Tribesmen this week examine the rubble of a building in southeastern Yemen where American teenager Abdulrahmen al-Awlaki and six suspected al-Qaida militants were killed in a U.S. drone strike on Oct. 14, 2011. Al-Awlaki, 16, was the son of Anwar al-Awlaki, who died in a similar strike two weeks earlier. Khaled Abdullah / Reuters
EXCLUSIVE: Justice Department Memo Reveals Legal Case For Drone Strikes On Americans -- NBC
A confidential Justice Department memo concludes that the U.S. government can order the killing of American citizens if they are believed to be “senior operational leaders” of al-Qaida or “an associated force” -- even if there is no intelligence indicating they are engaged in an active plot to attack the U.S.
The 16-page memo, a copy of which was obtained by NBC News, provides new details about the legal reasoning behind one of the Obama administration’s most secretive and controversial polices: its dramatically increased use of drone strikes against al-Qaida suspects abroad, including those aimed at American citizens, such as the September 2011 strike in Yemen that killed alleged al-Qaida operatives Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan. Both were U.S. citizens who had never been indicted by the U.S. government nor charged with any crimes.
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More News On The U.S. Justice's Memo Outlining The Legal Guidelines For U.S. Drone Strikes Against Americans
Drone strikes on Americans on U.S. soil are LEGAL, says confidential Justice Department memo -- Daily Mail
Justice memo details broad grounds for drone strikes against Qaida-linked US citizens abroad -- Washington Post/AP
Memo justifies drone kills even with patchy intelligence -- Reuters
US memo gives broad legal rationale for targeted killings -- AFP
Obama's Memo on Killing Americans Twists 'Imminent Threat' Like Bush -- The Atlantic
Report: Memo backs U.S. using lethal force against Americans overseas -- CNN
Memo Cites Legal Basis for Killing U.S. Citizens in Al Qaeda -- New York Times
Justice Dept. document justifies killing Americans overseas if they pose ‘imminent threat’ -- Washington Post
Justice Dept.: Legal For US To Kill al-Qaida Americans Abroad -- Voice of America
Justice Department memo: US government has legal right to order drone strikes on Americans -- al.com
US drone strikes: Memo reveals case for killing Americans -- BBC
Justice Department memo: Drone strikes on U.S. citizens can be legal -- Washington Times
After Leaked Memo on Drone Killings, Senators Still Seek More Details -- Roll Call
Senators threaten 'confrontation' with Obama nominees over drone concerns -- FOX News
Leaked Memo Shows Rules for Killing Americans With Drones Are Pretty Vague -- Margaret Hartmann, New York Magazine
A ‘profoundly disturbing’ memo? DOJ white paper outlines legal basis for targeted killings -- ABA Journal
How Obama Transformed an Old Military Concept So He Can Drone Americans -- Spencer Ackerman, Danger Room
How Obama Decides to Kill American Citizens in the War on Terror -- Adam Clark Estes, The Atlantic
WNU Editor: The 16 page memo is here.
My Comment: Unbelievable .... I remember the grief that President Bush got when the debate on warrant-less wiretaps was in the open. And now .... where are the critics.