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Drone Kills Top Al Qaeda Figure
wiredmikey writes with this excerpt from a Wall Street Journal report:
"The U.S. ushered in a new CIA-led counterterrorism program in Yemen on Friday, sending unmanned aircraft to kill an American-born cleric who occupied a top place on the U.S.'s anti-terrorist list. The death of Anwar al-Awlaki eliminates a leading figure in Yemen's branch of al Qaeda and one of its most charismatic recruiters. A Web-savvy Islamic preacher with sparkling English, Mr. Awlaki was known for his ability to couch extremist views in ways that appealed to Western youth. He had been linked to suspects in the 2009 Fort Hood, Texas, shooting spree and the botched bombing of a Detroit-bound jet that Christmas."
First, "Drones" don't kill anyone. Saying so is like saying that "Close Quarters Battle Rifle Kills Osama bin Laden." Special forces personnel, supported by the people who operate the drones and the Air Force pilot(s) who flew the fighter that was also involved, all under the command of the leadership running that show, and all under the direction of the C-in-C are what what killed "Mr." Awlaki. And all of that happened because he made it his full-time job to not only inspire and recruit for terror attacks, but to become directly involved in planning and operations.
Second: all of the handwringing over due process (really, Ron Paul?) is absurd. This clown explicitly removed himself fromthe protections of due process through his actions, his ongoing condemnation of the very system that provides that due process, and his physical removal to and operation within a region he and his movement selected specifically because it is unpoliced/unpoliceable and where any attempt to actually apprehend him would involve combat operations. That putting military people into harm's way would be required to lay hands on him - as he continued in his outspoken and unhidden efforts to kill westerners, including his avowed embrace of WMD to that end - is exactly the reason that this wasn't a "law enforcement" scenario. It's a fight, and the fight was taken to him and some of his buddies in a direct and effective way.
Killing him was self defense, and a reasonable approach to dealing with his ongoing attacks and prep for more of them. Ron Paul's assertion that Bin Laden's killing was "different" (enough so to make that assault OK, but this one not) is just embarassing. Please stop, Ron. This didn't happen in Cleveland, where the FBI could have cordoned off ten city blocks while agents moved in on him at their leisure, with an eye towards placing cuffs on him.
Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
When your religion (Islam) calls for you to kill another human being just because they don't agree with Islam, you deserve to be killed. The ones of us who are civilized don't need you.
That is not an exception to the ability to execute, that is an exception to presentation before a Grand Jury. This is 100% unconstitutional. And these fucks are PROUD of it.