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Dennis Blair: US Can Kill Suspected American Terrorists Abroad
Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair offered confirmation on Wednesday that the U.S. intelligence community is authorized to assassinate Americans abroad who are considered direct terrorist threats to the United States.
"We take direct actions against terrorists in the intelligence community," Blair told lawmakers at a House Intelligence Committee hearing. "If we think that direct action will involve killing an American, we get specific permission to do that."
Blair, who was on Capitol Hill Wednesday to give an annual threat assessment, also confirmed al Qaeda's continued ambitions to carry out another attack on American soil.
This latest information comes in the wake of a string of terrorist plots that have reportedly stemmed from radicalized Americans overseas.
The Yemeni-American cleric Anwar al Awlaki, a former imam at a mosque in Falls Church, Va., was in contact with both Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the perpetrator of the failed Christmas airline bombing, as well as Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the officer accused of killing 13 people at Ft. Hood, Tex. in November.
Last month, the FBI charged American David Coleman Headley both as an accessory in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and as a plotter in attacks on a Danish newspaper that printed cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in 2005.
Blair's latest disclosure follows last week's Washington Post report that recent military action in Yemen, which had been successful in killing many top al Qaeda officials, but not al Awlaki, was approved by President Obama. Al Awlaki is one of a handful of Americans that has been determined by the National Security Council and the Justice Department to be a U.S. intelligence target.
Some House members raised concerns about these latest developments. Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.), who criticized the intelligence community this week for misconduct surrounding the 2001 attack on a plane piloted by American missionaries in Peru, questioned the policy.
"The targeting of Americans -- it's a very sensitive issue, but again there's been more information in the public domain than what has been shared with this committee," Hoekstra said. "There is no clarity...what is the legal framework?"
Glenn Greenwald penned an op-ed on Thursday criticizing the intelligence community's newly revealed authority to kill Americans abroad. Greenwald argues that "special permissions" for assassinations should not serve as sufficient credentials for murder. Without any judicial approval or oversight, Greenwald says, this process is "basically giving the President the power to impose death sentences on his own citizens without any charges or trial."
81 Comments so far
Show AllIn order to secure freedom, it's important to allow your government to kill those who would take it away from you.
It's a bit too long for a license plate slogan, but then again, we're running out of oil.
The next step:
But what is the point of having freedom unless you believe you have freedom and experience the joy that naturally comes from such a belief? So you must be protected from the underhanded, mendacious, sinister undesirables who could take the joy of freedom away from you by making you doubt you have it in the first place. So it is also important to allow your government to kill those who would make you doubt that you have freedom.
"What's Gov't 'Legal Framework' for Murdering Americans Abroad?"
The law is not carved in stone (or when it is, it needs to be soft stone, easy to erase). The law needs to be as malleable as a webpage and as subject to change.
Remember the rule: "The law is equal to all. But some are more equal than others." It follows that some are less equal to the law. And some are so unequal that the law for all doesn't fit at all. Killing them is probably a kind of euthanasia.
There's a good proverb: "It takes high integrity to sell elastic band by the yard."
"Legal framework" is a naturally occuring elastic. It needs to be stretched to encompass all we're trained to stomach as it expands and our moral girth increases.
Things aren't what they used to be, and they never were. The US Constitution has long grown 'quaint'.
And I feel I'm growing a little faint...
The moral of the story seems to be: "Don't go abroad - gov't may kill you at a whim then." It'll only serve you right for leaving the 'homeland'. If the airport checks don't stop you going, the drones abroad will.
-"There is no clarity...what is the legal framework?"
Do I hear John Yoo running to Obama's rescue?
Don't worry about the law, forget about the, so-called "constitution", Obama killing his own subjects is ok, as long as he gives, himself, "specific permission"
Indeed.
All Obama needs to do is find somebody, ANYBODY, in the O.L.C. willing to pen a paper saying the President can unilaterally order the killing of Americans if he so desires. (Exactly the service Yoo provided Bush in the arena of torture).
Bush/Cheney started this practice and Obama will normalize it in bipartisan fashion.
By 2012 when Jeb, Sarah or Patraeus takes office no one will be able to criticize this new Presidential power of lawmaking via O.L.C. memo which supersedes the Constitution and all Treaties.
jlock123: "Yoo to the rescue, indeed!" Or some other fascist-minded lawyer (and likely a majority of the Supreme Court) willing to subvert the American Constitution to the supposed requirements of the "war on terror." You know the drill, "enemy combatants" don't have rights of due process before they are "executed," if the President gives himself permission he can't be stopped because...well, he's the President who can't violate the law because he IS the law.
