Anwar al-Awlaki was assassinated.

Anwar al-Awlaki the accused terrorist propagandist and plotter was assassinated in Yemen on Friday 30th, September. According to reports al-Awlaki was killed by a CIA drone strike. Of course, the Muslim hating and blood thirsty avengers of the empire are gleeful at the news. However, wiser men and women such as Congressman Ron Paul have pointed out that a U.S. citizen was executed without first being afforded a trial.

I now quote some of Paul's comments to NBC news while in New Hampshire campaigning for the 2011 GOP presidential nomination:

"Al-Awlaki was born here; he is an American citizen. He was never tried or charged for any crimes. No one knows if he killed anybody. We know he might have been associated with the underwear bomber. But if the American people accept this blindly and casually that we now have an accepted practice of the president assassinating people who he thinks are bad guys, I think it's sad.”

"I think what would people have said about Timothy McVeigh? We didn't assassinate him, who we were pretty certain that he had done it. Went and put through the courts then executed him. To start assassinating American citizens without charges, we should think very seriously about this."


I agree wholeheartedly with Ron Paul in his assessment and concern. Now, those who think otherwise could only muster three types of responses.

1) Claim that al-Awlaki was not a U.S. citizen or ceased to be U.S. citizen because he criticized the state and advocated taking up arms against the state.

2) Claim that the U.S. Constitution does not preclude the extra-judicial killing of a U.S. citizen in all circumstance of which this case is representative.

3) Claim that the means justify the ends. Also, make the case that the law cannot keep up with the complexity of the threats that are faced by the U.S. Therefore, the president must act to eliminate threats as needed.


Firstly, al-Awlaki was born in New Mexico. He is a natural born U.S. citizen. As well, criticism of the government or even calling for an armed revolt does not relieve an American of citizenship. A charge of treason is not a letter to the editor but a legal judgement. It has not been made.


Second, the analogy whereby the police are compelled to kill a suspect to protect their own lives or that of others is not germane in this case. Al-Awlaki was not an imminent threat to the U.S. Further, a police officer who discharges his weapon or kills someone must prove that he acted within law. The U.S. government has not presented any evidence to prove that Al-Awlaki was an imminent threat.


Thirdly, giving the president the luxury of ignoring the Constitution and executing U.S. citizens without a trial is a danger to all of us. The definition of terrorism is very malleable (Patriot Act!)and could be used against anyone. The quest for revenge or justice should not lead to the negation of the very article that makes justice possible: the Constitution.

Further Reading:
     The due-process-free assassination of U.S. citizens is now reality by Glenn Greenwald