The Due-Process-Free Assassination Of U.S. Citizens Is Now Reality
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- Vic_Romano
- added this
Salon
It was first reported in January of last year that the Obama administration had compiled a hit list of American citizens whom the President had ordered assassinated without any due process, and one of those Americans was Anwar al-Awlaki. No effort was made to indict him for any crimes (despite a report last October that the Obama administration was "considering" indicting him). Despite substantial doubt among Yemen experts about whether he even has any operational role in Al Qaeda, no evidence (as opposed to unverified government accusations) was presented of his guilt. When Awlaki's father sought a court order barring Obama from killing his son, the DOJ argued, among other things, that such decisions were "state secrets" and thus beyond the scrutiny of the courts. He was simply ordered killed by the President: his judge, jury and executioner. When Awlaki's inclusion on President Obama's hit list was confirmed, The New York Times noted that "it is extremely rare, if not unprecedented, for an American to be approved for targeted killing."
After several unsuccessful efforts to assassinate its own citizen, the U.S. succeeded today (and it was the U.S.). It almost certainly was able to find and kill Awlaki with the help of its long-time close friend President Saleh, who took a little time off from murdering his own citizens to help the U.S. murder its. The U.S. thus transformed someone who was, at best, a marginal figure into a martyr, and again showed its true face to the world. The government and media search for The Next bin Laden has undoubtedly already commenced.
What's most striking about this is not that the U.S. Government has seized and exercised exactly the power the Fifth Amendment was designed to bar ("No person shall be deprived of life without due process of law"), and did so in a way that almost certainly violates core First Amendment protections (questions that will now never be decided in a court of law). What's most amazing is that its citizens will not merely refrain from objecting, but will stand and cheer the U.S. Government's new power to assassinate their fellow citizens, far from any battlefield, literally without a shred of due process from the U.S. Government. Many will celebrate the strong, decisive, Tough President's ability to eradicate the life of Anwar al-Awlaki -- including many who just so righteously condemned those Republican audience members as so terribly barbaric and crass for cheering Governor Perry's execution of scores of serial murderers and rapists -- criminals who were at least given a trial and appeals and the other trappings of due process before being killed.
From an authoritarian perspective, that's the genius of America's political culture. It not only finds way to obliterate the most basic individual liberties designed to safeguard citizens from consummate abuses of power (such as extinguishing the lives of citizens without due process). It actually gets its citizens to stand up and clap and even celebrate the destruction of those safeguards.
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/
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- groups:
- Community, Opinion, Orwellian Nightmare, Community Spotlight, 1 more
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- tags:
- Al Qaeda, Assassination, Due Process
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maasanova
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http://current.com/news-and-politics/93478800_anwar-al-awlaki-reported-killed-in...
Everything you are being told about "Al Qaeda" is a lie.
It was reported that we killed Al Wacky back in December of 2009.
- 8 months ago
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maasanova
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Vic_Romano
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At least someone is asking the right questions....
- 8 months ago
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Vic_Romano
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Saladin
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Vic_Romano:
Unbelievable, they don't even have an answer.
- 8 months ago
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Saladin
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Vic_Romano
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Saladin:
Apparently, they have an answer. They're just not disclosing it.
An article I read this morning....
Outside the U.S. government, President Obama's order to kill American citizen Anwar al-Awlaki without due process has proved controversial, with experts in law and war reaching different conclusions. Inside the Obama Administration, however, disagreement was apparently absent, or so say anonymous sources quoted by the Washington Post. "The Justice Department wrote a secret memorandum authorizing the lethal targeting of Anwar al-Aulaqi, the American-born radical cleric who was killed by a U.S. drone strike Friday, according to administration officials," the newspaper reported. "The document was produced following a review of the legal issues raised by striking a U.S. citizen and involved senior lawyers from across the administration. There was no dissent about the legality of killing Aulaqi, the officials said."
Isn't that interesting? Months ago, the Obama Administration revealed that it would target al-Awlaki. It even managed to wriggle out of a lawsuit filed by his father to prevent the assassination. But the actual legal reasoning the Department of Justice used to authorize the strike? It's secret. Classified. Information that the public isn't permitted to read, mull over, or challenge.
Why? What justification can there be for President Obama and his lawyers to keep secret what they're asserting is a matter of sound law? This isn't a military secret. It isn't an instance of protecting CIA field assets, or shielding a domestic vulnerability to terrorism from public view. This is an analysis of the power that the Constitution and Congress' post September 11 authorization of military force gives the executive branch. This is a president exploiting official secrecy so that he can claim legal justification for his actions without having to expose his specific reasoning to scrutiny. As the Post put it, "The administration officials refused to disclose the exact legal analysis used to authorize targeting Aulaqi, or how they considered any Fifth Amendment right to due process."
Obama hasn't just set a new precedent about killing Americans without due process. He has done so in a way that deliberately shields from public view the precise nature of the important precedent he has set. It's time for the president who promised to create "a White House that's more transparent and accountable than anything we've seen before" to release the DOJ memo. As David Shipler writes, "The legal questions are far from clearcut, and the country needs to have this difficult discussion." And then there's the fact that "a good many Obama supporters thought that secret legal opinions by the Justice Department -- rationalizing torture and domestic military arrests, for example -- had gone out the door along with the Bush administration," he adds. "But now comes a momentous change in policy with serious implications for the Constitution's restraint on executive power, and Obama refuses to allow his lawyers' arguments to be laid out on the table for the American public to examine." What doesn't he want to get out?
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/10/the-secret-memo-that-explain...
- 8 months ago
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Vic_Romano
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jdooes
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If Obama had walked up to this guy himself. Then shot him in the head. It would be OK with me.
- 8 months ago
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jdooes
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Saladin
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jdooes:
Good for you Joe six pack, no one cares what you think. The law requires you to have *proof* and a legal hearing before you just up and murder someone and refuse to talk about it.
- 8 months ago
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Saladin
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SAINTJULE
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This may have been one of the greatest strategic blunders of the twenty first century. We seem to have descended into real low life tribalism. This guy wasn't shy about his plans, matter of fact, he seems to have been globally vocal and we didn't even have to torture him. Rachelle Maddow made the point as to why we didn't just fly a drone over the poor guys house in Massachusetts and blow it up. Seems we have already deployed the little suckers over the Mexican Border. We have become Communist China on steroids.
- 8 months ago
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SAINTJULE
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warman1138
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The dead tell no tales and is the quickest way to silence truth.
- 8 months ago
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warman1138
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artemis6
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warman1138:
I suspect he had some pretty damning , hard evidence , or he would have lasted longer . That is certainly why they killed him and would not let him see a court of law . He had something .
- 8 months ago
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artemis6
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RaceBannon
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To those posters who are trying to make this a task of reason, try asking these questions:
what is an enemy and who determines whom the enemy is?
what is justice and who has the right to determine what is justice?
- 8 months ago
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RaceBannon
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unimatrix0
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I am amazed at the reaction over this. Obama announced that there was a hit on this guy last year by signing the executive order. We have been killing al-Qaeda operatives with drone attacks since the Bush administration. This should not come as a surprise to anyone paying attention.
As far as drone strikes this one was fairly clean - no collateral damage (dead innocent civilians). Why aren't you guys complaining about all the innocent Afghanis and Pakistanis we have been killing with drones for almost a decade?
Those claiming Anwar should have had a trial fail to note that this is not a civil, criminal matter, but an act of war. Anwar was publicly identified as an enemy combatant well over a year ago.
- 8 months ago
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unimatrix0
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Saladin
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unimatrix0:
First off, we do complain about civilian casualties in drone strikes. Or at least I do.
Second, you're purposefully ignoring that he was an American citizen and the legal monstrosities that allowed this to take place.
Third, everyone is paying attention to the larger ramifications here, not the specifics of this kill, which is largely irrelevant (even though the guy is a proven intelligence asset and we suddenly turned our back on him).
Lastly, you are completely wrong about this not being a criminal matter. Terrorism historically has *always* been a police/intelligence matter, handled primarily by the FBI and the CIA! It's only been in recent years, with the advent of Bush foreign policy, that it's suddenly become a "military" matter (which largely doesn't make sense because they rely almost entirely on groups like the CIA or the NSA to get their information to make these strikes). And besides that, it's the military involvement with legal proceedings that we're questioning here.
If American citizens can be wiretapped for no reason, detained for no reason, tortured for no reason and now KILLED for no reason, what fucking rights do we have left?
But he was an enemy of the state, so that's not important right? It's not as if the DoD is some untrustworthy entity filled all kinds of private money and right-wing paranoia. And it's not as if a President could be elected who would never stand up to them and just ok whatever they asked for.
Oh wait. That actually sounds pretty familiar.
- 8 months ago
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Saladin
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SAINTJULE
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unimatrix0:
How about all the dead Iraqi citizens and the innocent dead Afghans we have been responsible for. If we descend into feudal tribalism we are doomed as a country and we may have reached that tipping point already. Read "Mein Kampf" Adolf Hitler, thern try Ayn Rand the anarchist. We have stupidly declared war on a strategy, terrorism, and we can't win only make it larger and more intelligent, strategic. Like declaring war on a fence post, tear it down another springs up..
- 8 months ago
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SAINTJULE
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SAINTJULE
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Saladin:
And where does the CIA and the FBI typically get there info? Yup from the least reliable sources available other bad guys. This poor jerk had probably come to the end of his usefulness to either side, us or them
- 8 months ago
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SAINTJULE
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Agent_Alpha
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Didn't you know, every president gets 3 free kills:
President Lisa: Oh, Bart could screw everything up.
Secret Service Agent Kearney: You want him…Lisa: No, just keep him out of my hair.
Kearney: Out of your hair…with extreme severity?
Lisa: No!
Kearney: Come on, every president gets three secret murders. If you don't use them by the end of the term, then pfft, they're gone. - 8 months ago
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Agent_Alpha
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JanforGore
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After the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993, the FBI (principally John O'Neill) began to investigate Sheik Abdul Rahman and his followers and eventually tied them to it and a plot to blow up other landmarks in the NY/NJ area. In 1995 he was convicted of seditious conspiracy and in 1996 was sentenced to life in prison. The law was followed, the guilty were captured and he is serving time for his crimes and he wasn't even an American citizen. It should have been no different in this case. Showing you are no different than those you hunt only makes you the same as the hunted and potentially puts other innocent lives at risk. We have laws for a reason, and this is no "war." Bush and his cohorts called this a "war" to facilitate their illegal Bs war in Iraq. Law enforcement and international intelligence could handle this very well. The non stop fear mongering as if these rag tag terrorists are stronger than our own intelligence and law enforcement agencies is hokum in my view.
