US Government Releases Justification for Killing US Citizen by Drone

Julian —  25. June 2014 — 1 Comment

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A Thin Rationale for Drone Killings (NYT):

The Obama administration on Monday reluctantly released its justification for killing an American citizen, Anwar al-Awlaki, whom it considered a terrorist, in a 2011 drone strike in Yemen. But the rationale provides little confidence that the lethal action was taken with real care. (…)

Instead, the memo turns out to be a slapdash pastiche of legal theories — some based on obscure interpretations of British and Israeli law — that was clearly tailored to the desired result. (…)

There’s no explanation given in the memo for how the United States knew Mr. Awlaki was planning “imminent” mayhem, as the memo claims. (…)

Oh, let’s not forget that a) Anwar al-Awlaki’s 16 year old son and a US citizen as well, was killed in a drone strike a few days later too and that b) Obama received the nobel prize for peace.

(Pic CC from Official U.S. Navy Imagery)

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