General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: EXCLUSIVE: Justice Department Memo Reveals Legal Case For Drone Strikes On Americans - MSNBC [View all]PennsylvaniaMatt
(966 posts)People are leaving out the fact that the following words were in a Joint Resolution that passed almost unanimously in the House and the Senate in 2001 and subsequently became U.S. law:
(a) IN GENERAL- That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.
What I have seen on the topic so far, is the misleading notion that the authority the President (no matter who it is) has in killing suspected terrorists, including American citizens, is derived from extra-judicial authority. The authority that the President has in this matter is not something that Barack Obama or, for that matter, George W. Bush, simply gave themselves.
I believe that such information should be disclosed in an open and honest way, but based on what I have seen on NBC and MSNBC about this matter, Michael Isakoff is misleading and scaring many people, and making it seem as though Barack Obama can simply kill whoever he wants.
As if there wasn't enough fear and misinformation regarding this President.