Added on September 30, 2011
Jason Rink
assassinations , Obama
Awlaqi killing reignites US debate on rights
(AFP)
30 September 2011, 7:12 PM
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WASHINGTON — The killing of US-born Al-Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlaqi has renewed the debate over how far Washington can go in hunting down and assassinating alleged terror suspects who are American citizens. Awlaqi, killed in Yemen with several other suspected militants, had been at the center of a court case filed last year challenging the US government’s right to target its own citizens for assassination which highlighted questions about constitutional rights.Many US lawmakers and other Americans cheered the news of Awlaqi’s death, but civil rights backers said the case raises serious questions.
Glenn Greenwald, a lawyer and commentator, said there had been no effort to indict Awlaqi on any crimes and that there was “substantial doubt” about his involvement in any attacks against the US.
“He was simply ordered killed by the president: his judge, jury and executioner,” Greenwald wrote on Salon.com.
“What’s most amazing is that its citizens will not merely refrain from objecting, but will stand and cheer the US government’s new power to assassinate their fellow citizens, far from any battlefield, literally without a shred of due process,” he added.
Last year, civil liberties groups filed a lawsuit on behalf of the cleric’s father, Nasser al-Awlaqi, saying it was unconstitutional for the CIA to order the death of an American citizen without due process.
A judge dismissed the case without ruling on the merit of the suit, saying he could not legally block the government from targeting Awlaqi, but said it raises serious constitutional issues.
“Can (the president) order the assassination of a US citizen without first affording him any form of judicial process whatsoever…
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by Jason Rink
Jason is a contributing author of "Ron Paul: A Life of Ideas," the biography of Congressman Ron Paul, and the author of"Disciple of Liberty: Seven Priorities of a Christian Patriot."
His work has also been featured on the anti-war, anti-state, pro-market website Lewrockwell.com.
He has appeared as a guest on FOX Business Channel's "America's Nightly Scoreboard" , the FOX News program "On The Record with Greta Van Susteren," and "Freedom Watch" with Judge Andrew Napolitano.
Jason is a former pastor and church planter. He also was a Vice President with JP Morgan Chase, a position he held while simultaneously working as a grassroots activist to End the Federal Reserve. He is one of the founders of the Ohio Freedom Alliance, and Ohio Liberty Council. Currently, he is the Executive Director of The Foundation for a Free Society, a 501c3 non-profit, educational organization in Austin, Texas.
Over the last 10 years, he has spoken over one-hundred times to audiences of all ages, ranging from 20 to 20,000 in attendance. He speaks on topics such as State Sovereignty, the U.S. Constitution, Early American History, Political Activism, Money and Economics.
Jason lives in Austin, TX with his wife of 11 years, Tisa, his 10-year old son, Ethan, and dog named Rocco. Check out his personal website at JasonRink.com.