- 8 months ago
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JanforGore
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artemis6
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JanforGore:
I completely agree , Jan . The law was designed for just such a purpose . The Fact that we are NOT using it , in fact DISREGARDING it , proves this government is no longer salvageable . They are poised to do this to anyone . Opposing candidates , religious leaders , Imagine if they had this power when Martin Luther King was alive , where are suspicions about malcom X , yes .... This is aboveboard . This is a game changer .
- 8 months ago
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artemis6
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SAINTJULE
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JanforGore:
Ya but its so easy to fly a drone from New Jersey and pull a tigger on a joy stick. It's like a video game don'tcha know. Don't have to go sweating around the Yemeni desserts.
- 8 months ago
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SAINTJULE
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nardo1224
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OBOMBA STRIKES AGAIN!
- 8 months ago
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nardo1224
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warman1138
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Trust and justice. If one is compromised is the other damaged when it comes to terrorism....and is this another moment out of Orwell?
- 8 months ago
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warman1138
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SAINTJULE
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warman1138:
Orwell on steroids.
- 8 months ago
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SAINTJULE
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maasanova
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Wow what a debate!
Great thread guys but Al Qaeda is a load of bullshit. Who knows if this guy is dead or not, or even if he is who they say he is.
I say all this energy is wasted on debating whether it was right or wrong to kill Anwar al-Awlaki just like it was a pointless debate to kill Osama been dead since 2001.
The US governemnt, CIA, FBI, and the military are all completely out of control. They can kill whomever they want, when they want, how they want and you can do fuck all about it. They can kill on American soil or anywhere outside the country and you can do fuck all about it.
- 8 months ago
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maasanova
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jim_b
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Anyone here that thinks this is new policy is living in fantasyland. The only thing new is public admission. As for the premise of the post, there are people who began openly and freely assassinating Americans a long time ago. If this guy was one of them, too bad for him. He should have chosen a different vocation.
Would it be better to bring them to court and offer due process? Absolutely, but while we are waiting on him to surrender, he is plotting the death of Americans. Is this the answer? I don't know but I think it an improvement over 8 years of shock and awe which apparently translates into bombing the shit out of hundreds of thousands of civilians living in major cities.
- 8 months ago
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jim_b
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Saladin
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jim_b:
I'm living in a fantasyland for thinking that the President of the United States has long possessed the power to order the illegal execution of unindicted American citizens?
No, this is literally the first time in American history this has happened.
If he was an enemy of the United States, all congress had to do was to declare him as one with two witnesses and his death would have been legal.
As it stands, the President now has the authority to kill anyone, for no reason, with no consequences and we aren't even allowed to *know* about it.
You're living in a fantasyland if you think that's ever happened in this country before.
- 8 months ago
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Saladin
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dcrog
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Saladin:
Good point, congress should have declared him an enemy of the state and we should have gone about this in that way. Bottom line still is, this guy's no longer going to be able to spew his hate. Perhaps there should be an inquiry into this action, as well as many things that our current President has done for that matter. Implementing changes as you have expressed in this thread to prevent this from happening again would certainly be a good idea. There always is a chance that this could happen again.
- 8 months ago
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dcrog
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csmonut
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dcrog:
What is more...there is a very strong chance that it could happen to any American citizen. Our basic beliefs of "innocent until proven guilty" has been ground to dust.
Every administration needs an enemy....and one is being created right now. If the enemy is not from a foreign land...it will be right here on American soil. The Patriot Act gives the power to our law enforcement agencies to make anyone a state enemy, thus allowing for indeterminate imprisoning and no trial. - 8 months ago
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csmonut
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dcrog
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csmonut:
Yes I see the bigger picture, and yes, the Patiot Act was a knee jerk reaction to a terrible tragedy, and yes, the gubment has gotten out of control with the implementation of it. A good example of this odd and strange new order is the TSA!
- 8 months ago
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dcrog
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Vic_Romano
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dcrog:
And it is the bigger picture that I, as well as others, are really concerned about.
- 8 months ago
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Vic_Romano
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SFirman
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jim_b:
good comment. i agree with you.
- 8 months ago
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SFirman
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ithink
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I wonder if the news broke that awlaki had been captured and obama ordered him brought to New York to stand trial for criminal acts against the united states in a federal court would we again hear the people yelling not in our back yard and would greenwald be writing that Obama is wrong and awlaki joined the terrorists war against the united states and condoned killing of americans and therefore be tried in a millitary tribunal in gitmo which does,nt seem to be able to make any progress?I believe this story isn,t so much written to enlighten us on our laws and constitution so much as it is to yet take another shot at Obama which seems so popular with show hosts and contributing writers these days.
- 8 months ago
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ithink
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Schnookums
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Even though my friend Sandy just stated this below, I feel strongly enough about it that I think it bears repeating.
Article 3, Section 3 of the US Constitution reads:
"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.
The Congress shall have power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted."
- 8 months ago
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Schnookums
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Schnookums
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Schnookums:
And to those here regurgitating mainstream media talking points that were spoon-fed to them (and are now being spoon-fed to you) defending this action by the President of the United States, let me tell you how easy it would have been for the President to adhere to our Constitution and not set out on the dangerous path we now find ourselves on.
Congress alone has the power to declare the crime of treason (which is usually punishable by death), and as bought and paid for as most of our congresspeople are, I hardly think it would have been difficult at some point to have two witnesses appear in front of the Congress (which can hold trials under special circumstances like this) and to quickly convict the US Citizen of treason.
Done.
But that's not how it happened, and now tyranny just took another step towards you.
