Does the War on Terror create an exception for killing U.S. citizens without trial?
On Friday, Anwar al-Awlaki, an alleged senior al-Qaida leader, was reportedly killed in Yemen by a U.S. drone strike.
Although al-Awlaki has been linked with planning various terror attacks, including the attempt by the Christmas Day "underwear bomber," he is still a U.S. citizen.
Numerous al-Qaida leaders have been taken out by drone strikes throughout the War on Terror, but al-Awlaki is the first U.S. citizen to be killed as a direct target.
This is a significant blow to al-Qaida and could mean the beginning of the end to taking down the terrorist group for good - at least as a fully operational organization. There will always be terrorists, but it appears that the U.S. government is slowly picking off the masterminds.
Do the ends justify the means?
It would appear that everyone agrees that if a U.S. citizen takes up arms against his or her own country that they should be treated as an enemy.
But should there also be a high standard of evidence to prove this?
Yes, there was evidence of al-Awlaki speaking out against the United States and supporting terrorist attacks.
But does his citizenship provide him with a higher standard of evidence required to execute this direct attack?
Some are saying al-Awlaki's citizenship has opened the door for the president to target Americans on a whim and could be an expansion of executive power that goes too far.
Others are saying that at least the courts should have been presented with evidence and granted a warrant to the government to take him out.
Civil libertarians are saying that he deserved to face trial for his crimes, like terrorist Timothy McVeigh.
So instead of giving our opinion, considering that the Editorial Board is divided on this issue, we want to hear yours.
This is a very important issue dealing with foreign policy, civil liberties and the War on Terror.
You can send us a letter to the editor, or, if you have a lot to say on the matter, you can send us a guest column. Please do not submit anything longer than about 650 words, if you can.
Submissions can be sent to opinions@alligator.org.
Please include your name, major and class year in your email. The subject should read "Response to al-Awlaki's Death."
Selected responses will either be published later this week or next week, so try to have them submitted soon.
Thank you in advance for your submissions.
