Summary Execution and its Apologists

[Updated with corrections] The Obama Administration has practiced summary execution, including U.S. citizens, since January 2008 2009. The U.S. military or C.I.A. use drones to blow up buildings killing everyone inside. This practice has the "advantage" of no U.S. casualties (except, of course, the U.S. citizen targeted). But the ever growing number of foreigners killed results in a bit of a public relations problem for the Administration. That the administration and its supporters treat this as a PR problem in itself shows an astonishing level of psychopathic disregard for human life. But the attempt to deal with the "public relations" problem looks like something out of Dadaist theater.

For those who have not read the New York Times article in which the Administration attempts to allay the public's concerns over the mass killing of civilians in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen here is the summary:

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That's really the best description of the Obama Administration's policy in all its homicidal absurdity.

In the U.S. we have what I call the "only Nixon could go to China" problem. Public perception of Democrats, all evidence to the contrary, follows the meme that Democrats are somehow "soft" or "lack the courage to stand up for America," etc.

Here's a comparison/contrast of the wars the U.S started or joined in by Democratic and Republican Presidents (let me know of any errors or omissions in the comments, please):

Democrats			Republicans
World War I	(Wilson)		Grenada	(Reagan)
World War II	(Roosevelt)		Panama	(Bush I)
Korea	(Truman)		Afghanistan	(Bush II)
Vietnam	(Kennedy)		Iraq	(Bush II)
Somalia	(Clinton)		Somalia	(Bush II)
Bosnia	(Clinton)		Yemen	(Bush II)

[from AR: you did not include the first Gulf War, the Kuwait-Iraq war, under Bush I]

Nonetheless the meme lives on. President Obama does not dare allow even the possibility of a terrorist attack or he will face a storm of reelection-destroying criticism. President Bush ignored Bin Laden and Al Queda before Sept. 11th, ignored warnings of airplanes vs. buildings attacks (which I remember reading about before Sept. 11th) - but none of that stuck to him. A Democratic President's fear of "looking weak" kills lots of people who have no idea why they come under fire.

All this fear justifies the destruction of the 5th and 6th amendments, which made the U.S. unique in all the world and used to inspire people in other countries with hope that someday their governments would be more like ours. Well, as inspector Clouseau once said: "Not anymore!"

5th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

6th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

The Obama Administration has already summarily executed a U.S. citizen (see al Alwaki). The Administration claims to have the right and has appropriated the power to do so again. Real terror is waking up one morning to find that the finest judicial system of the world has been taken over by the bandits from the Treasure of the Sierra Madres. We don't need to show you any stink'in due process!

Update:

AR:

The Colbert comment about Comic-con is brilliant. Satire is the only way to expose the craziness of some of these policies. If you don't laugh at the laughable you often legitimize it.