((((And just for the sake of brevity, we'll excuse the fact that we are now openly engaged in military operations in Yemen without Congressional consent))))
- 8 months ago
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Schnookums
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Vic_Romano
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Schnookums:
About the only talking point that really comes to mind to me is this infamous conversation....
“I don't give a goddamn,” Bush retorted. “I’m the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Do it my way.”
“Mr. President,” one aide in the meeting said. “There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution.”
“Stop throwing the Constitution in my face,” Bush screamed back. “It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!”
And I never thought that I would wholeheartedly agree with what and how SandyBerman posted....this is really serious.
- 8 months ago
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Vic_Romano
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Schnookums
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Vic_Romano:
I used to wear a T-shirt that had a picture of the Constitution on it with the caption below; “It’s just a goddamned piece of paper...” -The President
Seems like I may have to get it back out....sadly.
On a different note, never feel bad about agreeing openly with someone who expresses a view or idea you support, even though you may disagree with other things they say. That's how blind partisanship starts and how we end up a divided people.....
- 8 months ago
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Schnookums
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DanCastro
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Schnookums:
Damn Obama for not throwing thousands of troops into action costing US billions more in fruitless war! Damn him for saving the lives of thousands of heroes and keeping them from having parts of their bodies blown off or maimed! Yepper, when I think about what Obama has done, I'm fucking glad to have him on OUR side! You want to plot against US, you want to ask others to try and kill US in our homes, better bring your "A" game, cuz we got a man that THINKS leading our team! And he knows where you live! OR, we can try to talk it out, because our guy will talk to anyone to try and avoid needless bloodshed, on all sides!
- 8 months ago
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DanCastro
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Vic_Romano
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DanCastro:
That has to be one of the best examples of a false dichotomy that I have read. Perhaps you're missing out on the idea that there are more than two solutions to this complex issue.
- 8 months ago
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Vic_Romano
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Saladin
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DanCastro:
I hope you realize that you could have replaced every mention of "Obama" in that paragraph with "Bush" and you'd sound EXACTLY like one of those Republican fascists trying to justify the war in Iraq.
Partisanship really has blinded us.
- 8 months ago
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Saladin
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DanCastro
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Vic_Romano:
I'm more than willing to listen to my failing appreciated by an absolute stranger who qualifications I have no idea of, but since that is what I signed up for when I posted, why don't you let me know all my failings of fact and reason? Let me just preemptively say, that free speech doesn't cover plotting and helping those who would hurt Americans to prove their political point deserve the bunker buster that will hopefully permanently interrupt their "thinking" processes. Hate is NOT an effective tool of diplomacy. If you want me to talk to you, first get the gun out of my face. We, the people of America, must clearly be seen not to be the same as our government by the Wall St. takeover, if that doesn't make US free enough, I suggest you check your google search, again. ;-)
- 8 months ago
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DanCastro
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DanCastro
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Saladin:
Speak only for yourself, unless you have written permission to speak for me, you do NOT! I understand that killing is not a good option, however I will not let however the phrases made, however "correct for bush", blind me to the fact that this President thinks before he acts and he acts with precision to maximize the safety of the nation with minimal risk. He did not involve US in a war for nothing. You don't like this, fine. I support your right to scream this to the rooftops AND I reserve my right to decide each and every time whether I agree with an action of my President or not or of my congress or no. If I disagree, I know I have the right to organize and publicly state my disagreement and my arguments in an attempt to bring others to my frame of mind, but unlike when I was a child, I cannot expect that each and every one of my tantrums will result in my getting my way, even if I hold my breath until I turn blue. Peas.
- 8 months ago
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DanCastro
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ACSUS
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DanCastro:
I look at your UP and DOWN rating and I think a lot of people MISSED the sarcasm in your statement. You think?
- 8 months ago
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ACSUS
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DanCastro
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ACSUS:
the last thing i want, is to be offered the glass of poison (perceived fame) so i have to conform my life and opinions based on what others may think they see or read in my feeble writings!
- 8 months ago
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DanCastro
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hombre76
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Schnookums:
Are you sure the congress did not aprove this killing, they do meat all the time in secret about these security issues, you know.
- 8 months ago
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hombre76
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dcrog
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hombre76:
They do "meat"?!? What do they do to the meat when they meet all the time in secret? Sounds kinda cloak and dagger to me hombre.
- 8 months ago
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dcrog
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csmonut
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DanCastro:
If you lived in another country, and were a person who goes about the daily business of living, as we all do, how would you feel about waking up one morning to find foreign troops coming into your town, and maybe even into your home?
How would you feel about the possibility of being taken away from your family because you were suspected of knowing someone whom the foreign troops are looking for?
How would you feel when your neighbors, friends or family is killed by said foreign troops, because of an accidental or even intentional air-strike?
How would you feel when you found out these troops had invaded your land because of a group of fanatics you had never heard of, killed several thousand people in the invading troop's land?The point I am trying to make here is: Just because we have all now heard about al-quieda, does not mean the average people of Irag or Afghanistan even knew of al-quieda, and if they did, they probably figured they were some fringe group out in the hills practicing at being soldiers, and were dismissed.
Then one day they wake up to a terrible invasion of their land by foreign troops.
Now the average person knows about al-quieda, now they know about this foreign power who has invaded their land, now they know how this foreign power feels so righteous in their destruction of whatever form of government that was in place.
Now the average person knows how to hate America. - 8 months ago
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csmonut
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Schnookums
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hombre76:
I'm sure the Select Committee on Intelligence approved (if they were 'consulted'), but I'm certain that an open trial was not conducted.