The frightening thing to me is that there is more than a "touch of Yoo" in probably the majority of Americans: those who say it is ok to violate the "legal framework" of international law and torture terror suspects if its a "defined policy" which is "necessary" in the interest of "national security." How else could Republicans make the popularity points they make with the public in protesting actual fair trials for Guantanamo detainees or for the alleged Christmas bomber? And why else would a popularity-pandering President with a constitutional law background and a supposed devotion to civil rights be so concerned with "reaching out" to these Yoo-vill yahoos who would sacrifice American freedoms on the altar of an elusive American "security?"
Yea, that was so comical how it played out in the press that it was a real question whether the Obama administration might seek criminal charges against some of the Bush lawyers. Hell, Obama probably wants to hire them. The Obama-Yoo situation brings to mind the scene of George Bailey entering Potter's office with some trepidation and, after Bailey somewhat nervously asks why Potter asked him to come, Potter booms out: "I want you to manage my affairs, run my properties!"
If the powers that be in Washington sincerely believe that official murder of the US' own citizens is acceptable, then truly the United States is a sicker nation than I have thus far believed.
At one move, the US will have descended to the level of South Africa during the Apartheid years. Remember Ruth First!
I was thinking of the CIA-aided "Operation Condor" which carried out assassinations of critics of Pinochet and the Argentine Junta. Such operations killed at least one USAn, on US soil, when a Orlando Letelier and Ronni Moffitt were killed on DuPont Circle, DC by a bomb planted in their car.
But in those days, the US would deny everything. Now, they are far more brazen. This isn't really suprising when you are the world's only superpower with worldwide imperial reach.
"Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair offered confirmation on Wednesday that the U.S. intelligence community is authorized to assassinate Americans *abroad* who are considered direct terrorist threats to the United States."
I could not find in either Blair's testimony to the HIC, or the provided link to the ABC report, that assassinations of Americans are limited to those overseas. Perhaps someone can help clarify this.
Unless I can find evidence to the contrary, I interpret Blair's statement that assassinations of Americans can occur here, at home.
Are we in a police state and having fun?
Hey CDers, some of you *may* be on this list.
The U.S. 'Intelligence community' (The Gestapo) is aurhorized to assassinate Amercan leaders here in our glorious nation. What happened to John F. Kennedy? Robert Kennedy? Malcom X? Martin Luther King?
Sig Heil Friends. If you are not on the list, what is wrong with you? Isn't democracy worth fighting for?
wantrealdemocracy sez: "Sig Heil Friends. If you are not on the list, what is wrong with you? Isn't democracy worth fighting for?"
***
Well, as I'm not Muslim (or Jewish, or homosexual, or gypsy, or a trade unionist), I'm probably in the clear at the moment.
But when they come for the Nader voters ...
You must have been thinking of Rev. Martin Niemoller
“In Germany they first came for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
"Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
"Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
"Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.
"Then they came for me —
and by that time no one was left to speak up.”
Remember, when the Third Reich took over the courts, it was the end. By definition, anything the Nazis did was legal. Anything the opposition did was illegal. (Beginning to look familiar?)
Those who have been critical of the suppurating abscess that is the United States Government had better be careful if they travel overseas.
It won't be many years (months?) before that applies within the borders also. There will be hellfire missiles for all.
Supposively can't torture Americans (directly) but can assasinate them without due process them even if they present no imminent risk and are only suspects.
That's logical: better to die at once than suffer long torture. It's merciful.
Why should the President not be authorized to kill Americans without charges or trial? Doesn't every traffic cop have carte blanche to do just that?
No, a cop can not get away with killing an unarmed citizen at a routine traffic stop unless the victim has a cell phone. "He reached for it. I thought it was a gun."
to view a partial list of crimes committed by FBI agents over 1500 pages long see
forums.signonsandiego. com/showthread.php?t=59139
to view a partial list of FBI agents arrested for pedophilia see
dallasnews. com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3574
"The targeting of Americans -- it's a very sensitive issue ..."
... unlike the targeting of other members of the human race. Oh wait. I keep forgetting that humanity, like 'sensitivity', is determined exclusively by USA Incorporated's global interests and bottom-line 'ethics' in today's world -- but not without broad acquiescence and support of the allegedly favored and "exceptionalist" citizenry who seem totally oblivious to the blatant hypocrisy and the ultimate consequences for themselves of such 'divine rights of rulers'.
