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by **GLX** » Wed May 22, 2013 4:30 pm

One day before President Obama is due to deliver a major speech on national security, his administration on Wednesday formally acknowledged that the United States had killed four American citizens in drone strikes in Yemen and Pakistan.

In a letter to Congressional leaders obtained by The New York Times, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. disclosed that the administration had deliberately killed Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical Muslim cleric who was killed in a drone strike in September 2011 in Yemen.

The American responsibility for Mr. Awlaki’s death has been widely reported, but the administration had until now refused to confirm or deny it.

The letter also said that the United States had killed three other Americans: Samir Khan, who was killed in the same strike; Mr. Awlaki’s son Abdulrahman al-Awlaki, who was also killed in Yemen; and Jude Mohammed, who was killed in a strike in Pakistan.

“These individuals were not specifically targeted by the United States,” Mr. Holder wrote.

More here: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/us/us ... .html?_r=0

by **The Old Doctor** » Wed May 22, 2013 4:37 pm

by **Thunderstorm** » Wed May 22, 2013 4:48 pm

At least Obama is holding on to his Change promises. We should elect Dexter next time.

by **habitual** » Wed May 22, 2013 5:02 pm

I have zero problem with Awlaki being assassinated.

Hab

by **guitarsmashley** » Wed May 22, 2013 6:25 pm

I'm pretty fucking liberal but who gives a fuck if terrorists were killed American or otherwise? I'd much rather them killed by drones than put soldiers lives at risk.

by **S.F. Jude Terror** » Wed May 22, 2013 6:28 pm

I bigger issue to me is the lack of transparency into who we're killing with drones and the probable lack of accountability for deciding who we're killing with drones.

by **dairydead** » Wed May 22, 2013 6:32 pm

S.F. Jude Terror wrote:I bigger issue to me is the lack of transparency into who we're killing with drones and the probable lack of accountability for deciding who we're killing with drones.

Yeah, this. I mean, I'm all about assassinating terrorists, but if they felt the need to lie about it in the first place, it doesn't really give me a lot of confidence that they thought this through as well as they should have.

by **Thunderstorm** » Wed May 22, 2013 6:43 pm

I don't have the least bit of sympathy if some terrorist has his brains blown out. But just like damn near everything else, nobody bothers to look at the giant can of worms something like this opens. American citizens can be assassinated by order of the President. No trial, no innocent until proven guilty, not one damn thing American about it.

But I'm sure this is the one single overreach by our government that they won't ever abuse in the future. :roll:

by **The Old Doctor** » Wed May 22, 2013 6:49 pm

Thunderstorm wrote:I don't have the least bit of sympathy if some terrorist has his brains blown out. But just like damn near everything else, nobody bothers to look at the giant can of worms something like this opens. American citizens can be assassinated by order of the President. No trial, no innocent until proven guilty, not one damn thing American about it.

But I'm sure this is the one single overreach by our government that they won't ever abuse in the future.

It was then that a drone fired a missile at Thunderstorm. Obama cackled with joy. "Sarcasm has it's price!" screamed Obama.

by **achilles** » Wed May 22, 2013 8:33 pm

Cat-Scratch wrote:
It was then that a drone fired a missile at Thunderstorm. Obama cackled with joy. "Sarcasm has it's price!" screamed Obama.

Drone? Cat, you're behind the times. Obama would have him audited by the IRS, his phone tapped by the FBI, who would also go through his trash, and every other federal agency he could find to go after him. He don't need no stinking drones.

by **Rockman** » Wed May 22, 2013 8:40 pm

In practice it seems like it's extraordinary circumstances that this happens, but on paper it's terrifying. I really believe that tyranny is always right around the corner, and giving our inept government this kind of power is terrifying.

The key word is American Citizens.

by **pastajoe** » Wed May 22, 2013 10:28 pm

dairydead wrote:
Yeah, this. I mean, I'm all about assassinating terrorists, but if they felt the need to lie about it in the first place, it doesn't really give me a lot of confidence that they thought this through as well as they should have.

They didn't lie, they just didn't previously confirm or deny. Let's hear what the president has to say before passing judgement.

But I have no problem with taking out terrorists overseas that are plotting to harm Americans, even if they are technically American citizens.

by **guitarsmashley** » Thu May 23, 2013 7:47 am

Guys, get your panties out of a twist. It's obvious these weren't "white" people.

by **CountD** » Thu May 23, 2013 8:25 am

S.F. Jude Terror wrote:I bigger issue to me is the lack of transparency into who we're killing with drones and the probable lack of accountability for deciding who we're killing with drones.

i'm not condoning killing anyone (even tho they say that one guy was tied to the failed underwear plane bomber). i'm guessing that sometimes covert operations have to remain that way for a certain amount of time.

is anyone here CIA and can give us the real scoop? :lol: