Topic: Holder on the Use of Lethal Force against US Citizens Abroad

[LadyVirginia]

The difference between targeted killings and assassination:
 

 Some have called such operations “assassinations.” They are not, and the use of that loaded term is misplaced. Assassinations are unlawful killings. Here, for the reasons I have given, the U.S. government’s use of lethal force in self defense against a leader of al Qaeda or an associated force who presents an imminent threat of violent attack would not be unlawful — and therefore would not violate the Executive Order banning assassination or criminal statutes.
 
The power of the executive:
 

 Some have argued that the President is required to get permission from a federal court before taking action against a United States citizen who is a senior operational leader of al Qaeda or associated forces. This is simply not accurate. “Due process” and “judicial process” are not one and the same, particularly when it comes to national security. The Constitution guarantees due process, not judicial process.

and the first comment:

Mark LeBar

I don’t know about you, but I am mightily reassured to know that my Constitutional guarantee of the due process of law gets the full weight of “grave concern” by those who think it would be a good thing to kill me. And that the Constitution fully protects me, except that the law governing such decisions turns out to be the law of other nations, except of course (as you observe) when they attempt to limit the decisions of these grave decision-makers.

http://pileusblog.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/holder-on-the-use-of-lethal-force-against-us-citizens-abroad/


Holder's comments come from a speech he gave yesterday at Northwestern Law School.  That's what we need --more lawyers like Holder.

[Weisshaupt]

Holder's comments come from a speech he gave yesterday at Northwestern Law School.  That's what we need --more lawyers like Holder.

These lawyers are just like the jouralists and teachers.  Once, the court system's role was to objectively and without bias  apply the law to individual cases, which is required to give the law respect and honor.   Once , the press's role was to report news accurately and without bias,  so citizens could accurately gauge and respond to the facts on the ground.  Once,  the School's role was to present information accurately, and deal with conflicting opinions without bias, so that students could learn how to think.

Now, the primary role  all of those professions is to advance a social agenda, to change the world, and "make a difference."
Ask a liberal, and that is just what they will tell you.

[LadyVirginia]

Now, the primary role  all of those professions is to advance a social agenda, to change the world, and "make a difference."
Ask a liberal, and that is just what they will tell you.

Absolutely.

 I remember in college hearing my friends claiming the reason  they were pursuing certain advanced degrees was to "help people and make a difference."  Which I knew meant stepping all over my rights.

[Pandora]

Assassinations are unlawful killings. Here ... the U.S. government’s use of lethal force ... would not be unlawful.

Ohhhh.  That's different, then.  A law has been made by which the government gave itself the authority to commit assassinations, applying a different label, whereby the act will now be lawful.  Voila!

"Stroke of the pen, law of the land." - Paul Begala

[Glock32]

Assassinations are unlawful killings. Here ... the U.S. government’s use of lethal force ... would not be unlawful.

Ohhhh.  That's different, then.  A law has been made by which the government gave itself the authority to commit assassinations, applying a different label, whereby the act will now be lawful.  Voila!

"Stroke of the pen, law of the land." - Paul Begala

There is an even simpler action that can be performed by the digits of the hand.

[Weisshaupt]

Assassinations are unlawful killings. Here ... the U.S. government’s use of lethal force ... would not be unlawful.

Ohhhh.  That's different, then.  A law has been made by which the government gave itself the authority to commit assassinations, applying a different label, whereby the act will now be lawful.  Voila!

"Stroke of the pen, law of the land." - Paul Begala

[Pandora]

Of course it was.

Hell, slavery was legal.

Congress' insider trading is legal.