The Obama administration Wednesday directed the Justice Department to release classified documents discussing the legal justification for the use of drones in targeting U.S. citizens abroad who are considered terrorists to the two congressional intelligence committees.
The announcement appears to refer to 2010 memos from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel justifying the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S.-born cleric who had joined al-Qaida in Yemen. He was killed in a CIA drone strike in September 2011. Members of Congress have long demanded access to the memorandum.
The decision to release the legal memos to the intelligence committees came under pressure, two days after a bipartisan group of 11 senators joined a growing chorus asking for more information about the legal justification for targeted killings, especially of Americans. The announcement also came on the eve of the confirmation hearing scheduled for Thursday for John Brennan, President Obama’s choice to be director of the CIA. Brennan was the chief architect of the drone program as Obama’s counterterrorism adviser.
Until Wednesday night, the administration had refused to even officially acknowledge the existence of the documents, which have been reported about in the media. This week, NBC News obtained an unclassified, shorter legal memo, described as a “white paper,” that officials said described the legal framework that officials follow in using the drones.
Administration officials said Obama had decided to take the action — which they described as extraordinary — out of a desire to involve Congress in the development of the legal framework for the use of drones. Aides noted that Obama had made a pledge to do that during an appearance on “The Daily Show” last year.
This is big news and I am hoping it will give Congress, and hopefully the American people, some idea as to how it is determined that an individual is considered dangerous enough to justify raining death down on him from the skies.
Personally I don't think this will provide much solace for those of us who find this kind of death dealing abhorrent but at least it indicates more transparency from this administration and it is certainly a hell of a lot more than we EVER got from the Bush administration.
I'm so sick and tired of Congress going after our President for anything and everything. If an American is a terrorist and is doing evil things, he should be killed. I cannot believe that President Obama and his people in charge don't do substantial investigations into these people before sending over the drones. President Obama is too smart not to be very careful with this.
ReplyDeleteEveryone gets on the band wagon - media - they are all saying the same thing - fucking amazing!
If President Obama wasn't doing his job they'd be after him for that too. Terrorist are living amongst us, there is no doubt about it.
I agree with you. I have every confidence in President Obama and I believe that he would never undertake this authority lightly. While George W. Bush liked to pretend that he was a cowboy there is none of that in President Obama who is an adult every minute of the day.
DeleteBeaglemom
I once heard Hillary Clinton say about the people who criticize her husband: If he could walk on water, they'd complain that he couldn't swim.
DeleteI think that Obama's critics would do the same.
I agree with the first commenter, this is more Right wing ginned up bullshit and Rachel and Co are happy to jump on the emo prog firebagger bandwagon!
DeleteI will be happy when Al Jazzeera goes online on Current b/c hopefully THEY are a higher standard of "news"! Remember, MSNBC treated Joe McGinnis like shit about his book on Baldy!
MSNBC is owned by RW Mogul media don't forget!
Tired of this bullshit.
Tired of the whining cons bleating bullshit at every fucking turn.
I wish they would stfu!
Though I find the principle of drone fighting to be problematic - even though it may save ground troops and cut monetary costs - I am disappointed to see Maddow gin this issue up as she has. You expect Fox News to savagely go after President Obama on this but Maddow has not been even-handed. She needs to point out repeatedly that this started under Cheney-Bush, that there are situations where it is impracticable to send in troops either due to terrain, time, or costs.
DeleteWar is ugly. There are always innocent lives lost. The only way to avoid collateral damage is not to engage in war-like activities, a choice not possible or practical these days.
Yes, I worry about a Republican wielding this power and worry how drones cold be misused domesticall, and what other countries might do when they get these weapons but that is why it is important that Congress put limits on drone usage anddrones be included in international treaties. The technology is not going away. Like atomic weapons, they must beregulated and tough sanctions be imposed upon their misuse. Drones have the potential to limit wholesale loss of life but they can be misused. President Obama seems to carefully weighthe costs against the benefits of using them in each case.
