Yesterday the US Government conducted a drone attack on Anwar al-Awlaki, most in the U.S. are pleased with the assassination of this suspected terrorists. I would say that he probably is guilty of everything our Government claims him to be and got mostly what he deserved. However, he did not get everything he deserved, and while this may come to a shock to some, he should have gotten a trial and not an assassination.
Why would I make the claim that he, a terrorist, should have gotten a trial? Because he was a U.S. Citizen and per the U.S. Constitution it says he has the right to one.
Article III Section III: Treason
“Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Congress shall have power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.”
Before everyone starts jumping and hollering that I am supporting al-Qaeda, terrorism, or Islam or something crazy like that let me jog your memory. Remember the Lexicon Report by the DHS in where they defined what a domestic extremist was? I’ll list some of those dangerous groups out for you.
· Pro-Life
· Pro-Gun
· Environmentalists
· Animal Rights Advocates
· Patriot Movement
· Tax Protestors
· Anti-Illegal Immigration
· Anti-War
Then there is the MIAC Report that came out, that many other states has similar reports about the Modern Militia Movement in which many of the same groups were listed and also include veterans and third party voters.
Here is a video with Judge Napolitano and Glenn Beck discussing President Obama saying that he has the right to authorize the assassination of U.S. Citizens. In short Beck says that even if a U.S. Citizen is suspected of terrorism or being in al-Qaeda is assassinated it should be considered murder.
This sets a dangerous precedent (as this article points out) that if you disagree with the government you may be considered a terrorist and that the US Constitution can be violated and you can be assassinated. One of the main problems I have with this assassination is that if he was the big cog in the wheel we are told he is then why not put him on trial and find out everything and everyone he knew. Now that information has died with him.
So let’s not be so quick to celebrate this as we violated our own Constitution in order to make us feel good for the moment about our global War on Terror (a tactic). If we sacrifice who we are for convenience then we will eventually endanger us all, but not to terrorist overseas, but to tyrants right here at home.
