quote

It is a wise man who plants a tree in the shade of which he knows he will never sit. -- Greek proverb --

Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant. -- Robert Louis Stevenson --

From On High - Coming to you from a secured redoubt on Big Walker Mountain in the heart of Virginia's Blue Ridge.

Saturday, October 01, 2011

How Sad

For someone who regularly evinces libertarian tendencies, it's particularly disappointing to read James Taranto's dismissal of the fact that the United States government can now target American citizens for extermination at will with a simple swat of the hand at the Constitution.  Taranto:

"It was actually a CIA airstrike in Yemen, and the targets, Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan, were unlawful enemy combatants who happened to be U.S. citizens by accident of birth."

Theirs was citizenship by accident of birth.  Which doesn't count.

So to hell with 'em.

Food for thought for Mr. Taranto:

"However imperfect due process, it has a protective faculty which cannot be removed without destroying it. It is the natural enemy and the unyielding foe of tyranny, whether popular or otherwise. As long as due process subsists, courts will put in despotism's path a resistance, more or less generous, but which always serves to contain it."

3 comments:

WickedDickie said...

This is one of the few times I must disagree with you, Jerry. First, as you know, I believe terrorists/pirates and the like come under the ancient admiralty law of Hostis Humani Generis or the enemy against all mankind. As such, they are entitled to nothing except summary execution. Second, in this case, we have native born citizens who are in armed insurrection against their country, indeed, against all mankind. Capture and trial may be desirable but summary execution is in order just like we did with Osama bin Laden. I think it was wrong/illegal to grant any of the GTMO murderers rights under our Constitution. Third, I would add that there is precedent for this as President Roosevelt ordered trial under the espionage act for Nazi spies, including an American, captured here in WWII. They are not entitled to mercy.

Jerry Fuhrman said...

I think most people disagree with me, WD. And I understand.

MuggySoutherner said...

Yea, I have to way in on the disagree side (very rare). The man was a traitor to his country. They shoot traitors, don't they? (well, except for political ones..).