After reading the article, it appears that this person is in a fairly secure location, very difficult to reach. So, apparently, we will no longer have to run the risk of sending in ground troops, or negotiating with foreign Nations to acquire one of our own home grown "terrorists".
So, basically, what's being proposed is that we simply use a drone to kill him - eliminating the threat of any future terrorist actions, and/or claiming vengeance/justice for his crimes against US citizens. The problem is that this pretty much nullifies the Constitution. Apparently, we are no longer required to offer a fair trial when an American citizen is in another Country. Apparently, it is no longer necessary to prove guilt. There is a reason that we are innocent until proven guilty - it is to prevent things like this from happening, to prevent executive and military powers from being abused.
Of course, it could be argued that this is simple practicality. Better to eliminate the threat without risking lives, potentially disastrous political situations and international outrage. A fair point, perhaps, if you ignore the fact that this is a human life we're talking about, if you ignore the fact that this is a US citizen who is entitled to certain rights and protections.
I'm fairly curious though, as to why we're even being told about it, as to why they haven't simply eliminated the man through some covert operation already. Perhaps the media was able to learn of what was going on before that step was taken. Perhaps this is an attempt to justify the drone program to Americans here at home.
There are a lot of questions to be asked here. Is the "potential" for danger, or the "possible" threat of terrorist action enough to ignore one's right to a fair trial - even if they are a US citizen? If so, could it not then be argued that anyone at all could be eliminated because they might represent a threat to the safety of others? Think of the wide variety of ways this could be abused - probably is already being abused and almost certainly will be abused in the future.
I realize that this is a difficult case, that lives could be lost in attempting to capture this man for a fair trial. Yet it is still our responsibility, our obligation as Americans and as human beings to make that attempt. Whatever this man is guilty of, or may be guilty of, should have to be proven in a court of law before his execution can be simply carried out. Otherwise... we should be very concerned for our future and what might happen when this sort of power might very well belong to the likes of Chris Christie, Rand Paul, Mike Huckabee, Paul Ryan... the list goes on.
If we permit this to go about without arguing, without demanding accountability and the rule of law... then we permit our own freedom, our own rights to be sacrificed upon the altar of practicality. We cannot abide by the law only when it is convenient... when it is "safer" to do so. The law must apply to everyone, or it is not law at all.
= new reply since forum marked as read
- Anyone who believes these lying POS deserves what they get. This is... 