- 8 months ago
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Schnookums
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DanCastro
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csmonut:
Americans are very good at hate and have been so for our history. We also have gotten very good at large scale war and are now mastering "targeted" attacks. What we (and the world) need to catch on to, is that and hate are lousing strategics! Great for raising the blood and feeling all war-like and revengy and stuff, but it doesn't change things like Egypt or Take Back Wall St can be.
- 8 months ago
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DanCastro
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SFirman
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DanCastro:
Thank you. He is keeping us safe. He needs credit for that.
- 8 months ago
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SFirman
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DanCastro
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SFirman:
I like to thing it is more than that. We have a leader who thinks! I truly believe he is our best hope (look first at the what the repugnants have done when in charge, who their crazy field is and the damage their "ideology before reality" has nearly caused our downfall as a world power able to provide a good living for all its inhabitants to a place that will pollute every ounce of air, every drop of water or any creature that tries to stop the almighty profit machines from posting ever higher profits. Sorta reminds me of the fairy tale when a guy gets a salt maker and on his way to riches, the salt sinks the boat and that's why the seas are salty! Ever higher pollution levels will kill US and the world much more surely!
- 8 months ago
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DanCastro
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SFirman
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DanCastro:
I agree, we have a leader that thinks. At Town Halls, you can amost see him thinking as he answers questions. One example was Ben Laden. He slep on it before making such a difficult decision, that put the seals in danger. Boehner and his house almost caused our downfall as a world leader. I regret they were voted in office in 2010.I also think with the problems and experience ,he is our only hope.
- 8 months ago
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SFirman
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SandyBerman
- This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
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SandyBerman
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ACSUS
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SandyBerman:
You might have had a point if the U.S. Government had announced it was prosecuting this conflict as a police action, but, it was widely disseminated that we would be using the Military to carry out our policies.
The last time I looked, the Military plays by a whole different set of rules.
Anybody who doesn't want to to face MILITARY JUSTICE, in whatever form the MILITARY decides to bring it, had better stay out of the game. - 8 months ago
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ACSUS
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Saladin
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ACSUS:
And now that "military justice" can be used on U.S. citizens in a non-war environment. You done playing semantic games now?
Blaming this on the enemy is stupid. We are the ones doing this and we're going to be the ones reaping the consequences for subverting rule of law.
Unless you seriously think that authority like this can be trusted and not abused.
- 8 months ago
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Saladin
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Vic_Romano
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ACSUS:
"He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power...."
Where's that from?
- 8 months ago
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Vic_Romano
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ACSUS
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Saladin:
This is WAR, not some childish video game, in WAR, you either win or die. All of these players chose their side, their philosophy, their ideals, their morals and their fates.
How you can even THINK that this is a non-war environment tells me that you are either seriously delusional or woefully uninformed, or both, or, you are just a sad, lonely person trying to find a cause to latch onto so people will communicate with you. I truly pity you, living what must be a sorry, lonely existence.
If you think you can support the enemy in a WAR, give aid and comfort to those opposed to that for which your country is fighting, WITH IMPUNITY, then apparently there has been a rude awakening for those American citizens who would take up arms or recruit others to take up arms against us, and our allies.
These dead Americans were not JANE FONDA sitting in some anti-aircraft gun smiling for the cameras, these men took an active part in harming the United States and American citizens and if they did not know the consequences of their actions, others of their ilk who do or would follow in their footsteps know now.
- 8 months ago
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ACSUS
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Vic_Romano
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ACSUS:
This is AMERICA, not some fascist dictatorship. In AMERICA, you abide by the rule of law or face consequences. All these players are subject to the rule of law and its force.
How can you even THINK that this is a non-legal environment tells me that you are either seriously delusional or woefully uninformed, or both--or you are just a sad, ignorant person trying to justify a twisted Machiavellian cause so people will validate your existence here. I truly pity you, living what must be a sorry, meaningless existence.
If you think you can support the continued undermining of the spirit and letter of AMERICAN LAW, give moral validation to those opposed to that for which your country stands for, WITH IMPUNITY, then apparently it is you who is in store for a rude awakening. For there are still a significant number of American citizens who would fight to the death to support and defend the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC--who took a solemn oath to do so and take that oath dead fucking serious.
These living Americans are not CHARLIE BROWN sitting on some wishy-washy sofa believing everything the media or their government tells them. They're out there, as they have been for better than a decade now, protesting the continued loss of freedom here in this nation. They're talking. They're networking. They're protesting. They see what's happening and are growing increasingly fed up. And this growing sector of American society will inevitably be heard.
And while you may believe that the end justified the means in this particular instance, others vehemently disagree--not because they're unpatriotic or wish harm to be done to their country or countrymen; but rather because they're sick of the continued erosion of their cherished civil liberties. They choose to believe that the end did not justify the means in this instance, and the death of this dubious citizen only represents another step, be it ever so small and plausible, to tyranny being used against them. This government (just as the previous administration) took an active part of harming the rule of law in the United States--and if they did not ponder the consequences of their actions, and the broader implications of exercising such a policy, then heaven help us all.
- 8 months ago
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Vic_Romano
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ACSUS
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Vic_Romano: This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
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ACSUS
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GENERALNATTY
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ACSUS:
agreed
- 8 months ago
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GENERALNATTY
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artemis6
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ACSUS:
It was NOT war , it was two guys . Criminals , Possibly . In Yemen . We are not at war with Yemen .....
