President assassinates charismatic Muslim
 

I know many folk in the US (and everyone else) have misgivings about this.
Free speech and due legal process for starters.

The dubious justification would seem to be a blow against terrorism.

In this respect, the rest of the world sees this as one ginormous own goal.

David

[QUOTE=davieddy;273076]I know many folk in the US (and everyone else) have misgivings about this. Free speech and due legal process for starters.[/QUOTE]

And many folk in the US have no misgivings whatsoever. Treason for starters.

Here is a NYT piece on the killing of Al-Awlaki, which lays out the numerous thorny legal issues in play here:

[url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/01/world/american-strike-on-american-target-revives-contentious-constitutional-issue.html?_r=1&ref=world]American Strike on American Target Revives Contentious Constitutional Issue[/url]: [i]Some civil libertarians have questioned how the government could take an American citizen’s life based on murky intelligence and without an investigation or trial.[/i]

This is, to put it mildly, quite a tawdry tale....it is a puzzle why the NYT cannot see that mistreating the victim lead directly to his radicalization.

[QUOTE=Prime95;273094]And many folk in the US have no misgivings whatsoever. Treason for starters.[/QUOTE]

During the period when Stalin with a pile of atom bombs and one of the faster-growing economies of Earth, rather than some guys living in a cave preaching about the merits of the seventh century, was the charismatic ideological enemy of choice, there were a fair number of traitors in both the US and the UK. A few of them on either side were hanged, but most were put in prison and used later as bargaining chips for retrieving spies from the other side.

The principle that you don't assassinate anyone for any reason is worth defending, though getting there from here probably requires a US president confident enough in his position to purge the CIA completely.

Gunpowder Treason and Plot
 

[QUOTE=Prime95;273094]And many folk in the US have no misgivings whatsoever. Treason for starters.[/QUOTE]

Light the blue touchpaper then stand well back!

Guido Fawkes

[QUOTE=fivemack;273139]the seventh century[/QUOTE]

Is that AD or ME?

I'll credit George with playing Devil's advocate, but he seems
to be outnumbered by woolly-minded liberals ATM.

And we haven't even heard from Bob, Paul or Garo yet!

David

[QUOTE=davieddy;273076]Free speech and due legal process for starters.[/QUOTE]Many would argue that in this case due process was followed. The operative amendment is:[QUOTE]No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.[/QUOTE]
Nothing in here requires the "due process of law" be a trial.:ch:

[QUOTE=Uncwilly;273155]Many would argue that in this case due process was followed.[/QUOTE]

The number of people arguing a thing has no bearing upon the validity of the argument.

[QUOTE]The operative amendment is:
Nothing in here requires the "due process of law" be a trial.:ch:[/QUOTE]

What, do you think could be argued to be "due process" in this killing?

Notice that NATO in Afghanistan behaves rather differently:

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15136007[/url]

indicates that they've arrested a leader of the Haqqani group and a number of his associates, the day after that group blew up the person with whom the Afghan government had been negotiating.

Coincidence?
 

Two hour program on BBC2 now.
Joan Bakewell (the thinking man's crumpet) chatting with David Frost.
+ his interview with Tricky Dicky Nixon.

David