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Frightening

Reuters:

Secret panel can put Americans on “kill list’

American militants like Anwar al-Awlaki are placed on a kill or capture list by a secretive panel of senior government officials, which then informs the president of its decisions, according to officials.

I can’t say that I have a problem with killing terrorists. But I can say I have a problem with bureaucrats who spend $900 on a hammer making such decisions.

21 Responses to “Frightening”

  1. John Smith. Says:

    What is to stop them from operating within the USA if they already don’t ?

  2. Mr Evilwrench Says:

    Not a damn thing, all you need is the right gangsters in charge.

  3. GD Says:

    That’s not a hammer, it is a multi-directional impact generator, and worth every penny

  4. A Critic Says:

    “Several officials said that when Awlaki became the first American put on the target list, Obama was not required personally to approve the targeting of a person.”

    So we have a group of anonymous unelected government officials who can order anyone killed. And that’s supposed to be legal?

  5. mikee Says:

    The $900 hammer is a result of government contracting, and occurs under at least three circumstances.

    First, the government refuses to pay in a timely fashion for the $5 hammer that was delivered. After 3 to 6 to 18 months of requests for payment, the late fees add up to a $900 hammer.

    Second, the hammer is a noncontract item requested after the contract is signed, and is priced to cover all the extra costs associated with fulfilling the initial contract, like changes the government insisted upon, but had not contracted for, made after the contract was signed. The $900 hammer is accepted by the government contracting agents as a means of covering up their incompetence in ordering the original work.

    Third of course is the $5 dollar hammer sold for $900, in which the governemnt contracting agent gets a job with the supplier after he quits his government job.

    As for the secrecy of the panel deciding upn the deaths of Americans, I believe this was already brought to light before Obamacare passed. So don’t act like you didn’t know about it.

  6. Bubblehead Les Says:

    Hmmm. Wonder what would happen if that Secret Gooberment Panel decided to put a Presidential Candidate on the List….

  7. Jay Says:

    Bubblehead Les: Well, the vast majority of GOP candidates are in favor of the secret panel, so I guess they’d be okay with being put on it.

  8. junyo Says:

    I have a problem with the US government putting out hits on US citizens without any semblance of due process, (alleged) asshole or not, (allegedly) deserving or not.

    I didn’t understand why it wasn’t a big deal when they announce that they had the right to do it, and i don’t understand why this isn’t a bigger deal now. This is a blazingly bright line, that a government can’t cross and maintain legitimacy.

  9. Chas Says:

    Markie Marxist sez: “Assassination is the new due process for American citizens. Pretty cool, huh?”

  10. harp1034 Says:

    It is only a matter of time before it is used against American citzens here in the USA.

  11. emdfl Says:

    True dat, harp, but the blowback from that is liable to get a little unpleasent.

  12. Kristopher Says:

    This panel is just to make sure the person in question has actually joined Al Qaida.

    If you go to war against the US, you can either die, or surrender.

  13. Kristopher Says:

    Chas: American citizens who joined the Waffen SS were either killed as enemy soldiers, or put up against a wall and shot when captured.

    Same thing here.

  14. junyo Says:

    This panel is just to make sure the person in question has actually joined Al Qaida.

    So what’s so difficult about publicly proving it, and having a member of some judiciary somewhere rule on it?

  15. Robert Says:

    Kris: Big diff: No uniform, no declaration of war and no Geneva convention framework. Other than that, just exactly the same.

    If it’s all on the up and up, and not just some magical power the government pulled out of hat, then show us the Constitutional reference and make the case.

  16. John Smith. Says:

    He cannot Robert… None of the strip of your citizenship and execution types can because there is no case. The reason these guys are being killed is that giving them their rights to due process is an inconvenience…

    http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2001/12/can_john_walker_be_stripped_of_his_us_citizenship.html

  17. larry weeks Says:

    Didn’t you see Independance Day? “You don’t actually think they spend $20,000 on a hammer, $30,000 on a toilet seat, do you?” Siphoning the money to support Area 51, a worthwhile expenditure!

  18. comatus Says:

    Mikey left one out: agency specs out R&D and production for thousands of units, then pulls back and buys only the prototype that’s actually in the contract. So, all development, design and production-planning costs fall on that one unit.

    An unfortunate analogy here, since it shows how cheap killing could be, if only carried out on an industrial scale.

  19. Kristopher Says:

    Robert: Not wearing a uniform does not get you a free pass.

    In fact, during WWII, enemy soldiers fighting out of uniform were summarily executed by both sides.

  20. Kristopher Says:

    John Smith:

    I am not advocating stripping him of citizenship.

    If you join an organization that had declared war against, and attacked the United States, expect to get shot or blown up if you fail to surrender.

    If you are not fighting in uniform, the Hague convention allows summary execution in the field.

    If someone like John Walker ends up as a POW ( and wasn’t summarily shot for fighting out of uniform ), then he should get a treason trial as a US citizen. On that, I agree.

  21. divemedic Says:

    There is a process in the COTUS for dealing with Americans who join Al Qaida. In fact, this crime was so important, it is the ONLY crime mentioned in the Constitution: Article 3, Section 3:

    Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

    The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

Remember, I do this to entertain me, not you.

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