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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

International A Million Shades of Grey

Posted by Paul Constant on Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 10:19 AM

Dominic mentioned this in the Morning News, but it deserves its own post:

A confidential Justice Department memo concludes that the U.S. government can order the killing of American citizens if they are believed to be “senior operational leaders” of al-Qaida or “an associated force” — even if there is no intelligence indicating they are engaged in an active plot to attack the U.S.

This is more power than the government has ever admitted to. This is serious business, and the Obama Administration should have to answer for this memo. Unfortunately, because terrorism makes elected officials stupid, it's probably only going to go so far as to mess up a few minutes of John Brennan's confirmation hearings this week. And if human rights violations committed by the United States since 9/11 outrage you, there are a few dozen other nations that should arouse your ire, too:

As many as 54 nations aided the United States in rendition and detention operations that swept up more than 130 people as part of the Central Intelligence Agency’s global counterterrorism efforts, according to a report released Tuesday by the Open Society Justice Initiative, a human rights advocacy group.

I wrote about this for President Obama's inauguration, but the moral math of being an informed American keeps getting murkier every day.

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Hmm Well, I didn't vote for Obama this last time (sure as hell wasn't going to vote for Romney) and the Slog Obamatrons sure had fun tearing me apart...

Where's Catalina and Matt in Denver at? Odd that they're quiet on this thread... hmmmmmmm

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on February 5, 2013 at 7:07 PM

Did anyone here read the memo? The discussion of imminence is very interesting. I'd like to read the legal arguments opposing the conclusions in the white paper.

Posted by California on February 5, 2013 at 4:28 PM

@10 I agree. Can you imagine if this had been a McCain or Romney Administration and that memo was released?
The venom that would be hurled at them would be enormous.

No, Pres. Obama's Administration is held accountable. I believe is not a stretch to equate it with W. Bush's Justice Dept. memos justifying "enhanced interrogation".

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/17/opinio…

Posted by lark on February 5, 2013 at 1:30 PM

So, they, or rather our government, can kill who they want, when they want, where they want. Seems like a problem.

Posted by Mugwumpt on February 5, 2013 at 12:52 PM

This is a post about why I didn't support Obama.

Posted by watchout5

on February 5, 2013 at 12:38 PM

@8: as far as i can tell, mass-murderer is part of the job description, along with lying constantly.

Posted by Max Solomon on February 5, 2013 at 12:34 PM

@ 5,

It would be refreshing to have a President who isn't a mass-murderer.

Posted by Original Andrew on February 5, 2013 at 12:21 PM

Oh, and cue the flood of "I'm fine with this/bomb the terrahists/AmeriKKKa right or wrong (funny how it's always wrong)" comments.

I'm sure you'll just be thrilled when Prezlinit Bachmann or Santorum starts carrying out extra-judicial assassinations "To Protect Freedom."

Posted by Original Andrew on February 5, 2013 at 12:18 PM

It's incredible that Obama is the best president ever on gay rights, and simultaneously the worst president ever on Constitutional and human rights.

Even Caligutard and his minions refused to state that he had the power to kill anyone at anytime for secret reasons.

Posted by Original Andrew on February 5, 2013 at 12:13 PM

So glad I didn't vote for either Obama or Romney. Enough lessor of two evils. Build the 3rd and 4th and 5th party....

Posted by Former Lurker on February 5, 2013 at 12:04 PM

@ 1 Just because your a socialist does not make those people evil.

Americans who join al-qaeda are traitors and do not get to hide behind the American flag. When you get your passport it clearly states one can't engage in terrorist activities or fight for the enemy of the state. It is impractical to send in troops after them; how many lives will we lose that way? And yes there is collateral damage but doesn't mean we not doing everything we can to make it as precise as possible. You want this declared unconstitutional have the Supreme Court rule that way. It really is though for liberals isn't it? They got Democratic candidates who agree with them socially and economically but not on foreign policy. Yet the GOP is even worst on foreign policy.

Posted by Seattle14 on February 5, 2013 at 10:45 AM

It's a good time to mention this. I can't decide if it's more scary that our government has this ability, or that any individual or corporation with a bit of money can because it's so cheap and easy (assuming you can figure out the data transfer - I'm guessing you use lasers).

Posted by Matt the Engineer on February 5, 2013 at 10:34 AM

"This is more power than the government has ever admitted to."

Actually I believe the government admitted it had the power to kill several hundred thousand American citizens if they were a member of various Confederate armies. Rank was unimportant.

Posted by GermanSausage on February 5, 2013 at 10:33 AM

I have it on excellent AUTHORITY that al Qaeda of Wall Street (AQWS) is highly active right now, with its secret ring leaders being: Jamie Dimon, Lloyd Blankfein, Robert Rubin, Jeffrey Immelt, Eric Holder, Lanny Breuer, Neal Wolin, et al.

The time to strike is now!

Strike deadly and strike true . . . .

Posted by sgt_doom on February 5, 2013 at 10:31 AM