New Mexico-born Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki has officially become the first American citizen confirmed to be on the CIA’s assassination list, and officials for the Obama Administration insist he can be killed with impunity by the CIA or the military.
The move comes just two months after National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair informed the House of Representatives that the Obama Administration had reserved for itself the right to kill American citizens overseas as part of a “defined policy.”
“He’s in everybody’s sights,” noted one US official, while another alleged that he was an “operational figure for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).” One of the officials also added that “US citizenship hardly gives you blanket protection overseas.”
Despite the unending list of allegations against Awlaki, he has not been charged with any crime at all by the US government, let alone convicted of a capital crime. The cleric has been openly critical of US foreign policy, and speculation of his “link” to Christmas underbomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab has fueled the calls to “take him out.”
But the US was already cooperating in attempted assassinations against Awlaki by the Yemeni government before Christmas, notably playing a role in a Christmas Eve air strike that officials initially said killed Awlaki and dozens of al-Qaeda members. Last month, however, the government was forced to apologize for its claims and admitted that the vast majority of the people killed were women and children.
Putting Awlaki on the official assassination list, as he remains a US citizen, required the direct approval of President Obama. It is unclear exactly when this authorization occurred, and notably if it was before the December assassination attempt.
Without including what the US government wants to do with this person, I think it is important to mention how people (Muslims) have been deceived by this man, considering him a 'learned person'. I cannot go into detail because many will probably not understand what I mean although what can be said is that this person and his ilk have understood certain aspects of Islam and taken them to the extreme.
We are antiwar.com … That doesn't mean we side with the terrorists who war monger just as our politicians do. They are equally evil. I would like to see justice brought to this man just as I want justice brought to our politicians.
What is bad is that this sets precedence to suspend habeous corpus, and sentence someone to death without trial.
"That doesn't mean we side with the terrorists who war monger just as our politicians do."
You are forgetting that the 'terrorists' and politicians are one and the same. The agressive wars against whole populations began in Washington DC. The adversaries are not equally evil.
Putting a hit on Alawki who from all reports has spoken out against the US but has not attacked or killed anyone leaves no doubt we have Mafiosa governent in the US.
yeah, you could say the same thing about our "elected" officials in america. regardless of what he has or hasn't done, he is entitled to a trial and due process of law. our entire republic was founded on this premise and for this to be abridged by the gov't proves (among many other things) that the gov't is entirely illegitimate and criminal. without a doubt obama has murdered more people with predator drones than this man ever could hope to. and the precedent has been set for ever: the gov't calls you a terrorist and they have the right to summarily execute you. every tyrant in history has claimed the same right…
Dayum.. good thing he didn't let that silly ol' Peace Prize get to his head!
War is peace. Eurasia has always been at war with Oceania.
If this "cleric" has joined the enemy it is perfectly reasonable to kill him. The only thing to fault the Administration for is their failure to actually get him.
The first citizen on the list – and after this will it be like berry picking, one here and another over there until the basket is full? Until they come for you.
Keep this in mind, thier is only one person who can give the ok, for the cia to take out a us citizen, he is number one, the President of the USA, one termer. and I can't belive he killing a muslin.? or want to. enjoy your freedom where you can if you don't stand up for it, you will get on the list. dan horn
anyone who thinks this is OK should be banished from the USA forever…it is unconstitutional to execute any american citizen without due process. if you don't think you're next, you're dead wrong.
So much for our constitutional law professor president.
How do we know what the truth is without an open process? Are we just supposed to believe what government employees say?