Anwar al-Awlaki & Samir Khan

[Griff]

Wow. Let's hope that nutter never rises above deputy assistant. I see how he got there though, being a yes man with complete disregard for civil rights.

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by Griff

Wow. Let's hope that nutter never rises above deputy assistant. I see how he got there though, being a yes man with complete disregard for civil rights.

He also completely ignored the fact that we do have a FISA court that does hear such matters.

I'd like to think that if the FISA court is required for various classified requests affecting US citizens, that someone would consult them on a killing.

And that doesn't speak to 'collateral damage'. In a war zone, there are procedures in place to compensate the family of victims, from "you're shit out of luck" to "here's $500". People in a war zone at least know that they are in a war zone. With drones we're claiming the right to go anywhere, anytime and kill a target and anyone who happens to be nearby with no respect for culpability.

If Uncle Vlad was in the Russian mob and happened to be attending his nieces wedding, and the FBI broke in and mowed down a few dozen wedding guests, there would be outrage. The question would be, "Did everyone know, including the children, that their lives were forfeit by being in the same room as him?"

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by richlevy

He also completely ignored the fact that we do have a FISA court that does hear such matters.
<snip>

I guess I overlooked a third really stupid thing about Mr Hauck.
He is saying all this to the judge, who also serves on the FISA court !

ibid

At one point, when Mr. Hauck referred to the Constitution, Judge Collyer, 67,
who was appointed by President George W. Bush and also serves on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court,
interrupted to note that the Constitution prescribed three branches of government,
and that she represented one of them.