Ron Paul: US-born al-Qaida cleric 'assassinated'

[The Northerner]

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) -- Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is condemning the Obama administration for killing an American born al-Qaida operative without a trial.

Paul, a Texas congressman known for libertarian views, says the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki on Yemeni soil amounts to an "assassination." Paul warned the American people not to casually accept such violence against U.S. citizens, even those with strong ties to terrorism.

Anwar al-Awlaki was considered one of the most influential al-Qaida operatives wanted by the United States. U.S. and Yemen officials say he was killed in a U.S. air strike targeting his convoy on Friday morning.

Paul made the comments to reporters after a campaign stop on Friday at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire. He said America's leaders must think hard about "assassinating American citizens without charges."

Source: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CLERIC_KILLED_RON_PAUL

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Yes he was.

[mdmc]

6. 1

[ixion]

9. spot on, that.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

19. Paul is correct.

I hate it when I agree with him. :D

[EFerrari]

2. This article is full of bs. There is no evidence he has any influence

in Al Qaida whatsoever.

[ThomWV]

3. As they say, even a broken clock is right sometimes.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MNBrewer]

4. Ron Paul is right on the ball with this one

The Constitution exists to protect the LEAST popular people and causes. If we start chipping away at that, our enthusiasm may take us far FAR beyond were we ever imagined we mind wind up.

[AverageJoe90]

8. Sorry, but as well meaning as this argument is........

...in this particular case it holds no water because 1.)he wasn't even in the U.S. to start with, and 2.)he wasn't innocent, but rather, aiding & abetting the actions of one of the world's most well-known terrorist orgs.

Sorry, but it's become obvious to me that R.P. is a charlatan and a slick operator thru & thru, and his B.S. commentary is just another example of that; not only this, but this will end up discrediting those who actually ARE blowing the whistle on REAL dangers to the U.S. Constitution.

[MNBrewer]

11. 1. The Constitution applies to the US Government, regardless of WHERE a person is

2. His guilt is besides the point. Lack of due process is the point.

But go ahead.... enjoy Guantanamo, or wherever they decide to send you when your turn comes. Just don't expect a trial

[joeybee12]

14. Due process is indeed the point...he's not guilty just because the government

says he's guilty...only sheep follow that logic.

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. So, we should have depopulated South Boston when Americans were

'aiding and abetting' the IRA. They didn't need trials. A lot of them boasted about their support for that terrorist organization, one of the most well known terrorist orgs. of its day.

[otohara]

33. Unless They're Sick

and uninsured.

[AverageJoe90]

5. It should be pointed out that this guy wasn't even in the U.S. to begin with........

But in Yemen aiding & abetting terrorists. Yes, ThomWV is right in a sense, a broken clock is right twice a day, but I'm not referring to Ron Paul, but rather, the U.S. military.

And I think an investigation into just how deep the CIA links go has been WAY overdue as well.

[ThomWV]

15. That doesnb't make one single bit of difference - he was a US Citizen

And in this country only a Judge acting within his official capacity can order an execution. It is certainly a power that is not and never has been entrusted to either the President or the Congress.

[ThomWV]

16. If there is any truth to this at all they will Impeach him you know.

If he did it the Republicans will Impeach him. There is no question about that. And they will be right to do it too; if its true that he ordered it.

[liberal N proud]

7. It was done on Obama's watch so the GOP will condemn it

I reference this thread by Ichingcarpenter http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2027657

[AverageJoe90]

10. They shouldn't be condemning this, period.

But given how hypocritical these people are, they'll do it anyway. And fuck Ron Paul, too, for all HIS hypocrisy.

[Lizzie Poppet]

30. Hypocrite or not, he's right in this case.

Don't get me wrong: I'm happy to know that terrorist shithead has attained room temperature. But it's things like our insistence on due process and an impartial trial by jury that make the West worthy of triumphing over violent, totalitarian entities like alQ. If we give that up (or, I should probably say, keep giving that up), we blur these lines.

[AverageJoe90]

43. I've done a little thinking today.

Perhaps I was too quick to respond. I now understand that this whole thing could have been prevented.......and yes, a trial would have been for the best. Sabrina 1 ended up mentioning on another thread that he had been having dinners, at the Pentagon, of all places. I then realized why he hadn't been taken care of before........too bad I can't edit my earlier comments though. :(

[FSogol]

13. Ron Paul - Principled Hypocrite.

:puke:

[quaker bill]

17. I think one might expect this when one enlists

The notion that our government wants them dead has been no secret. One could opt to peacefully surrender.

[EFerrari]

23. Is that whole thing about self incrimination also quaint now?

[quaker bill]

46. No

One still cannot legally be forced to testify against oneself. Of course, people self-incriminate all the time, (he was not considered a criminal until he showed up on the bank security video holding that gun...) It is a subtle concept, but one can self-incriminate by showing up on the security video, leaving one's finger prints and DNA all over the crime scene, making phone calls and sending messages which are intercepted confessing to or planning a crime. None of this stuff is new or at all "post 9/11".

If one wishes to live a long, peaceful, and comfortable life, being an officer or director in Al-Queda is a poor career choice. People do have other options.

[ProSense]

18. Ron Paul,

hypocrite

[MrScorpio]

20. I guess Paul is now the US Congresscritter from Al Qaeda. nt

[otohara]

21. Cheerleader against health care

suddenly cares about a terrorist anchor baby.

[Blue_Tires]

29. Paul doesn't care about him; this is a CAREFULLY crafted unspoken message to the base:

"If Obama did this to supposedly one of his own "people" (hint, hint), what do you think he'll do God-fearin' freedom-lovin' white America, which he really hates?":sarcasm:

This was a clever move, to actually get the words "Obama, assassinate, and American citizen" in the same news story...The teabag nutbars will take the lead from there...

[KamaAina]

31. That's the second time I've seen him called an "anchor baby" today

that phrase is extremely offensive to first-generation children of immigrants.

[otohara]

32. You Left Out "terrorist"

State Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, was on CNN last night talking about a plot involving pregnant women from other countries traveling to America as tourists to give birth, and then raising the babies as terrorists.

Left out :sarcasm:
My bad

[KamaAina]

34. Roger that.

The first one was serious! :scared:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2028739&mesg_id=2029030

[a la izquierda]

39. Right wing bullshit phrase.

I hate it. My family uses it to rankle me when they try to debate me on immigration.

[hyphenate]

22. Hmmmmm

Let's compare: GWB killed thousands of Americans and foreigner during his tenure as prez, but why doesn't that count as "assassination"? I'm terribly confused...........

Paul is just another asshole. Just like 48% of the rest of the country who voted for all those GOP congress people.

[Distant Observer]

24. ??? Has the incontrovertible EVIDENCE directly tied to al-Awlaki ever been laid out???

[War Horse]

25. Ron Paul only supports killing people

by taking away their medical care

[bowens43]

26. even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while.

those responsible for this murder should be prosecuted.

[Blue_Tires]

27. What a shameless grandstander...

Did anyone ask Paul about the Troy Davis case? Where has Paul been for all the detainees in 'covert' prisons around the world??

[Sheepshank]

28. I don't understand Paul's rational at all.

as a member of the small government crowd, you'd think he'd be all over cutting through the red tape and reducing taxpayer expenses.

[mmonk]

35. Ron Paul is correct.

Is someone is guilty or innocent of a crime, you either believe in a system or justice or you don't.

[TBF]

36. Agree, he's correct on this. Gotta call them as we see them. nt

[mmonk]

40. Yep. It's why Robert Kennedy's quote is my sig line.

[Aerows]

37. If you follow pesky things like the Constitution

Paul is correct. He's kind of like a stopped clock in some ways, because he has some really hard-headed and wrong-headed views, but in this? He's dead right.

[Proles]

38. No, Ron Paul is wrong... again.

If you vehemently call for attacks against America like this guy did (and don't tell me he didn't have ties with Al Qaeda), then we were perfectly within our right to kill him.

[vets74]

42. He was a conspirator for the Fort Hood killings. F_ck him.

He recruited bombers by the dozen. F_ck him.

Of course killing that piece of sh_t is legal.

[KOfan]

44. Ron Paul, closet liberal?

who woulda thunk it? If he were President, he would have dropped a nuke on them, or maybe a bale of weed. He is so freaky, I think he is on medication 24/7.

[RB TexLa]

45. Isn't this the idiot that thinks congress should decide interest rates and monetary policy?

:crazy:

[Le Taz Hot]

47. Ron Paul also believes

we should be out of Iraq and Afghanistan and we should legalize marijuana too -- all of which I happen to agree with. So what? :shrug: