to the Nation recorded on August 21, 2010.

    “The only people who don’t want to disclose the truth are people with something to hide.”

    - Barack Hussein Obama

    Copy this and post all over the blogs.

    Report Post » VotersOfNY  
  • Elena2010
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 6:19pm

    If we are as the Administration says not at war, then a list of people to kill is murder.

    If we are at war, then other rules apply.

    Report Post » Elena2010  
  • countryfirst
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 5:37pm

    There is only one word on Obama’s kill list and that is AMERICA

    Report Post » countryfirst  
  • Jmck4
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 4:04pm

    Add your comments

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 4:48pm

      If anyone is really concerned… just send your name & address to Obama… and Valerie will add it to her list!

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • TROLLMONGER
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:33pm

    Romneys kill list in no particular order:

    1.) People that dont believe in his god and believe in evolution (educated people)
    2.) Gay people.
    3.) Libertarians.
    4.) Women who arent stepford wives.

    TROLLMONGER  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:33pm

    First black POTUS, first gay POTUS and the first Nobel Peace Prize recipient with a “targeted killing program”. What a guy.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • chips1
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:39pm

      Anyone that is a threat to Obama is on the list.Yesterday, Holder’s name was added?

      Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:44pm

      First bi-racial president to create a new format for literature : a fictional , non-fiction autobiography.

      Report Post »  
    • kat747
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:48pm

      Why doesn’t he just make a list of the people he does NOT want to kill ?
      At least save a couple dozen trees !
      And who does he think he is ? He is president, not some mob boss !

      Report Post »  
  • soybomb315
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:29pm

    Whats the big deal? It was republians who pushed things like the Patriot Act and the power of the executive – in order “to keep us safe”. Now the same power will be used against you,.

    Did you really think the government would have your best intentions in mind and respect your individual rights?

    Report Post » soybomb315  
  • NutterButter79
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:26pm

    Our government is as corrupt as those in the Middle East. It’s sick! Release the list so we can see just who is a target. Why do they hide so much? What happened to a transparent government?

    This is an interesting read as well.
    http://revolutioninmedia.com/2012/06/21/government-censorship-has-arrived-more/

    Not only corruption, but censorship from this government. What a disgrace!

    Report Post » NutterButter79  
  • makeemstop
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:19pm

    What are the odds Obama will enact Two Executive Privilege Orders in 1 week?

    And what happen to transparency???

    Report Post » makeemstop  
    • JRook
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:28pm

      Pretty sad that a pseudo media outlet works so hard to offset the successful targeting and killing of Bin Laden. And the majority of posts on this report are a very clear indication that the Blaze is really group therapy for paranoid schizo’s and pathological conspiracy hounds. But I guess sad begets sad.

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:36pm

      Obama = arrogant POS .. just look at that picture .. his nose is always in the air … he needs to be knocked down a peg or two .. too bad he didn’t have an American upbringing.

      Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:39pm

      JR: sound rather touchy. Been a few bad days for your group. Started with The Obama fictional autobiography and been sort of down hill ever since.

      Report Post »  
  • barber2
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:02pm

    Hey, did some Deep Throat just leave the Obama administration’s team ? Why is the New York Times needing to go to these lengths to get info from the Obama people ? The NYT is one of the leakiest media mouthpieces on the planet for Obama and the international Left ! Heck. Why didn’t they just call their old writer, David E. Sanger who just released Confront and Conceal ( that last word is a knee slapper with the Obama Administration ! ) ? What’s going on ? Is the NYT trying to now distance itself from their Obama ” Leaker ?” Seems very odd…

    Report Post »  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:14pm

      I believe deepthroat is none other than Tamara Holder and she just got spanked by Malkin on national television.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • kat747
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:52pm

      I actually felt sorry for Tamara. One has to be careful when and TO WHOM you are slinging that stuff. If she had a brain cell in her head, she would not have flung it to Michele. Wrong person.

      Report Post »  
  • doomytram
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 2:50pm

    So the Obama regime will release all kinds of classified info to anyone anytime to help Hollywood hurry up and film him movie, but now that the administration has been caught singing like a Canary they are producing a story to clarify. The above….make sense right, right?

    Report Post » doomytram  
  • AvengerK
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 2:49pm

    LOL…Obama leaks the existence of kill list meetings (which included for some unfathomable reason, Obama’s campaign adivisor David Axelrod)…and now he won’t release any details about them.
    To quote from Star Wars..”charming…to the last”.

    Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:48pm

      To quote Obama… Chooming…to the last”.

      Report Post »  
  • cessna152
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 2:45pm

    Obama’s targeted killing list:
    1) Blaze readers
    2) Christians
    3) Michelle Obama’s stylist.

    Report Post » cessna152  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 2:40pm

    So the Don won’t release the hit list eh? The fact that he has a kill list is unconstitutional but the constitution has been so marginalized it doesn’t really matter anymore.I don‘t know what Barry’s problem is with releasing highly classified information,hell he has known members of the MB working in our government.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:40pm

      If there is one thing governments are good at – it is killing people. This is just a natural xtension of that

      Report Post » soybomb315  
    • barber2
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 4:35pm

      SOY: yes let’s just get rid of governments and go live in caves…..

      Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 7:22pm

      You are taking the extreme position. Thats the same argument the left uses – you must be a progressive troll. There is a happy medium – its called a constitutional republic

      Report Post » soybomb315  

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