The Constitution = Toilet Paper

[Buff]

U.S. Can Target American al-Qaida Agents

WASHINGTON (AP) - American citizens working for al-Qaida overseas can legally be targeted and killed by the CIA under President Bush's rules for the war on terrorism, U.S. officials say.

The authority to kill U.S. citizens is granted under a secret finding signed by the president after the Sept. 11 attacks that directs the CIA to covertly attack al-Qaida anywhere in the world. The authority makes no exception for Americans, so permission to strike them is understood rather than specifically described, officials said.

These officials said the authority will be used only when other options are unavailable. Military-like strikes will take place only when law enforcement and internal security efforts by allied foreign countries fail, the officials said.

Capturing and questioning al-Qaida operatives is preferable, even more so if an operative is a U.S. citizen, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Any decision to strike an American will be made at the highest levels, perhaps by the president.

U.S. officials say few Americans are working with al-Qaida but they have no specific estimates.

The CIA already has killed one American under this authority, although U.S. officials maintain he wasn't the target.

On Nov. 3, a CIA-operated Predator drone fired a missile that destroyed a carload of suspected al-Qaida operatives in Yemen. The target of the attack, a Yemeni named Qaed Salim Sinan al-Harethi, was the top al-Qaida operative in that country. Efforts by Yemeni authorities to detain him had previously failed.

But the CIA didn't know a U.S. citizen, Yemeni-American Kamal Derwish, was in the car. He died, along with al-Harethi and four other Yemenis.

The Bush administration said the killing of an American in this fashion was legal.

"I can assure you that no constitutional questions are raised here. There are authorities that the president can give to officials," said Condoleezza Rice, Bush's national security adviser, after the attack. "He's well within the balance of accepted practice and the letter of his constitutional authority."

5th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America:

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

"Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah," go the sheep.
"Heeeeeeeeeehaw, heeeeeeeeeehaw," bray the donkeys.



Last edited by Buff at Dec 4 2002, 11:13 AM

[Winetalk.com]

But the CIA didn't know a U.S. citizen, Yemeni-American Kamal Derwish, was in the car. He died, along with al-Harethi and four other Yemenis.
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Hooray!

thanks for a good news!

the Constitution does not apply to foreign countries.
the killing was legal.
lifes a bitch (much like driving across the desert in Yemen with terrorists can be)

[Almighty Colin]

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

[Almighty Colin]

Oh, yeah .. and cigarettes.

[Peaches]

Originally posted by Colin@Dec 4 2002, 02:38 PM
Oh, yeah .. and cigarettes.

And monsters in the closet and under the bed!!!

And teen drivers........

[Almighty Colin]

.. and violent movies!

and breast implants!

am i the only one who is terrified of Teletubbies?

[Vick]

JR - no, Teletubbies are evil!!! and scary
I will not allow them into my home including on the television

and the fact that my son hasn't fallen under the teletubbies evil mind control is a very good thing!

[Almighty Colin]

"am i the only one who is terrified of Teletubbies?"

Fear

Description: Parents want to know if a media product has the ability to cause fear in children. Examples would include any scenes which could cause fear in the viewer, such as gory scenes, exaggerated scenes of pain and suffering, and other scary scenes. Please rate the level of fear in Teletubbies:

http://www.mediaandthefamily.org/kidscore/.../rate.asp?ID=89



Last edited by Colin at Dec 4 2002, 02:32 PM

[Torone]

Originally posted by Colin@Dec 4 2002, 02:00 PM
.. and violent movies!

and breast implants!

And idiots who think the Constitution applies beyond the 3-mile limit.

[Dianna Vesta]

Originally posted by Colin@Dec 4 2002, 02:00 PM
.. and violent movies!

and breast implants!

Somehow those two things together bring me scary images.

[Mutt]

yeah baby......... GO CIA ..................... glad to see they are now back in the killing bidness and bidness is GOOD! GLORY DAYS INDEED!