I remember reading somewhere about a Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial, oh yes that was before 911 "changed everything," and we all became guilty until proven innocent. Commondreams.org:
The Obama Administration has authorised the targeted killing of an American citizen, Anwar al-Awlaki, in what is believed to be an unprecedented move in the War against Terror.
The suspect's parent's are maintaining that he is innocent, not a threat, (perhaps delusional or mentally ill?) and are frantically trying to get someone in the administration to listen to them. I guess Hillary isn't returning their calls.
In this realm, Obama has managed the nearly impossible: he has surpassed his predecessor in crypto-fascist behavior and put it behind a clean-cut smiley face...
Bush killed American citizen Kamal Derwish in a Predator drone strike in Yemen in 2002, as he traveled in a vehicle with suspected Al Qaeda, but maintained he did not know Derwish was on-board. This is an important qualitative difference. What Bush maintains he did on accident, kill an American without his right to trial, Obama claims openly the authority to do.
It's not hard to see where this is heading. In the War on Terror the entire world is the "battlefield," including domestic soil. This is one heckuva tool to get rid of a pesky reporter about to break open the new ENRON scandal. Remember, when Obama is gone, God forbid, a Sarah Palin or a Mitt Romney will have this power too.
According to US media reports, the radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who has been linked to last November's attack on Fort Hood, Texas, and the failed Christmas day airline bomb plot, has been approved for capture or killing.
Glen Greenwald was one of the first to notice when the trial balloon went out, blogging about a NY Times piece:
buried in Priest's article is her revelation that American citizens are now being placed on a secret "hit list" of people whom the President has personally authorized to be killed...
Should we always believe and trust Big Brother? What should come to mind is images of Brandon Mayfield, an attorney charged with terrorism who would still be rotting in jail if the Spanish government itself hadn't stepped in and said they had the wrong guy. The feds acccused him in the Madrid bombings and said the fingerprint was "100% verified." But Judge Ann Aiken's said afterwards the information was largely "fabricated and concocted by the FBI and DOJ."
Or try Louis Greco in Boston who spent 15 years in jail and died there for a crime he did not commit, whose family was awarded part of a $100 million settlement last year. Greco was a World War II double Bronze Star, framed for murder. Judge Nancy Gertner said the FBI "encouraged perjury, and helped frame" four men for murder in the largest settlement in history.
When you scan the horizon for presidential candidates, it is sad that the only one really calling attention to these outrages to the Constitution is Ron Paul, and we're not allowed to talk about him here, since the rules of the site say this is for 'Democrats, for electing Democrats.' Nice company you are keeping now, Markos.
And of course, we'll always have those who maintain this has something to do with keeping us safe, and always take the government at its word. Baaa.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence." Sixth Amendment of the Bill of Rights, enacted 1791