al-Awlaki killed in Yemen
Multiple news outlets are reporting that Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born (and American citizen) Yemeni leader for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has been killed in Yemen by US drones and/or jet strikes. Al-Awlaki’s death is being confirmed by US officials after a report from Yemen said that he was “targeted and killed 8 KM (about 5 miles) from the town of Khashef in the Province of Jawf, 140KM (about 80 miles) east of the Capital Sana’a.”
Al-Awlaki is thought to have been behind the failed Christmas Day bombing attempt in Detroit in 2009 as well as the Fort Hood massacre by Major Nidal Hasan on November 5, 2009.
Al-Awlaki was a relatively effective propagandist for al Qaeda because of his fluency in English. Fortunately, it will not be easy for al Qaeda to replace him. Knowing that a drone will take you out if you take the newly vacant job will also be a deterrent to finding qualified applicants.
The world is a safer and better place with Anwar al-Awlaki, or rather pieces of him, somewhere on the path to hell.
| Print article | This entry was posted by Rossputin on 09/30/11 at 06:36:00 am . Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. |
Yours truly
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09/30/11 @ 06:38:02 pm
"The world is a safer and better place." Agreed.
"Knowing that a drone will take you out if you take the newly vacant job will also be a deterrent to finding qualified applicants." Agreed.
That American citizens can be ordered killed by the executive branch without due process? Appalling.
Have a trial and give him an opportunity to show up or be represented by counsel in absentia. Convict him for treason (or whatever) and then sentence him to death.
Yeah, this guy was a really bad guy and it's obvious to everybody. But where does the line get drawn? What if at some point the president believes my speech is problematic and invents some reason to take me out? This is not paranoia, history has shown it can happen again and again. That's why we have due process protections.