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Showing Original Post only (View all)"The Drone That Killed My Grandson" - Nasser al-Awlaki Op/Ed in NYT [View all]
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/18/opinion/the-drone-that-killed-my-grandson.htmlOP-ED CONTRIBUTOR
The Drone That Killed My Grandson
By NASSER al-AWLAKI
Published: July 17, 2013 2 Comments
SANA, Yemen I LEARNED that my 16-year-old grandson, Abdulrahman a United States citizen had been killed by an American drone strike from news reports the morning after he died.
The missile killed him, his teenage cousin and at least five other civilians on Oct. 14, 2011, while the boys were eating dinner at an open-air restaurant in southern Yemen.
- snip -
Nearly two years later, I still have no answers. The United States government has refused to explain why Abdulrahman was killed. It was not until May of this year that the Obama administration, in a supposed effort to be more transparent, publicly acknowledged what the world already knew that it was responsible for his death.
The attorney general, Eric H. Holder Jr., said only that Abdulrahman was not specifically targeted, raising more questions than he answered.
My grandson was killed by his own government. The Obama administration must answer for its actions and be held accountable. On Friday, I will petition a federal court in Washington to require the government to do just that.
- snip -
The government repeatedly made accusations of terrorism against Anwar who was also an American citizen but never charged him with a crime. No court ever reviewed the governments claims nor was any evidence of criminal wrongdoing ever presented to a court. He did not deserve to be deprived of his constitutional rights as an American citizen and killed.
Early one morning in September 2011, Abdulrahman set out from our home in Sana by himself. He went to look for his father, whom he hadnt seen for years. He left a note for his mother explaining that he missed his father and wanted to find him, and asking her to forgive him for leaving without permission.
- snip -
That was the last time I heard his voice. He was killed just two weeks after his father.
A country that believes it does not even need to answer for killing its own is not the America I once knew. From 1966 to 1977, I fulfilled a childhood dream and studied in the United States as a Fulbright scholar, earning my doctorate and then working as a researcher and assistant professor at universities in New Mexico, Nebraska and Minnesota.
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"The Drone That Killed My Grandson" - Nasser al-Awlaki Op/Ed in NYT [View all]
Hissyspit
Jul 2013
OP
Why isn't the family filing a wrongful death suit? The suit filed by CCR is sure to be dismissed,
msanthrope
Jul 2013
#1
Maybe, just maybe, when enough people realize that people in foreign countries are human, just like
RC
Jul 2013
#2
I agree. If only people would put themselves in the place of those being oppressed and killed.
kelliekat44
Jul 2013
#46
The grandfather is NOT telling the truth. The boy was in a CAR with known terrorists.
Tx4obama
Jul 2013
#3
FYI: The article that you reference concerns Anwar al-Awlaki (the son) not Abdulrahman al-Awlaki
xocet
Jul 2013
#24
There is a difference between defending something and not wanting to see misinformation. n/t
Tx4obama
Jul 2013
#9
There is no good reason to let facts get in the way of a good emotional rant...
Pelican
Jul 2013
#10
It seems that you did not read the articles too closely, so it is very hard to defend your position.
xocet
Jul 2013
#32
So, do you think Obama should be impeached or just extradited to the Hague?
geek tragedy
Jul 2013
#43
What should I be outraged over tonight: This or a Rolling Stone cover? Hmmm...
Comrade Grumpy
Jul 2013
#8
it wasn't creepy. it was a riff off the fact that the guy is lying in his editorial
Pretzel_Warrior
Jul 2013
#23
Abdulrahman's father was part of al Queda, and al Queda has killed children in its attacks.
pnwmom
Jul 2013
#15
Yes, and Anwar al-Awlaki believed children should be raised 'on the love of Jihad'
Tx4obama
Jul 2013
#25
In post# 1, I asked why had the family filed such a lawsuit--as opposed to a wrongful death action.
msanthrope
Jul 2013
#42
So, you would hold the USA to the same standard as al-Qaeda? That is just brilliant!
xocet
Jul 2013
#28
Yes. The President can target Americans if they are deemed enemy combatants, and they are non-
msanthrope
Jul 2013
#40