Secret U.S. Memo Made Legal Case to Kill a Citizen
The Obama administration’s secret legal memorandum that opened the door to the
killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-born radical Muslim cleric hiding in
Yemen, found that it would be lawful only if it were not feasible to take him
alive, according to people who have read the document.
The memo, written last year, followed months of extensive deliberations and
offers a glimpse into the legal debate that led to one of the most significant
decisions made by President Obama — to move ahead with the killing of an
American citizen without a trial.
The memo provided the justification for acting despite an executive order
banning assassinations, a federal law against murder, protections in the Bill of
Rights and various strictures of the international laws of war, according to
people familiar with the analysis. The memo, however, was narrowly drawn to the
specifics of Mr. Awlaki’s case and did not establish a broad new legal doctrine.
Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/world/middleeast/secret-us-memo-made-legal-case-to-kill-a-citizen.html?emc=na
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