Obama authorizes assassination of U.S. citizen (Page 2)

There's plenty of secret missions that have been done and will continue to be done when there are perceived threats.  The CIA, KGB and those types of organizations play by different rules whether we think it is right or wrong it's the way it goes.  I guess I'm ok with it.  I don't think this will happen to me, I think if wrongly accused it's usually a you hang with dog you get fleas kind of thing...

Nah...I purposefully didn't say "republican" and "democrat". 

Then I must respectfully disagree with your assertion.

A hard-core conservative would probably balk at this just as much as a hard-core liberal, but probably on different principles.

The true conservative would consider this government involvement, and probably too high a level of government involvement. Additionally, this policy would fly in the face of established, respected policies and ideals that a true conservative would hold dear.

So no, a hard-core conservative would most likely disagree with this policy, if it were enacted.

I know Libertarians disagree with it.  Authoritarians, often found on the extreme left or right will probably agree or disagree based on who is in power at the time.  (just my opinion though)  For a Libertarian, the left and right is not the polar opposite, it's the Authoritarians on both ends that we want to kick the crap out of. 

I have no problems with it.  If he is plotting to kill americans or help those that are, shoot him.  Then move on to the next target.  Why wait untill he kills a few hundred. 

So we can't waterboard a known foreign terrorist, but its OK to murder a US citizen who as far as we know has only said things against our nation.  A schizophrenic policy at best.

Khalid Sheik Mohammad was waterboarded how many times?  Did we get anything out of him after the 5th, 20th, 40th...60th+ time he was waterboarded?  The point is, there are methods with higher rates of success for extracting information if they've got information.
"...only said things against our nation."  You really think that's all we have on this guy?  I'm going out on a limb to say they probably have proof he's a dangerous fellow.

We're veering off track here.  My point bringing this up was not to say that this action is justified or not.  Or that giving the 911 terrorists the right to a criminal trial is right or wrong.

My point is that how can you do ONE and at the same time do the other?  It seems to be at total odds with one another. 

Bush was far from a hard core conservative. Someone pointed out that Bush and Obama sound a like when talking about terrorism. Well, duh, they are both cut from the same ideological cloth. A statist is a statist no matter if he puts a R or a D after his name. They can both talk a good game about individual liberty but, when you come right down to it they both believe that government is the highest power and can do whatever it damn well pleases and trample all over individual rights for the "safety and security of the empire".

What about all the other "dangerous fellows" who are U.S. citizens here and abroad?  Is it OK to snuff them out as well?  What about due process?  Why don't we just exterminate all the "dangerous fellows" at GITMO?  Oh wait, we can't, they aren't U.S. citizens.

Listening to Obama talk about the KSM trial it is readily apparent that there is no way this guy is getting anything but the chair, trial or not.

The trial is an inconsequential passion play to appease those who think it really matters.

Obviously, I understand KSM is not a citizen and I certainly do not support KSM in anyway as we should kill him like the monster he is, but it leads to my point that at the core of this administration, and the last one (to avoid name calling), rights of individuals ultimately mean nothing.

 

Nobody is going to be able to address the clear hypocrisy which you spelled out.  There is simply no way unless one uses a lot of fallacy to steer around it.  This is they type of questioning which needs to be presented to government officials instead of, "what has enchanted you the most?" 

As I understand it the numbers you cite for KSM's waterboarding were the number of pours of water used not the number of sessions in which he was waterboarded.  And yes apparently we did get actionable intelligence out of it.  And are you advocating that they should have just shot KSM instead or that we should capture and waterboard this guy?

Not at all Trinnas.  I don't have access to the information surrounding the situation.  I have to assume the military knows what it's doing when it comes to recommending assassination or arrest for questioning. 
My problems with the previous administration weren't based on our military being too heavy-handed with interrogations, so in a similar vein, I don't care if people are shot/captured/interrogated/killed when they are wishing death and destruction on Americans OR if they are inciting others to kill Americans. 
I want my military-CIA complex doing the dirty work around the world like they've always done, on the down-low.
btw, from what I've heard from experts in the field on interrogation/torture, waterboarding is not the best option for info. extraction.
  

I didn't read all the posts but will add my 2 cents.  Part of my Oath is to "defend against all enemies, foreign  and domestic."  A credible threat to the people of the US as outlined by those in charge of our ELECTED government is a credible threat, US citizen or otherwise.

IOW, I don't have a problem with it and, if you didn't know already,  I am not a big President Obama fan.

I have your back on that one Chief. Sometimes the decision is easy.