- 8 months ago
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artemis6
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ACSUS
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artemis6:
No, we are at war with Al Quida, who has no actual country but has members in all countries.
Why do you people keep missing the point. THEY DECLARED WAR ON US, IF PEOPLE WANT TO JOIN THEIR CAUSE AND FIGHT AGAINST US, SO BE IT, YOU TAKE YOUR CHANCES WITH YOUR CHOICES.
IF YOU WANT TO GO TO WAR ON THE SIDE OF AL QUIDA, YOU MAY VERY WELL BE KILLED BY US, OR SOME OTHER COUNTRY AT THE SAME TIME YOU ARE TRYING TO KILL US.
YA GET IT NOW?
- 8 months ago
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ACSUS
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Vic_Romano
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ACSUS:
Oh please. Don't paint the picture that I'm sympathizing with this one guy because of his choices. Of course the guy dug his grave, and he's laying in it because of his choice. But that's not the issue here and you good and well know it.
I mocked your words because you're obviously failing to grasp the bigger picture, and obvious perils, that such a policy creates. Mocking you is something that I can do online as opposed to being out in the real world where I must respectfully agree to disagree with my colleagues and clients. But you can make your assumptions about what I do in the outside world, and how I interact with "NORMAL" people, all you want.
Of course we're "at war" with those people. Who the hell is denying that? But to even analogize this "war" with our war with Japan is simply asinine. You're comparing apples to oranges. This is far more nuanced and unconventional--involving actions being taken by our own government to insure that this war, and the motivation behind the people who want to kill us, continues on into perpetuity.
And as far as secret courts go, please refer to the Star Chamber of England. Over the course of its 200 or so year history, a lot of good actions came from it. However, we remember it best for its actions, or better stated ABUSES, above and outside the common law. That is really why I posted this article, and I maintain that the author raises genuine legal and moral concerns about the policy he criticizes.
To state this differently, this is not about the actions and deeds of Anwar al-Awlaki. This is about the actions of our government. This isn't about sympathizing with an enemy of the state. This is about objecting to a policy that has broader future implications than just offing some asshole who chose the other side. Stated even differently, this is about keeping power out of any governmental agency that can declare you or I an enemy of the state and have you killed without a trial or any sort of legal recourse.
But if you can't get that through your thick skull, then there's probably no hope for you.
Good day
- 8 months ago
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Vic_Romano
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artemis6
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ACSUS:
So , we are to believe it is civilized to bomb anyone who declares war on us ? ha ! You give them so much power ! Christians declare war on atheists , there is a war on drugs (but not ignorance) a war on teachers ( but not poverty ) so , tell me , what does it take to officially declare war ? Just anyone telling you you are at war does the trick ? Have sense ! Do not be so easily manipulated . personally i bet this man was killed because he knew who was funding the terrorists and he had solid proof . It was either Us through CIA ( Iran contra style ) or Saudi Arabia or someone else with massive influence . It is a short list anyway . What ever he knew is gone with him . believe it or not , this is not a win for the American People . It is a Major loss .
- 8 months ago
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artemis6
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ACSUS
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Vic_Romano:
What people can't get through their thick skulls is that these people JOINED THE ENEMY ARMY TO FIGHT US. They are for all intents and purposes members of the NATION OF AL QAEDA.
If Awlaki had cut the head off of some American prisoner on Al Jeezera, would you be saying "well someday the police will catch up with him". If so, then who is the one with the THICK HEAD here?
I have stopped looking at these people as AMERICAN CITIZENS, exercising their right to peaceful protest. They have joined the enemy, heart and soul, and if they could speak they would tell you they RENOUNCE their American citizenship and any connection whatsoever they may have had with America.
We didn't kill 2 Americans, we caused 2 more Al Qaeda casualties in the war they declared on us.
- 8 months ago
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ACSUS
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ACSUS
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artemis6:
Haven't they killed enough of us to come to the conclusion that we may actually be at war with them? What do you need, an A-Bomb in downtown New York?
They declared war on America and killed a lot of U.S. citizens, so we fight back the only way we can, with the Army (what are you going to do, send a bunch of N.Y.P.D. to Yemen) and you cry because the enemy combatants we killed USED TO BE AMERICANS.
I used to think I was a bleeding heart liberal, but I am discovering there are people here who would give this country to our enemies as long as it did not go against THEIR IDEA of what our freedom means, and what lengths we should go to in order to remain safe and free.
THOSE CREEPS WERE NOT AMERICANS ANY LONGER, THEY BELONGED TO AL QAEDA.
- 8 months ago
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ACSUS
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Saladin
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ACSUS:
Stop being purposefully annoying and get off your damn stump, NO ONE is arguing that he didn't deserve it.
What you're not paying attention to, and don't seem to care about, is that this is the furthest extension of "wartime powers" any president has ever received in American history and there are ZERO checks and balances to it.
You can be killed at any time, for no reason, with no legal recourse and without even the ability for others to *know* about it via a FOIA request.
If that doesn't sink in now, it never will, because your chicken hawking and cheerleading has turned you into a zombie that doesn't understand America at all.
If you want to just blindly support a country with dictatorial powers, move to fucking China or Iran. America has principles, and when it abandons them, it no longer has any world standing.
