by Ron Paul
According to the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution, Americans are never to be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. The Constitution is not some aspirational statement of values, allowing exceptions when convenient, but rather, it is the law of the land. It is the basis of our Republic and our principal bulwark against tyranny.
Last week’s assassination of two American citizens, Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan, is an outrage and a criminal act carried out by the President and his administration. If the law protecting us against government-sanctioned assassination can be voided when there is a “really bad American”, is there any meaning left to the rule of law in the United States? If, as we learned last week, a secret government committee, not subject to congressional oversight or judicial review, can now target certain Americans for assassination, under what moral authority do we presume to lecture the rest of the world about protecting human rights? Didn’t we just bomb Libya into oblivion under the auspices of protecting the civilians from being targeted by their government? Timothy McVeigh was certainly a threat, as were Nidal Hassan and Jared Lee Loughner. They killed people in front of many witnesses. They took up arms against their government in a literal way, yet were still afforded trials. These constitutional protections are in place because our Founders realized it is a very serious matter to deprive any individual of life or liberty. Our outrage against even the obviously guilty is not worth the sacrifice of the rule of law. Al-Awlaki has been outspoken against the United States and we are told he encouraged violence against Americans. We do not know that he actually committed any acts of violence. Ironically, he was once invited to the Pentagon as part of an outreach to moderate Muslims after 9/11. As the US attacks against Muslims in the Middle East and Central Asia expanded, it is said that he became more fervent and radical in his opposition to US foreign policy.
Many cheer this killing because they believe that in a time of war, due process is not necessary – not even for citizens, and especially not for those overseas. However, there has been no formal declaration of war and certainly not one against Yemen. The post-9/11 authorization for force would not have covered these two Americans because no one is claiming they had any connection to that attack. Al-Awlaki was on a kill list compiled by a secret panel within President Obama’s National Security Council and Justice Department. How many more Americans citizens are on that list? They won’t tell us. What are the criteria? They won’t tell us. Where is the evidence? They won’t tell us.
Al-Awlaki’s father tried desperately to get the administration to at least allow his son to have legal representation to challenge the “kill” order. He was denied. Rather than give him his day in court, the administration, behind closed doors, served as prosecutor, judge, jury, and executioner.The most worrisome aspect of this is that any new powers this administration accrues will serve as precedents for future administrations. Even those who completely trust this administration must understand that if this usurpation of power and denial of due process is allowed to stand, these powers will remain to be expanded on by the next administration and then the next. Will you trust them? History shows that once a population gives up its rights, they are not easily won back. Beware.
Processing your request, Please wait....
im starting to feel a slight bit of pity for the marrionette who cant break his strings-this kinda reminds me how it must have felt when french citizens were starving and marie antonette said “let them eat cake” and was thus led to the guiottione! hope you been practicing your running obammy boy and you better be mighty fast!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Knowing my luck I maybe on his kill list. But I got news for him. I can’t stand his sorry ass and I will use my right to use my shot gun to protect my self against him.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
When Dr. Ron knows he is correct,
he’s tenacious as a damn Bull Dog
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
nigger bama needs to stop that shit
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
so pretty much were all fucked, great
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“Americans are never to be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.” No, not right. It says, “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury” The 5th amendment protects all persons, not just Americans.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I bet obama answers to a higher power and I don’t mean god or the american people. Someone has to be pulling his strings. Ron paul could u deal with that? Deal with having a boss or bosses that tell yoy how to run shizz. RP2012
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
so there gonna kill us, i believe satanism needs blood. now i know OBAMA is a illuminati / skull n bones member. i really wish captain america was real, to destroy our corrupt government.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The Ron Paul money bomb can hopefully get this man noticed much more than he already is. I really hope he gets elected even if it is a longshot as it is our last chance before complete destruction in my opinion. I don’t feel like rebuilding a great country but if it comes, I will be there to help.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
As a reminder, please register to vote in the primaries (states have different primary rules) so we can make sure Ron Paul wins the primaries. Become a delegate too, if you can.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
You know, early on I was all for the killing of Alli Walla Bing Bang, or whatever his name was. But now I’m much less certain we didn’t make a stupendous mistake. Killing an enemy American on the battlefield in combat is one thing. There were American Germans and Italians fighting with the fascists in WWII and later in Korea and Viet Nam as well.
