Washington, May 19 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) announced today that he will introduce legislation that would end the practice of targeting U.S. citizens for extrajudicial killing. Earlier this year, The Washington Post and The New York Times revealed that the Obama Administration was continuing the Bush-era policy of including U.S. citizens on lists of people to be assassinated without a trial. Kucinich has spoken out forcefully against revoking the basic constitutional rights of American citizens for simply being suspected of involvement with terrorism, and he is currently recruiting cosponsors for his bill.If Dennis Kucinich gets it, why don't the rest of them down there?
This whole issues suggests that the Obama Administration has misplaced its moral compass. And, now, Dennis Kucinich is coming to the rescue. The odds are, he won't be wrong all the time.
When he is right, he is right.
Regards — Cliff
PS: Hat tip to Jack Mitchell.
"Simply being suspected of being a terrorist....." is an obvious bit of hyperbole to discredit the practice. I can hear the old "slippery slope" argument again. In the current matter, there is much more than "simple suspicion."
ReplyDeleteThe argument to "wait and see" and then go arrest him and try him in a lawful court is way too politically correct and wreckless in its outcome. Not more than a week or two ago, a British Army general officer circulated a suggestion that caught traction in the McChrystal headquarters. Suddenly all the REMFs hopped on the bandwagon to promote the initiative as "brilliant." In its "simplest" form, it was a medal for "Courageous Restraint".....awarded to troops who held their fire until they could be absolutely certain that a "innocent civilian" would not be HARMED....not just killed....HARMED. Obama even crowed to Karzai that American troops would now go so far as giving the enemy "first shot" before engaging them.
So.....that first shot may be the only necessary shot...but "hey"....we've followed the rule of law and been PC. Same with these pieces of human detritus who turn on their own country and people. Why on earth would we want to give THEM the "first shot?" We know what they want to do. Its like allowing the burglar to actually enter and burgle your home...just so you can have evidence that is what he planned to do...even when he is standing outside forcing his way into the house. The apologists will of course argue that he just wanted to use the bathroom really bad.
Insane!!!
It's oh-so-easy to be in favor of such when the crosshairs are pointed at somebody else. For my part, I'm offended that it would be qualified by the arbitrary category "US citizens". (For which I'm guessing necrossland might think I'd need to be targeted next).
ReplyDeleteWe either stand for something, or we don't. All men are created equal, or they're not. It is, as some very wise men once said, self-evident that due process can't be something that we turn on and turn off depending on how we feel about someone or something.
I'm embarrassed and ashamed that there are those here who have inherited their citizenship and who do not understand it, nor, by their opinions denying it to others at the point of an extra-judicial execution, deserve it themselves. (Ironic that they cower behind protections greedily kept only to themselves).
Or, put another way--does this mean that terrorists extra-judicially executing Americans is OK?
Well Kad.....is it okay for American expat terrorists extra-judicially executing Americans because of American "due process." Who speaks for the "due process" of the American being executed? Who speaks for the "due process" you fawn about for the thousands killed in the WT massacre?
ReplyDeleteIf you kill people...especially Americans (since I am American)....who are innocent of anything but being in the wrong place at the wrong time...I think you have effectively ceded your "rights" to "due process" other than being located and either taken into custody or....if there is any "justice" at all....eliminated because you resisted apprehension.
If you don't want to be killed...then don't unlawfully kill someone else. Seems very simple and straight forward.