The whole world in his hands
November 20th 2010 23:24
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
-- St. Bernard of Clairveaux
I’m glad to see someone discussing the executive order President Obama issued authorizing the killing of al-Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, an American by birth and citizenship. The court case mentioned at the beginning of that article could set a crucial precedent whichever way it turns out.
Personally, though, I’m not sure which part of it is a “vexing legal question” – al-Awlaki has not been tried in a court of law, much less convicted. Even if he had, rhetorical and moral support for terrorism is not a capital crime. And even if it was, Predator drone missile strike is not a manner of execution recognized by any state in the Union. If the President is determined to have the authority to issue a mark of death to one American citizen in this manner, nothing prevents him (or any other Commander-in-Chief) from doing the same to any other.
No-one would suggest that al-Qaeda is not a threat to certain American interests, and is not a significant security challenge. But it is nowhere near as significant a threat as Americans who overstate external threats, or who are unable to remember America’s founding principles in the face of significant challenges. It’s been a long time since anyone argued that our respect for individual rights and freedoms is precious, and what made us different from our enemies. Perhaps some of the people suggesting that we should shoot a Hellfire missile at an New Mexican living in Yemen, or that President Obama should just use executive orders to further the parts of his agenda they believe in, have good intentions. But America deserves much, much more than that.
-- St. Bernard of Clairveaux
I’m glad to see someone discussing the executive order President Obama issued authorizing the killing of al-Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, an American by birth and citizenship. The court case mentioned at the beginning of that article could set a crucial precedent whichever way it turns out.
Personally, though, I’m not sure which part of it is a “vexing legal question” – al-Awlaki has not been tried in a court of law, much less convicted. Even if he had, rhetorical and moral support for terrorism is not a capital crime. And even if it was, Predator drone missile strike is not a manner of execution recognized by any state in the Union. If the President is determined to have the authority to issue a mark of death to one American citizen in this manner, nothing prevents him (or any other Commander-in-Chief) from doing the same to any other.
No-one would suggest that al-Qaeda is not a threat to certain American interests, and is not a significant security challenge. But it is nowhere near as significant a threat as Americans who overstate external threats, or who are unable to remember America’s founding principles in the face of significant challenges. It’s been a long time since anyone argued that our respect for individual rights and freedoms is precious, and what made us different from our enemies. Perhaps some of the people suggesting that we should shoot a Hellfire missile at an New Mexican living in Yemen, or that President Obama should just use executive orders to further the parts of his agenda they believe in, have good intentions. But America deserves much, much more than that.
| 44 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
