"...Obama administration believes itself to be very good and progressive and enlightened."

[KoKo]

AMY GOODMAN: How do you think the U.S. government should have dealt with Awlaki?

GLENN GREENWALD: Well, for one thing, they could have easily indicted him, if they think that he actually committed crimes. I mean, we have incredibly broad criminal statutes that make it a crime almost to get near a terrorist, let alone to be one. So if they really thought that he was actually somebody who was committing crimes, they could have indicted him. They obviously had the ability to find him, which they did multiple times within Yemen. The Yemeni government is essentially a client state of the United States. And efforts could have been made to apprehend him and then to bring him to the United States and try him, the way we do with other criminals.

NERMEEN SHAIKH: How to explain, Glenn, why it is that the Obama administration has gone further than the Bush administration both with respect to civil liberties and targeted assassinations?

GLENN GREENWALD: You know, I think—I mean, it’s obviously difficult to know motives, what motivates any of us, but I think one thing that seems pretty clear is that the Obama administration believes itself to be very good and progressive and enlightened. And when political leaders believe themselves to be enlightened and progressive, oftentimes there’s even a greater danger that power will be abused, because they find ways to justify what it is that they do and believe that there’s no transparency and accountability necessary. So when there was a Republican president in office, President Obama and his supporters had no trouble understanding why oversight and due process was necessary, why it was dangerous and evil to have the government punish people without any proof that they’ve actually done anything wrong. And yet, now that there is someone that they perceive as being good in power, they believe that those checks are no longer necessary. Of course, basic to political science and the American founding and human nature is that people cannot operate and exercise power without checks, or they’ll inevitably abuse it.

Transcript and Watch at........
http://www.democracynow.org/2011/10/26/glenn_greenwald_...

[FirstLight]

1. *shudder*

I am not meaning to sound like an 'obama basher' ...really, I'm not...

but when seeing words like this - I immediattely have thoughts of the book 1984, and how the ministry used such doublespeak when referring to itself.

[defendandprotect]

2. They know who they are, we know who they are ... and it's not enlightened nor progressive--!!

[ixion]

7. exactly...

[Scuba]

11. +1

[woo me with science]

25. They aren't there to rule, even if it were in an enlightened way. They're there to REPRESENT us.

[joeybee12]

3. When you believe you are on the side of right, you can justify anything...

Problem is, Bush and his criminals thought they were on the side of right also. KNR

[Hutzpa]

What does Glen wants?

he wants a never ending parade of an American terrorist? Someone that can be used as
a target for more attacks on American lives, more hijacking of planes, something is wrong
here Glen, this is not you dude.

Time out.

[bigtree]

4. so GG makes up his own premise about 'enlightenment'

. . . and refutes it. Impressive.

[Kolesar]

5. Now entering...

...the Greenwald Zone:

The Yemeni government is essentially a client state of the United States. :cough:

When political leaders believe themselves to be enlightened and progressive,... they find ways to justify what it is that they do and believe that there’s no transparency and accountability necessary

:cough: :cough:

[leveymg]

6. There's another element to this: Obama is letting the IC do what it wants, and providing cover from

criticism that would otherwise be coming from the Democratic Party and the Left. This is essentially the Bush-Cheney Administration's terrorism policy unleashed from the domestic political process.

Because they don't consult the Democratic base and progressives, the Obama Administration and the IC deceive themselves into believing there is now a domestic consensus supporting these activities that is actually non-existent.

[KoKo]

10. That's an interesting thought....

probably much truth in it. Thanks for that insight.

[Matariki]

8. Haha. The same could be said for Amy Goodman

[msanthrope]

9. Glen just loves living in a fact-free environment.

He knows the President has the authority, under the AUMF, to hit a designated military target.

He knows that Al-Alwaki was indicted, tried, and convicted by Yemen--and he didn't show for the proceedings.

He knows that Yemen sent troops to find him, and couldn't get close.

The thing is, Glen knows all this stuff. He just thinks his readers are too stupid to know this stuff.

[AngkorWot]

12. What a windbag.

[KoKo]

14. So...who do you read? Perhaps you could give some Recommendations?

Who is not a "Wind Bag" in your HO?

[Mimosa]

15. Angkor 'kill 'em all and let God sort them out' Wot

May I respectfully inquire whether you were republican during the 1980s? How about 1990s.

[AngkorWot]

17. Nope.

Were you a big Nader fan? How about Lyndon Larouche?

[Mimosa]

19. Gandhi. Martin Luther King. The usual suspects...

Really bad guys who stood for peace, non-aggression...rights for workers...

You wouldn't care for them with your 'real politik' approach.

[AngkorWot]

20. I'll admit, I didn't vote for either of those.

Tell me, Mimosa. Don't you think it's a little ironic that you accused me of party disloyalty, when you're the one being supportive of some trashy hack who's attacking a democratic president?

[SomethingFishy]

21. Wow what an awesome rebuttal...

I mean you really laid him out with the facts. Greenwald should just pack up and leave now...

[Autumn]

13. progressive and enlightened

Well I guess if you stand them next to Boner, try standing them next to Bernie or Grayson. That's a fucking joke.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[stillrockin]

18. Glenn Greenwald tells it like it is.

[QC]

22. Glenn Greenwald never really loved him!

[KoKo]

24. Perhaps as a Constitutional Lawyer like Obama...Glen had differences..

I thought DU was a site where Discussion could occur. If Constitutional Lawyers have differences shouldn't we be open to their opinions?

Just Saying. Are we Dems going to be like Repugs and shut out any differing views? Like "Free Republic?"

[KoKo]

23. ...!