Poll: Anwar al-Awlaki's Death: Justice or Assassination?

[Undead Dragon King]

In case you havn't heard yet, Al Qaeda firebrand and radical Imam Anwar al-Awlaki was killed by a U.S. drone airstrike in Yemen today. Most have applauded the killing as another major victory by the West in the War on Terror. al-Awlaki was an influential and tech-savvy instigator of jihad who radicalized many Muslims over the internet, and was responsible for inspiring the likes of the Ft. Hood massacre and "underwear bomber" of 2009 and the failed Times Square bombing last year. His death will no doubt have a negative effect on international recruitment for al Qaeda.

But al-Awlaki was also a natural-born U.S. citizen who left the country for Yemen in 2002. He was the first U.S. citizen to be placed on the CIA's "Kill or Capture" list. Some people and politicians have claimed that, despite the fact that al-Awlaki was an obvious threat to the security of America, his death might lead the government down a slippery slope of approved assassination of problem citizens, as now we know that just because you are born in the U.S. doesn't protect you from federal assassination.

Discuss. What's your take on this situation?

 

[wooty]

I'd like to say that it was a lucky shot, the drone was probably aiming at a hospital\school and hit him by mistake.

OT: I personally feel that its a......kill, thats all, just another fanatic leader killed so that a load of people can carry out martyr attacks on the populace. As if Yemen isnt going through enough shit of its own recently.

 

[Private Custard]

It's a good thing that he's dead. But the U.S. government are really going to have to start thinking about whos doorstep they take a shit on. They seem to be launching assaults at will now, regardless of where they are, or whether that government knew about it.

It's that sort of meddling, streamroller attitude that got people pissed off with them in the first place.

 

[Undead Dragon King]

As if Yemen isnt going through enough shit of its own recently.

It's a good thing that he's dead. But the U.S. government are really going to have to start thinking about whos doorstep they take a shit on. They seem to be launching assaults at will now, regardless of where they are, or whether that government knew about it.

It's that sort of meddling, streamroller attitude that got people pissed off with them in the first place.

I think that Yemen was aware of what going on in terms of U.S. drones, because they knew that al-Awlaki was still in Yemen, and their troubles are equally divided between fighting al Qaeda inside their borders as well as propping up an unpopular govenment against civic unrest.

I havn't heard any stories about major Yemeni riots in months, but this might be the match on a powder keg.

 

[Therumancer]

In case you havn't heard yet, Al Qaeda firebrand and radical Imam Anwar al-Awlaki was killed by a U.S. drone airstrike in Yemen today. Most have applauded the killing as another major victory by the West in the War on Terror. al-Awlaki was an influential and tech-savvy instigator of jihad who radicalized many Muslims over the internet, and was responsible for inspiring the likes of the Ft. Hood massacre and "underwear bomber" of 2009 and the failed Times Square bombing last year. His death will no doubt have a negative effect on international recruitment for al Qaeda.

But al-Awlaki was also a natural-born U.S. citizen who left the country for Yemen in 2002. He was the first U.S. citizen to be placed on the CIA's "Kill or Capture" list. Some people and politicians have claimed that, despite the fact that al-Awlaki was an obvious threat to the security of America, his death might lead the government down a slippery slope of approved assassination of problem citizens, as now we know that just because you are born in the U.S. doesn't protect you from federal assassination.

Discuss. What's your take on this situation?

He effectively gave up his citizenship. Even if he didn't this is a case of outright Treason (even if the US doesn't like to use that term or pursue it for the most part) and as such there is no issue here at all as far as I'm concerned.

Killing people acting against the US? I'm all for that. I don't care where your from, if your trying to bring down the country for another set of principles, this is what should happen. This is only an issue because the US hasn't been assertive enough in the past. It's nice to be merciful and show restraint, but that should never be confused with us HAVING to be that way, or having some responsibility to let crimes and threats go.

 

[KeyMaster45]

I'd have to call it a little of column A a little of column B. After all, you kill some decisively evil dudes in the AC series but the title of the game isn't Justice Creed.

 

[MorgulMan]

I don't think it was either justice necessarily or assassination. I don't think he gave up his citizenship, but certainly he surrendered some of his rights by his actions. Ideally, yes, he should have been captured, tried, and then possibly executed. But if that was feasible, it would have been done long ago.

The fact that he was a US citizen may affect the legality of the action, but not, to my mind, its morality. He was an avowed enemy, part of an organization that openly declared war on our country. I don't know if I'd call it justice, but he got what was coming to him. Matt 26:52

 

[TheTim]

It was an Assassination to do Justice to a man that wants People to Die
So he died.

 

[Saladfork]

The man had declared his allegiance to a faction that was more-or-less at war with the United States, and was rightfully considered an enemy.

That said, while sometimes killing somebody is the only way to ensure the safety of others, I don't think death (of anybody) is something that should be celebrated.

 

[Viral_Lola]

It seems like a coincidence that he was killed in an airstrike by a drone. I can't help but to think that if he would have been caught alive instead, wouldn't his actions as a terrorist have put him on trial for treason? I mean, citizenship can be revoked due to certain actions and because he was a US citizen, it would raise some interesting questions.

 

[Jakub324]

He was part of a group that's pretty much at war with a lot of other countries. In war people get killed. You don't feel sorry for SS soldiers killed in the second world war, so why feel sorry for him? He wants us dead. DEAD. He deserved what he got and I hope every other religious extremist, no matter which faith they claim to be a part of, shares his fate.

 

[orangeban]

Hmm, I think there is a fine line between this, which sounds like a lucky shot, and a genuine planned spec-ops style "Let's assassinate this dude" and that is a line I don't want to see crossed.

 

[KissofKetchup]

The US has been doing stuff like this for quite awhile in Yemen. I say good job to the guys in intel and guys flying the UAV

 

[Bebus]

Good on the US.

War is messy and ugly. Hopefully his death will save thousands of lives that he might have caused in a drawn out battle.

 

[emeraldrafael]

I think when you do something like he did, you revoke your citizen ship and right for the birth government to care for you. He is a terrorist, and stands to be executed regardless. Its not like they just walked up to his door step in downtown middle america while his wife and 2.5 child and dog watched him get gangland style executed by government men for speeding.

Also, the US has been using these drones alot. They save lives of soldiers, so i'd say this was planned and not a lucky shot.

 

[Internet Kraken]

How is this any different from killing any other criminal that is a US citizen?

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

I'd have to call it a little of column A a little of column B. After all, you kill some decisively evil dudes in the AC series but the title of the game isn't Justice Creed.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking as well.

Also, Justice Creed sounds like a comic book staring Captain America.

 

[Undead Dragon King]

How is this any different from killing any other criminal that is a US citizen?

The difference is that al-Awlaki received no due process before he was killed. That's what the opponents to this are calling out. I don't agree with their interpretation, but that's their argument.

 

[Cpu46]

There is a difference between a problem citizen and one that actively attempts to destroy the country. But like you said, it is a slippery slope.

 

[Neverhoodian]

I'd like to say that it was a lucky shot, the drone was probably aiming at a hospital\school and hit him by mistake.

I'm sorry, but was that supposed to be a joke? Because I'm not laughing.

I'm certainly not going to lose any sleep over al-Awlaki's death, though it would have been nice if he had been captured, put on trial, and thrown into a cell to rot for the rest of his days.