Drone Strike on Al Qaeda Scrapped 'Cause Officials Feared Prosecution
White House lawyers are mulling the legality of proposed attempts to kill an American citizen, Anwar al Awlaki, who is believed to be part of the leadership of the al Qaeda group in Yemen behind a series of terror strikes, according to two people briefed by U.S. intelligence officials.
One of the people briefed said opportunities to "take out" Awlaki "may have been missed" because of the legal questions surrounding a lethal attack which would specifically target an American citizen.
A spokesperson said the White House declined to comment.
While Awlaki has not been charged with any crimes under U.S. law, intelligence officials say recent intelligence reports and electronic intercepts show he played an important role in recruiting the accused "underwear bomber" Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Awlaki also carried on extensive e-mail communication with the accused Fort Hood shooter, Major Nidal Hasan, prior to the attack that killed 12 soldiers and one civilian.
According to the people who were briefed on the issue, American officials fear the possibility of criminal prosecution without approval in advance from the White House for a targeted strike against Awlaki.
An American citizen with suspected al Qaeda ties was killed in Nov. 2002 in Yemen in a CIA predator strike that was aimed at non-American leaders of al Qaeda. The death of the American citizen, Ahmed Hijazi of Lackawanna, NY, was justified as "collateral damage" at the time because he "was just in the wrong place at the wrong time," said a former U.S. official familiar with the case.
In the case of Awlaki, born in New Mexico and a college student in Colorado and California, a strike aimed to kill him would stretch current Presidential authority given to the CIA and the Pentagon to pursue terrorists anywhere in the world.
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Rosesosweet
My idiot friends, this a part of a plan to dismantle any structure in recent memory.4
A. Capone
I wouldn't want any US agency or armed force labling a US citizen as a terrorist and to have the authority to take them out.easily. I think US citizens deserve better. No matter where they are.
A US citizen deserves a trial.
faye2
Unbelievable! This is a result of treating terrorists as common criminals. This is the state of our security under the idiots Obama & Holder - two of the most useless, know nothing jerks who ever set foot in our gov. They will both pay for their stupidity in 2012. Vote in the primaries and in 2010 & 2012 and get these Dem jerks out and hope it can be done before this "American" decides to come home & claim his rights!
NotsoSilent
New Military directive from Junior Commander and Cheese Eric Holdadinajob.
All military people must call me first before they shoot anyone, in case I am not in, just ask for the cleaning lady....All military people must salute my 8 by 10 glossy each time they pass it, and no military people shall go pee pee without my permission. Also no terrorists are to be harmed in any way until I read them their rights and get them some tea and cookies...
Libs for sale
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO "ENEMIES-BOTH FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC" !!!
thinkformyself
The military should just tell the FBI that he is the leader of the Branch Davidians. Then the military can stop worrying about him and his family.
American Eagle (OathKeeper)
Holder is another of the cowardly members of Obozo's administration.
dvtaz
This makes me feel so much more secure! Pinheads!
ShadowFax
Visit here to join a truly “American Journey” at the “Road to November”:
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Jenna
Obama's Attorney General, Eric Holder, is providing terrorists with a dangerous advantage and putting American lives at risk by restricting interrogation and other intelligence-gathering efforts. On the other hand, Holder has announced his intent to use the "full weight" of the DOJ to get to the bottom of the James O'Keefe illegal wiretapping arrest. Holder wasn't interested in interrogating the Christmas Day bomber, punishing members of The New Black Panther Party for voter intimidation or investigating corruption at ACORN, but he's prepared to play hardball with that scary James O'Keefe.
Kari
Had they not been so eager to change so many our war policies, none of these would be issues.
And who would've seen this coming? What with an enemy who has total disregard for human life and takes its money in the most nefarious ways. They've given them a tidy opening which costs them nothing but comes at great expense to we the people. Yet another social program, this time for terrorists. Evening the playing field, as it were.
ncvolgrunt
16 hours and still no war crimes. what's wrong with you libs? can't you find at least one? or were you just running your fu--ing mouths about something you know absolutely nothing about? how about it lamnoone and spleen? cat got your tongue? thought so. you fu--ing clowns got nothing, do you?
spleen
Not to cause trouble, but I know for a fact I have never posted anything on here about Bush administration war crimes. Be a Splitter not a Lumper!
Bell2ring
The fear must be that these people as represented by this person, are under Obama's umberella.
ronvannost
The plague of political correctness extends FROM the courts to our everyday decisions. The terrorists will exploit it at every opportunity.
Stop drinking the grape juice, America!
Sharon in VA
We are in trouble if this is how we are operating security for this country. My question is do they even care?
BlueEagle
Shoot him in the head and bury him under a pig pen !
