Justice memo authorized killing of Al-Awlaki (click here)
(CBS News)
The coalition says Haji Mali Khan, the uncle of Siraj and Badruddin Haqqani, had established a militant camp in Paktiya province in the past year. NATO described Mali Khan as a "revered elder" of the Haqqani clan.
NATO says Mali Khan managed Haqqani bases and oversaw operations in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, moving the insurgent forces from Pakistan into Afghanistan to conduct terrorist activity....
(CBS News)
Anwar al Awlaki's rise from American-born cleric to key terror plotter had put him atop the U.S. terror "hit list." Under the code name Objective Troy, intelligence tracked Awlaki for months near his hideout in Yemen.
Early Friday, a CIA drone found its target.
The Washington Post reports that a secret Justice Department memo sanctioned the killing of Awlaki, a U.S. citizen who became an al Qaeda propagandist and operational leader.The document followed a review by senior administration lawyers of the legal issues raised by the lethal targeting of a U.S. citizen. Administration officials told the Post that there was no dissent about the legality of the killing.
The administration has faced criticism - and a legal challenge - over its targeting of Awlaki, who was born in New Mexico to Yemeni parents. The memorandum may represent an attempt to resolve a legal debate over whether a U.S. president can order the killing of American citizens....
That's fine, but, most of us remember the justification of the "White House" lawyers in regard to torture, too. It is a methodology that the military and the Executive Branch fall back on when they aren't completely exonerated from scrutiny regarding what some of the country considers important issues. I have no doubt the killing of an American born Cleric will get the same scrutiny and demands for changes and/or precautions.
I believe in the case of Awlaki there is overwhelming evidence to say he was giving comfort to the enemy and in fact he had become the enemy. He published in al Qaeda's monthly magazine articles that would support extremist views of mass murder to continue a reign of terror to dismantle modern civilized nations. One can debate the merits of his rantings and the issue of the First Amendment until hell freezes over, but, the network of supporters he was catering to aspired to kill, not negotiate.
Retired Admiral Mullen's 'outing' of the Haqqani Network has born fruit.
Retired Admiral Mullen's 'outing' of the Haqqani Network has born fruit.
October 01, 2011
Senior Haqqani Leader Captured in Afghanistan (click here)
NATO says a joint Afghan and coalition security force has captured the senior Haqqani network leader in Afghanistan. The international alliance says the senior commander was captured Tuesday during an operation in the Paktiya province.The coalition says Haji Mali Khan, the uncle of Siraj and Badruddin Haqqani, had established a militant camp in Paktiya province in the past year. NATO described Mali Khan as a "revered elder" of the Haqqani clan.
NATO says Mali Khan managed Haqqani bases and oversaw operations in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, moving the insurgent forces from Pakistan into Afghanistan to conduct terrorist activity....