IF we assume this nation was more interested int he Constitution in the past, how did we conduct ourselves when these traitors were collected as prisoners? To be clear, killing an American enemy on the battlefield is A-OK.
What concerns me is the modern definition of battlefield and enemy.
More debate is needed.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It can’t be at the discretion of one person. Yes “he” was a bad guy but we need to think about the big picture. Grow up
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
GOP candidates shift to defense and foreign policy but they completely ignored Ran Paul in the whole news: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gop-candidates-20111008,0,1343025.story check it out
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hey Bobby, are you one of those who still believe in the Osama Bin Laden fairytale? Anyone with at least an IQ of 95 does not believe the US government lies that we are fed by the fascist mainstream media outlets.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Saturday LA times caeeies a story with this headline:
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Bobby: PLeny of evidence? Just like Casey Anthony? I’m also certain that the Constitution is above your personal opinion.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
So Bobby in your infinite wisdom, when else do you think we should ignore the Constitution? I love how people like you just want to make up laws as the go….didn’t Hitler do the same thing? And what is this evidence you speak of? In what court of law was it presented? Oh yes, I forgot that you decided that it was ok to be judge, jury, and executioner.
If he was so guilty then why not use our laws to convict him?
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
lmao @ Ross “Purough”
RON PAUL 2012
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
How Stupid can we be not to take back OUR country through people like Ron Paul and Ross Purough. The economic people WE NEED at the TOP !!! D/N
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
But it is a police action, Congress has not declared war on anything since WWII.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I agree with ya 99.0 TIME Ron but not this one, isolated incident, enemy of the state alleged with plenty of evidence, made war on U.S. thereby revoking any Constitutional Privledge…and may have killed others while we attempted to apprehend…this is War not Police action…although these admins are trying to POLICE THE WORLD…
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I have seen some of the DHS, Alabama and MIAC reports somehwere around 8 Million Americans are suspected to be on these lists including supporters of Ron Paul, people who support the Constitution, returning veterans, people who question the Government etc. This should be an outrage to every American.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Barry thinks hes cornered the community organizer template.. no way pal. you aint seen NUTHIN…….yet
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Take out the trash.. force politicians out. bring statesmen (Ron Paul) and others in by talking to your friends families and strangers eye to eye
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.msnbc.msn.com%2Fid%2F44822132%2Fdisplaymode%2F1283%2Ffor%2Ffacebookvideo&h=mAQDTAPv0AQDJqae89okwCCJ9b8zW_l7VuVJ0ZrsmEK5u7w
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“The defendant was aware of the danger of his propaganda and of the reasons for it. Therefore the death penalty, which is compellingly prescribed, must be imposed on him…In the event of a choice between death and imprisonment, the decision could only have been rendered for the death penalty, because the gravity and danger of the deed and the need to protect the people require it, despite the fact that the defendant is a juvenile.”
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“The seventeen-year-old Helmuth Hübener from Hamburg, sentenced to death and deprival of his civil rights during his lifetime by the People’s Court on 11 August 1942 for conspiracy to commit high treason and treasonable support of the enemy, has been executed today.” It’s okay, it was for national security.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Veterans overwhelmingly for Ron Paul. Let’s get these treasonous bastards out of office once and for all!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I’d vote for Ron Paul, except I am not American. Still, thanks for teaching me about libertarianism, Ron Paul.
Respect.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I vote Ron Paul. I am an Army Officer, Finance Corps.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yea Harvard law
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Didn’t Obama attend law school? Shouldn’t he know this?
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yes! Who else. And why is it a secret and who DOES he think he is? Because he ain’t!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
More are becoming aware of him all the time, Phil… keep talking him up to.everyone you know!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
i love this canidate and wish the american people woul open up to him!!!!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0