- 8 months ago
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Saladin
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artemis6
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ACSUS:
There IS no enemy , WITHOUT FUNDING . Stop the money and you will have no enemy . But , of course , there is so much money to be made from war , and for some it is a great amusement , a repository for their fears and anxieties . If you really value men and women in uniform , if you really value innocent people everywhere , it is the financiers who are the true enemy . All weak links to them will be silenced . Or do you think the ammo makers work for free ?
- 8 months ago
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artemis6
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ACSUS
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Saladin:
You're a fool and a clown and you write like a college student who has never lived life and sees the world in black and white.
Are you actually such a coward that you are afraid to stand up and be counted even when we are being killed by a determined enemy.
Don't worry little man, I'll pick up a gun and defend you and the other cowards who will be hiding behind a copy of the Constitution the next time somebody decides to kill 3,000 of us. See how much good that does you.
- 8 months ago
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ACSUS
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ACSUS
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artemis6:
I spent my time proudly wearing the Uniform of the United States Army for 8 years, thank you. I don't need you or anyone to try and lecture or educate me on patriotism.
I'll put my decorations, promotions and accomplishments up against ANYONE'S for a comparable period of time.
If anyone is missing a point or closing their minds or just writing to see their own words in print, it is you who keep CRYING for these dead Americans, when in fact they were NOT AMERICANS.
They gave up that privilege, willingly, to fight for a cause they believed in, and now that we eliminated them, you cry and whine about the poor, lost souls we have killed and how we are trampling on their constitutional rights.
What about the people killed BY THEM, or by PEOPLE RECRUITED by them, or by people who listened to their rhetoric and decided to KILL AN INFIDEL TODAY.
By your childish logic, we could NEVER bring an AMERICAN citizen to justice once he/she escaped to a foreign country which agreed with their philosophy, like say IRAN.
Or would you wait until the Iranians decided to turn them over to us out of the kindness of their heart?There is a lot of growing up that needs to be done by people on this site, and it is not by me.
- 8 months ago
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ACSUS
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Saladin
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ACSUS:
The only coward I see here is you, who would give up all of your rights because you're fucking terrified of someone who has never successfully killed anyone. Wow, what a threat.
I'm not afraid of terrorists and I really don't need a self-righteous idiot to "pick up a gun" and "defend" me. The best you'd do is hurt yourself.
The U.S. needs people of intelligence and conscience, not false-bravado and jingoism. The last thing we need is another fake patriot who doesn't understand their own country but *pretends* they're willing to die for it.
You want to be a drone? Go ahead. But let the adults run the country please, since you don't seem to care how it actually works.
- 8 months ago
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Saladin
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ACSUS
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artemis6:
What are you, 10?
- 8 months ago
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ACSUS
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artemis6
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ACSUS:
No , i am just right .
- 8 months ago
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artemis6
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Vic_Romano
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artemis6:
Yes you are. Don't let the drones on this thread deter your thinking....
- 8 months ago
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Vic_Romano
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Saladin
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No can seem to get past the fact that he was an enemy and realize how utterly odious this is.
The President now carries the legal power to kill anyone, at anytime, for no reason, with no consequences and no possible legal challenge or even a need to have any proof at all.
That is *dictatorial* power, literally. Any American citizen can be killed and we aren't even allowed to *know* about it.
When Bush did this in terms of Gitmo, we were all blown away. A few years before that and even illegal wiretapping blew us away.
Now we've officially reached the logical conclusion to these "War on Terror" surveillance laws and people sit around applauding it? Have we lost our minds?
Make no mistake, we've lost the War on Terror if people see this as acceptable. And from that day forward we cease to be a meaningful Republic.
Let us not forget that "those who give up essential liberties for temporary security deserve neither liberty nor security."
- 8 months ago
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Saladin
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Basha1950
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Saladin:
I don't think our President is a free lance murder. They both committed treason against the U.S. As I remember treason against your country usually means death. By their actions against the U.S. it was treasonous.
- 8 months ago
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Basha1950
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SandyBerman
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Basha1950: This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
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SandyBerman
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Saladin
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Basha1950:
It's as if people are literally incapable of critical thought on this issue.
What was the first thing I said?
- 8 months ago
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Saladin
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Basha1950
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Saladin:
First off they where in an area where we had to take action, not a lawyer. There are times where circumstances take priority. I respect your opinion, but I am not going to go against the knowledge the CIA or the Government have, because I do not have all the information. If you or the people like you where so concerned, where were your voices when Bush went nuts with murder in Irag and gave up in Afghanistan, where he should of stayed. That war was done with special opps, we had the people on our side until we left. That's the time you should have bitched, now it's 10 times worse! If Bush killed these two Americans would you be saying the same thing? Watching T.V. there is a marked difference between Right and Left. Right does anything it's okay, if the left does the same thing it's soooooo bad.
- 8 months ago
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Basha1950
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oldbanjo
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SandyBerman:
If he came back to the US he would have had a trial. Maybe they will start watching some of these rich people that are trying to destroy this Country.
- 8 months ago
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oldbanjo
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Saladin
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Basha1950:
I *did* bitch then, loudly and on this site. Don't make assumptions about who I am or what I believe.
And if anything, you're the one being inconsistent here. If torture, detainment and surveillance were horrifying and illegal under Bush, why is assassination ok under Obama? How does that make sense?
- 8 months ago
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Saladin
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SFirman
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Basha1950:
I agree with you. No one here has all the details. A republican would have been praised. Obama put down for riding us of a traitor. I would not want one soldier killied trying to arrest this man. Yemen is a very unstable country. Thanks for your comment.
- 8 months ago
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SFirman
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cmc101
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Basha1950:
The right is wall street huggers
the left tree huggers - 8 months ago
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cmc101
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faye59
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SFirman:
Always the rationall one. Thanks.
- 8 months ago
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faye59
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faye59
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SFirman:
Direct and to the point as always.
- 8 months ago
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faye59
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dcrog
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Saladin:
I say with the utmost humility that I was wrong in my initial, knee jerk reaction to the killing of this terroist who had American citizenship. I fell prey to an emotional reaction and did not think this through before I expressed my reaction to this issue. You Saladin, were correct from the start with this and I now see your points and share your concerns.
Obama used secret DOJ memo to justify Awlaki killing...but now he won't let you see it
By Daily Mail Reporter3rd October 2011
President Obama used a secret memorandum to authorise the killing of U.S.-born Al Qaeda terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki - but the White House is refusing to make the document public.
The legal writ, issued by the Justice Department, tackled the issues surrounding the targeted killing of a U.S. citizen by the American government - on the surface an unconstitutional act.
The Washington Post quoted one of the officials involved in the negotiations surrounding the memo as saying, 'What constitutes due process in this case is a due process in war.'Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2044865/Obama-used-secret-DOJ-memo-justi...
- 8 months ago
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dcrog
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SFirman
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faye59:
I try. Thanks.
- 8 months ago
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SFirman
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freecrack
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al-queda is at war with the united states.thats it.not a war we even declared, they did
- 8 months ago
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freecrack
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artemis6
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freecrack:
This country created al queda . To fight the Soviet Union . We called them freedom fighters then , in Afghanistan . Are you too young to remember ?
- 8 months ago
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artemis6
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SandyBerman
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freecrack: This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
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SandyBerman
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freecrack
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artemis6:
wich doesnt change the fact that al-queda declared war on the united states of america and acted accordingly.
making them a target of our military. - 8 months ago
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freecrack
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freecrack
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SandyBerman:
absolutely none what so ever.but unfortunately posession of a sovereign nation isnt required to declare war on us.as they literaly proved.from the embassies in africa to the wtc.
would you apply the same standard to hamas and fatah who also have no sovereign nation?cuz they are at war as well no?
- 8 months ago
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freecrack
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SandyBerman
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freecrack: This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
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SandyBerman
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freecrack
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SandyBerman:
according to bin ladens declaration in the 90's that he was seeking our destruction, wich earned him top billiing on the fbi's most wanted list, and was then validated with the embassy bombings in africa.
cheney and them just exploited the shit out of it.
- 8 months ago
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freecrack
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SandyBerman
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freecrack: This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
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SandyBerman
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David_H [removed]
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freecrack: This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
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David_H [removed]
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Basha1950
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artemis6:
This country created the Taliban, who fought the Soviet Union, after Osama got thrown out of Saudi Arabia, he started recruiting for,his gang of thugs. Saudi Arabia and the U.S. are suppose to be friends therefor Osama hates the U. S. He had to make a name for himself, his family disgraced him.
- 8 months ago
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Basha1950
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joeredford [removed]
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David_H:
Figures.
- 8 months ago
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joeredford [removed]
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SandyBerman
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joeredford: This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
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SandyBerman
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joeredford [removed]
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SandyBerman:
I'm to be surprised? That's what you say to everyone when you run out of anything vile or cogent to say. Boring!
- 8 months ago
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joeredford [removed]
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freecrack
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SandyBerman:
their are a lot of people wishing our destruction, wich is a far cry from seeking it.i would be pissed if it were us killing every "death to america" chanting idiot.but al-queda is an organization actively engaged in waging war with us.killing us.just as it would be rediculous to expect us to have arrested and tried every ss soldier in ww2, it would be rediculous to expect that with this enemy as well.
would you apply this to israel as well?
should israel be only arresting hamas militants as opposed to killing those who are killing them? - 8 months ago
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freecrack
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freecrack
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David_H:
the geneva conventions require all parties play along.if one side does not conscript soldiers and uses radicalized citizens for instance, all actions made against them violate the conventions,as the conventions have no ruling on how one is to defend one self from this enemy.the alternative would then be for us as a civilized nation to not kill them, wich then allows them to kill us,wich is a rediculous notion as well.
when some one writes a playbook wich adresses terrorists the way the geneva convention adresses standard warfare, ill be all over us for fucking up.but as it is it is a do or die situation with unfortunately zero room for diplomacy
- 8 months ago
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freecrack
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freecrack
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David_H:
legit or illegitimate grievances, bin laden attacked.it isnt like he complained and for that we killed him.we are a nation of complainers.once he decided to react to us by waging war with us it really doesnt matter if his grievances are legit or not.
might as well blame the gov for the oklahoma city bombing cuz they didnt adress mcviegh's grievances.many means exist for one to adress us.if one chooses to abandon the civil methods in favor of violent ones, fuck them.
i dont believe they hate us for our freedoms.jealous maybe, but certainly not hate cuz even terrorists vacation here.
i believe bin laden suffered from middle child syndrome, and was deeply hurt that his own people chose american intervention in the first gulf war over allowing al-queda to fight saddam.attacking us was his revenge for the slight his family did to him.in a bid to be more muslim than those who treated him ill (his family) he attacked the infidels who trampled on holy muslim soil (mecca) but didnt kill the complicet muslims.like a scorned lover who doesnt adress their partner but instead kills their other lover.in all fairness to us we didnt know what to do.it doesnt make two wars ok, just saying
- 8 months ago
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freecrack
