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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSo, Eric Holder, we should just trust that the president won't assassinate us?
That, in effect, is the pledge the Obama administration's attorney general says has replaced our constitutional protections
Attorney General Eric Holder was at Northwestern University law school on Monday explaining President Barack Obama's claimed authority to kill any American if he unilaterally determines them to be a threat to the nation. The choice of a law school was a curious place for discussion of authoritarian powers. Obama has replaced the constitutional protections afforded to citizens with a "trust me" pledge that Holder repeated on Monday at Northwestern.
The good news is that Holder promised not to hunt citizens for sport. Holder proclaimed that:
"The president may use force abroad against a senior operational leader of a foreign terrorist organization with which the United States is at war even if that individual happens to be a US citizen."
The use of the word "abroad" is interesting since senior administration officials have asserted that the president may kill an American anywhere and anytime, including in the United States. Holder's speech does not materially limit that claimed authority. He merely assures citizens that Obama will only kill those of us he finds abroad and a significant threat. Notably, Holder added, "Our legal authority is not limited to the battlefields in Afghanistan."
Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/mar/06/eric-holder-trust-targeted-assassination
kimmy8247
(2 posts)So "waterboarding" is so horrible and against our principles, but assassination suits this president just fine. Just think of the irony of these arguments.
What is wrong with Obama and Holder?!! Are they set on a path of destruction for our country as we know it? Does our constitution and due process mean nothing to these people?
saras
(6,670 posts)...if you happen to get involved with some group in the world that the current administration disapproves of (even if the previous administration created the program that got you involved with the group). This group could be rocket-smuggling terrorists - or it could be environmental scientists, or educators, or doctors and nurses, or any number of other groups. Take a close look at who's been killed in South America in the last few decades, especially the seventies when America was really active down there, and imagine these drones in those people's hands.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)rudycantfail
(300 posts)The precedent's been set.
MisterP
(23,730 posts)"You can't trust Republican B with Democratic President A's unconstitutional powers!"
then, later, "You can't trust Republican D with Democratic candidate C's proposed death camps!"
or something
but that's the logic and thought processes that someone so bankrupt as to support such powers would resort to
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)No it fucking does not. This unconstitutional power grab must be turned back.
We are far along the illegal road the illegal SCOTUS started us down with Bush V Gore.
BO has done NOTHING to punish the war criminals for the unconstitutional acts they BRAGGED about in their books and on our press.
IF the law does not apply to some it does not apply too all.
If the PTB do not rectify this, by bringing this country back under the rule and protection of law,
Armed conflict is the only possible result.
Zalatix
(8,994 posts)But I cannot speak for the next President.