President Obama cannot be seen as weak on defense. Many of his critics will give him a pass on the drones even if they’re illegal (and I think they are).
ReplyDeleteFor my own gratification, I’d like to see Brennan take a page from Hillary’s playbook and kick some serious republican ass, especially Aqua Buddha, but I think Rand is too cowardly to confront Brennan man-to-man; he prefers to snipe from the sidelines.
I love drones and would like to see them used more often. Much better than sending our sons/daughters over there to be slaughtered.
ReplyDeleteA Different Anonymous
ReplyDeleteIf al-Awlaki had decided to desert America, travel to the Middle East, join
Al Queda and dedicate his life to killing Americans and bringing down our government, then essentially he had given up his American citizenship. He was a traitor.
That would be enough to rain death down upon him from the skies. He was not a nice man
Does that same justification work for his son? http://tinyurl.com/3fg2xhq
DeleteAnd let's not forget that these same drone attacks are being perceived around the world quite differently than they are perceived here in the US. Essentially to Middle Eastern nations we are being seen as monsters, who casually kill innocent bystanders without a second thought.
Which of course is pretty close to the truth. So keep it up because what goes around comes around. 911 should have been a lesson.
DeleteI'm the first response to Gryphen's article above and I'm delighted to see that there are people out there that actually agree with me. It wasn't feeling that way as I've watched the regular news and cable channels.
ReplyDeleteProven terrorists deserve to be killed and I'd prefer drones doing it vs military people. President Obama is handling this matter correctly, but Congress is trying to destroy him! Just look at how they are coming after him from all different directions! It literally makes me sick to my stomach. I so hope people vote many of the fat ass, Republican white guys OUT this next election cycle. McConnell, from Kentucky, would be a great place to begin!
We need limits to serving in Congress. They should not be allowed different health insurance programs than the rest of us and they should not become millionaires while serving. And, they should not be allowed to become lobbyist after having served in Congress. Our system is so damned corrupt!
Truth is, Obama has been forced to reveal his program of death from the skies which is obviously criminal action by the US. Maybe we can tell it like it really is this time.
ReplyDeleteThe question of whether or not a person loses their rights when attacking the country is one that needs to be legally determined. It needs to be a serious discussion among ALL the US citizens - calmly and intelligently and without predetermined locks on anyone's brains. No preconceived notions.
ReplyDeleteWhy?
Because as I wrote in my response to the thread Gryphen posted within the past few days, whether you like what a person does or not, whether you like what that person says or not, the fact is that it is UNQUESTIONABLY a massive violation of TWO amendments to the US Constitution - the 5th and the 6th - at least!
Hell, even a gross murderer with lots of witnesses is arrested for trial instead of summarily executed!
As long as the LAW requires a particular action (and provided the law is not in question as to its validity), the LAW needs to be followed. Is there anyone out there who believes the 5th and 6th amendments are not valid?
That is MY concern. Because a drone works as well in Pakistan as it does in Toledo!
This very idea needs to be examined extremely closely. The unfortunate part to me is that it needs to be the Congress who deliberates this and then have their decisions checked by SCOTUS.
Excellent points Leland. Gryphen, I don't understand why this is not a bigger story than it is. This is not the unintended death of a citizen as a result of military action against an enemy. This is the deliberate targeting of a citizen for summary execution without due process. This is not a Right/Left issue, it's a right/wrong issue. President Obama is just as wrong on this as Bush. Where there is freedom there is dissent. How long will it be before dissidents are deemed terrorists and can be dispatched from the sky by a future POTUS?
DeleteI remember when George W was president you couldn't say anything against the SOB! Everyone on the right came down on you as if there was something wrong with you! The something wrong was George W and his old fart cronies stole the White House and look at the mess they got us into--war and the super bad economy alone are enough!
ReplyDelete