So much for the Bill of Rights.... Due Process, You Had A Good Run...

On September 30, 2011, Anwar Al Alaki, an American born citizen was killed by the United States Government via Predator Drone.  He was not apprehended; he was not charged; he was not an immediate imminent threat; he was not given a trial.  In essence, somebody in the United States Government gave an order to kill a man and taking his life without Due Process of Law.

Was Anwar Al Alaki a bad person and guilty of planning terrorist activities?  Probably but I do not know.  Regardless, there is a constitutional right of presumption of innocence, a right to a fair and speedy trial by a jury of his peers and the right to confront an accuser.  In contrast, our President or somebody who reports to him believed that Anwar Al Alaki had no presumption of abuse and in essence became Judge, Jury and Executioner.

The American people must write their congressmen and senators and let them know that whoever blatantly violated the Constitution must answer.  When someone takes the life of another, there must be a reason.  Under the 5th Amendment, you cannot take the life, liberty or property without Due Process of Law.  Somebody took a man's life without Due Process.  This is murder.  Is Al Alaki a sympathetic person?  I am pretty certain he is not but one must look at the bigger picture.  It is far more important to preserve the rights of all citizens regardless of whether they deserve it or not.  At some point, you or I could be chosen to have one of our rights taken at the whims of some bureaucrat.

This is a truly fearful and dangerous act.

I really feel similar to the execution of Osama Bin Laden.  Was he a bad person?  There is little doubt in my mind that he was responsible for 9/11, yet, he still needed to be put on trial.  The Nazis were given trials in Nuremberg and so should anyone's life we are taking.  The best I can tell is Seal Team Six could have captured him but apparently, his life was to be taken without trial.

In what little defense I can surmise for the administration, Bin Laden was not a US citizen.  Al Alaki was and he was targeted.  Did he plan terrorist activities?  I do not know, I have no direct evidence to review to determine a verdict; regardless, a jury of 12 should have determined this not a bureaucrat or a President.  If we allow a President to keep a 'hitlist' we have lost our Republic as well as our Constitutional Protections.