"... a string of terrorist plots that have reportedly stemmed from radicalized Americans overseas."
Hmmm. I've been wondering where all the 'radicalized Americans' might be hiding out these days. Their existence (except on the right wing which is non-radical by definition) certainly isn't obvious amongst the 'brave an free' at home. Maybe some of them will come scurrying back when they hear about these targeting rules. Wouldn't that be a marvell of unintended consequences. Of course, you can be certain that those rules would then quickly be modified and the restrictions removed as necessary.
With very few exceptions, Americans are blind fools and the 'sheeple' label is well deserved.
Duh, about the same legal framework as everything.
Me wanna do, Me DO !
Does this include Bush/Cheney?
Aren't they already dead? - I thought they died about a year ago?
"If we think that direct action will involve killing an American, we get specific permission to do that."
Dennis Blair (no relation to Tony) calls John Yoo or Jay Bybee and says, "There's an American citizen visiting Rome right now. We know he reads Common Dreams, Antiwar.com, Crooks and Liars, etc. We want to kill him. Is it okay?" Yoo or Bybee say "yes" and the murder is set in motion.
According to Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair, "We take direct actions against terrorists in the intelligence community. If we think that direct action will involve killing an American, we get specific permission to do that."
The implication being, no such specific permission is needed to kill a non-citizen deemed to be a terrorist. Presumably, general permission is all that's needed there. And our spooks take direct action of that nature on a rather routine basis.
It is definitely time to take the toys away from the boys.
Bill from Saginaw
Well, sometimes, if the "target" has achieved sufficient notariety, as in the case of a Haitian president for example, he's just quietly (or not so quietly) removed from his country in order to spread "freedom and democracy" and to protect the "sovereign rights" of the country in question.
It's all a matter of selective "sensitivity", don'cha see?!
As for "toys for the boys", you wouldn't want to expose the brave lads to actual contact with those "radicalized" targets under real battle conditions, would you?
This means whistleblowers have to move from "knows something but never been heard of" to "has delivered all the information he or she has or is suddenly a known name" very quickly.
This makes it very difficult to release information that may be important but may not be dramatic.
Soooooo, if Obama decided that the 5 activist SCOTUS judges, Bush, Cheney, Rove, etc. were an imminent threat to US security, he could just put out a CIA hit on them, nice and legal?
EXCELLENT!!!
'Blair explained. "We don't target people for free speech. We target them for taking action that threatens Americans." '
Then I guess it depends exactly what the nature of the free speech is as to whether it constitutes "taking action".
... which, in turn, depends on whether it has SCOTUS endorsement as a true expression of corporate personhood and its global interests.
Medea Benjamin, watch your six.
Who is the "We" that Blair cites? He would have us believe it's the National Security Council and the Justice Department. But it could be just Blair (what is it with people who have that name?) and his golf buddies getting cranky and offing people.
"Blair ... and his golf buddies getting cranky and offing people." - Careful now, that's probably a bit too close for comfort.
Gore Vidal: "Write something, even if it's just a suicide note."
Every effing day the news just gets worse and worse. It was the inimitable Rev. Ivan Stang who said that in the end times the sanest people would go mad first. The ones huffing gasoline fumes right from the pump and doing ritual asphyxiation sex to the tune of Faux News before going duck hunting with buckshot seem to all be doing swell.
There is absolutely NOTHING in the Constitution or Bill of Rights that gives any phucking president the "right" or "power" to order extra-judicial terminations with extreme prejudice of American citizens. Glenn Greenwald and Jeremy Scahill are right to pay attention to this stuff because most Amurkans have fully tuned it out--the poor out of fear and the well-to-do out of materialist gluttony inside their artificial TARP-market bubble.
This shit is all "pre-crime" and "pre-death sentencing" before a crime has been committed and without charges or a trial. Straight out of a Philip K. Dick sci-fi dystopia. There is nothing more anti-Constitutional than that.
Consider that our government has become so globally toxic that a growing number of former senior government officials can no longer travel to the EU because they are liable to be arrested and held on war crimes charges. Going that one worse our government now treats its own citizens as terror-suspect targets in a global terror war shooting gallery.
I'd like to see what the "legal framework" for this BS is--which new White House lawyers advised fascist long-pig Obysmal that this was AOK.
The U.S. and Israel have used "extrajudicial" (i.e., no judge, no jury, just an accusation and you're dead) assassinations against whomever, wherever, they pleased for a long time now, so
how surprising is it that the U.S. government claims the right to assassinate U.S. citizens?