Capitalism4Ever
I'd rather beg for forgiveness that ask for permission on this one. Shoot the traitor between the shoulder blades.
AMHC Ret
Shoot first, say "Oops" later.
NotsoSilent
Love it!!
rds39
i believe this administration is more screwed up than carter's.
joeyblueyes
OBITLA'S ANTI ISRAEL 4TH REICH, WILL NOT HURT THEIR COMRADES
Janice
Clearly, remove citizenship from this terrorist. How hard can that be? He has committed treason.
Ellie Light
Barack,
Its me Ellie, don’t worry the American people will never find out that you supported and raised 1 million dollars to help a terrorist named Odinga take over the government of Kenya as long as they do not read this article.
Ellie
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=78324
my view
We will never be safe as long as we have obama and Holder (the terrorists best friend) in charge because our CIA have no one to cover their back. Look at our brave SEALS..This admin. already wants to prosecute some of CIA for so called torture (Waterboarding in my opinion is not torture) . If we cut of body parts now that would be.. We will be attacked because we have a weak POTUS who would rather protect the enemy than his country...Same goes for Holder...
Democrats (commies) are the Enemy
We all know who to blame if we are attacked again, Obama Holder (Fall guy) and the Democrat (commie) party.
ONE
BIG
AWFUL
MISTAKE
AMERICA
Holder is a an IDIOT FOOL!
RAWni
No problem.
Revoke his citizenship, and press FIRE! That's the red button on the joystick Mr. Holdernajad
Ameritianity
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(3) Islam in the USA - will not work
(4) Haiti - look where the AID is coming from, the CAPITALIST NATIONS
(5) Healthcare - WILL REMAIN PRIVATE
(6) Waterboarding & Freedom
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Recon
HOLDER is making a mockery out of the USA judicial system.
resign NOW.
biker
How are we to know if awlaki wouldn't be in the "wrong place..at the wrong time"?
Excalibur
..........Every decision Holder has made is against the interests of the American people............he needs to go............!
Paladin12
Have Drone - Will Travel
RAWni
Great!
Vigilant Outlaw
Let me see if I understand. This administration is mulling over the legality of proposed attempts to take-out an American who happens to be an Al-Qaeda terrorist because they fear prosecution? Yet, they have no problem destroying an American life prior to birth or while being born! Now, you tell me what’s wrong with this picture?
This may have been brought up earlier, but it doesn't hurt to ask or reaffirm again!
gold2512
a former american-
anyone wish to stand up and scream at d.c.??
Walt S
We need a drone strike on Holder. That would be the first useful use of friendly fire.
RealAmerican
It's reported that a fly was recently pestering Barry Gibbs during a press conference. He was going to swat it, but PETA stepped in, and he couldn't do anything - it was holding up the whole press conference. So he had Leon Panetta declare the fly a terrorist so he could swat it. But still, PETA persisted - "capture it" they said. Finally, Gibbs got on his cell phone and called Barack, who issued an executive order to take it out. WHACK!! Problem solved.
President Barrack Obama
True story. It all took about 3 hours, and we lost contact with the fly somewhere in there, but by the time I gave the order - everything was a go.
mpisi
These people are dangerous clowns!!
It's only a matter of time before they play the race card and start racial violence and discontent throughout America.
It's part of their agenda to tear this country apart!!!
mpisi
These people are dangerous clowns!!
It's only a matter of time before they play the race card and start racial violence and discontent throughout America.
It's part of their agenda to tear this country apart!!!
sharonrj51
Holder should be proscuted for treason. Aiding the enemy. This loser needs to go with Pelosi Reid Obama Biden. These idiot are traitors to the American people it is time to impeach and proscuted and put before the firing squad. Holder is a traitor
Recon
"If ever a time should come,
when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government,
our Country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin..-" ~ Samuel Adams, 1776
The time has come.
my view
Yes it has.
WE NEED CIA PROTECTION
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Vietnam Veteran
I suggest we engrave the Miranda rights on every missile fired from a drone, that way we can say they were given their rights first. Problem solved!
cliff
You know it used to be that the chief worry of our Military was the enemy in front of us. Now the enemy seems to be behind us in Washington. Look it's soooo obvious (to me anyway) that Obama wants this country attacked. What else can it be? I mean he can't be that stupid? I think it's both. He wants the country attacked but in trying to defend his obviously pro-terrorist policies as helping us he sounds completely idiotic.
cindylou
Did you you catch the guy in Newark that got caught today with a hand held rocket laucher? OMG. We are so much trouble.
Cold Warrior
Not to worry, if the MUSE-LIMMS make a move against the people in this country, it will be all over for them. All over.
Jim in JAX
Obama could sign off on this and it would be completely legal. But that would go against his support for muslim terrorists.