Archive for September, 2011

Following the President’s directed killing of American Anwar Awlaki, the hypocritical positions of the Obama administration on issues of constitutional important are clearly on the table.   Hopefully, we will start to see an honest discussion about the relative legitimacy of targeted killings, treatment at Guantanamo. military commissions, etc.  His views on the death penalty should also be brougt into this mix of legitimate discussion and debate . . . . but don’t hold your breath!

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-09-30/awlaki-legal/50620240/1

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/30/cair-decries-killing-american-militant-without-due-process/

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/05/28/human-rights-expert-calls-new-rules-use-lethal-drones-cites-cia-accountability/

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/investigative/entries/2011/09/30/slain_alawlaki_a_central_figur.html

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44727191/ns/today-today_news/t/radical-american-cleric-anwar-al-awlaki-killed-officials-say/

The ACLU should soon weigh in:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-09-30/awlaki-legal/50620240/1

The attached article from CAIR raises imporpant constitutional issues associated with the drone attack on An-Awlaki and others in his entourage.  Sadly, the national media has not yet focused on these important underlying legal issues.

However, tt should be no surprise – the US Army has been noticeably silent on the important due process issues related to this CINC-approved killing.  No wonder they did not favorably respond to early defense requested disclosure for information related to Anwar Al-Awlaki.

However viewed, the President’s approved killing  of Anwar Al-Awlaki will prove to be an important issue in Major Hasan’s upcoming trial.  I suspect the Fort Hood PAO is running around in circles by now – but expect them to provide anything other than a prosecution-approved announcement….. the story and coverrup continues….. Get ready for some serious pretrial litigation!!!!!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/30/cair-decries-killing-american-militant-without-due-process/

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/30/cair-decries-killing-american-militant-without-due-process/

Media outlets continue to tie American Al-Awlaki to Fort Hood Hood Defendant Nidal Hasan.  The impact of this coverage on the ability for Major Hasan to receive a fair trial presents a serious issue.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11658920

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15124450

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/30/washington-praises-killing-al-awlaki/

About Fort Hood shooting suspect Maj Nidal Malik Hasan, Al-Awlaki said:

Mr Hasan, accused of shooting dead 13 people at the military base, had seen
Awlaki preach in Virginia in 2001 and received religious advice from him by
email.

Awlaki told al-Jazeera after the November 2009 attack: “Nidal Hasan is a
hero. He is a man of conscience who could not bear living the contradiction of
being a Muslim and serving in an army that is fighting against his own
people.

“My support to the operation was because the operation brother Nidal carried
out was a courageous one.”

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/us-born-al-awlaki-was-a-gifted-preacher-internet-maestro-and-cias-first-american-target/2011/09/30/gIQAEple9K_story.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15121879

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15124351

The first American to be placed on a CIA kill or capture list . . . . previously, he was a luncheon guest at the Pentagon.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1191500416001/al-qaeda-boss-killed-in-yemen#/v/1191500416001/al-qaeda-boss-killed-in-yemen/?playlist_id=87485