We good Germans just have to sit tight, keep our mouths shut, and hope we don't annoy anyone in power. Maybe the UFOs will rescue us, or maybe the apocalypse will happen. Maybe some government agent will put a bullet in our brains, or maybe we'll just be part of the collateral damage when they are assassinating someone else.
Maybe other governments besides Israel will embrace this policy, and we'll be on that bus or train that gets blown up because some government decided to eliminate one of their citizens.
Welcome to "change we can believe in."
True, but at least they used to go to fairly great lengths to hide their murders. Now they openly and brazenly admit them.
Does this mean we are "either with the Islamic terrorists, or with the "Christian" lawless assassins"? It's a good thing God is on both sides, or I'd be confused.
And what exactly is the difference again?
I'll help out. The difference is they have the wrong god.
Oh wait, it's the same god in Christianity and Islam, only called differently. Well, then their way of understanding god's word that "Thou shalt not kill" is wrong, and must be defended against with bombs in their own homes when they won't change their evil ways.
Are we supposed to act all patriotic and wave the flag because a bunch or corporate lackey thugs are murdering people around the world while pretending to be against terrorism?
In all my 61 years, I have never seen the 'establishment' this brazen. Back along - the 60's & 70's - when you did something illegal - bribes, wars, no-bid contracts, etc. - you did it in the 'back room' - hidden. Now, it is right in your face! And still, the sheeple do nothing. What's it gonna take?
I agree; funny how art emulates life. The theme of a popular film series, i.e. The Bourne Series duplicates this issue. The government operates entirely outside of international and domestic legal precedents. All at the behest of the military/intelligence communities who - along with corporations - decide the fate of people without any legal consideration or oversight. The take over is complete. Whatever noise the sheep make is nothing more than an afterthought. Soon they will be assassinating us on our own shores merely for dissent.
What makes you think that it is not happening already?
But I could be wrong !
Or hasn't it happened already? Been a lot of mysterious deaths associated with the JFK, Robert Kennedy and MLK assassinations. Maybe a plot. Maybe just coincidence. But worrisome nevertheless. Then there was Senator Wellstone's odd plane crash...
Gary
"Whenever you have efficient government, you have a dictatorship”
-- Harry S Truman
And what do you suggest one do?
Legal action takes so long and is expensive; and the out come is usually for not. And illegal action has no support.
I just find the situation oddly humorous.
Cicero: "Freedom is participation in power."
To DCH and Bodhihawk: There is absolutely nothing funny about this. Because contemporary Amurkans will look the other way at this it is only a matter of time before this new Unitary wartime presidential assassination power will come home to roost here inside the U.S. The present situation already creates a chilling effect on dissenters like Noam Chomsky, Medea Benjamin and Cindy Sheehan from feeling safe to travel abroad and criticize run-amok U.S. policies in front of foreign audiences.
"There is absolutely nothing funny about this."
Well, no, but: I'm tired of being scared stiff, I'll rather laugh myself to death.
One has to wonder how long before the U.S. government announces citizens in the U.S. that are "suspected" terrorists can be killed here in fascist Amerika!
Is there some kind of difference between extra judicial murders of "americans"and extra judicial murders of anyone else? I don't think so. I remember a time when this kind of thing was severely punished. but that was long ago. in the new american century it happens all the time, so far without a squawk. Not only that- these executions are performed by drones, "piloted" by non-airmen at computers in Nevada. what's more the preferred weapon is hellwinder missiles. Missiles to murder one person? well you get a bonus there, because those things will take out the victim's family and neighbors too. it's the american way of war.
There is no longer any point in comparing this monster we have become with other monsters. we have outdone them all now, and no end in sight. the horrors we bring to Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine every day also extend to the rest of the world. anyone could now get hit. Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen- no one can be safe from the world's only superpower.
our brilliant leaders have it all worked out. the formula could not be simpler: the more mayhem we can make, the safer we become from terrorist attacks.
super, yes. and stupid.
What makes a gringo citizen equal to a citizen of any other country?.
They both can be killed with impunity by power mad delusional greed heads from the usa gov.
And of course they only kill those who deserve it... if you doubt it its because you may deserve it...
A death sentence is a lynching by any other name. Gee "how wonderful" it is that now we have a "black" president presiding over the lynching of US citizens abroad. I wonder if they might try this in the USA. Oh, yeah sure they would, with the neo con "Democrats" now following in the footsteps of the loony right GOP.
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