Obama’s Death Warrant

205

May 27, 2013

Published in Braunschweiger Zeitung
(Germany) on 23 May 2013
by Friedemann Diederichs (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Holly Bickerton. Edited by Chris Basham.

Under current laws, American citizens have the right to a fair trial when they are accused of a crime.

With the sudden admission of the killing of four Americans in drone strikes abroad in recent years, the Obama administration has, at the same time, indirectly admitted to flouting these laws.

The president, who, according to reports, makes the final decision on this type of operation, has thus been a judge, juror and enforcer all in one.

The term that is supposed to legitimize this questionable behavior is “national security.” But this vague explanation raises more questions than it answers: Has a serious threat, which cannot be averted in any other way, really come into existence so that the White House is left with no other choice? Obama must adopt a detailed position on this matter.

If the answer to this question is “no,” it will be difficult to find a convincing legitimization for these killings from the air.

The drone executions, which have now been made public, could be a permanent blemish on the record of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, as could the lengthy incarceration of more than 160 terror suspects in Guantanamo Bay.

Obamas Todesurteil
Amerikanische Staatsbürger haben gemäß der geltenden Gesetze das Recht auf ein faires Gerichtsverfahren, wenn ihnen eine Straftat vorgeworfen wird.
Mit dem überraschenden Eingeständnis, in den letzten Jahren vier Amerikaner durch Drohnenattacken im Ausland getötet zu haben, hat die Obama-Regierung jetzt gleichzeitig auch indirekt eingeräumt, diese Gesetze missachtet zu haben.
Der US-Präsident, der Berichten zufolge sich die letzte Entscheidung bei Aktionen dieser Art vorbehält, ist also Richter, Geschworener und Vollstrecker in einer Person gewesen.
Der Begriff, der dieses anfechtbare Verhalten legitimieren soll, lautet „Nationale Sicherheit“. Doch mit dieser schwammigen Erklärung werden wiederum mehr Fragen aufgeworfen als beantwortet: Hat denn tatsächlich eine ganz akute und nicht anders abwendbare Gefahr für das Land bestanden, so dass dem Weißen Haus keine andere Wahl blieb? Obama muss deshalb dazu detailliert Stellung beziehen.
Wird diese Frage mit „Nein“ beantwortet, fällt es schwer, eine überzeugende Legitimierung für die Tötungen aus der Luft zu finden.
Die nun öffentlich gewordenen Drohnen-Exekutionen könnten deshalb dunkle Flecken auf der Weste des Friedens-Nobelpreisträgers bleiben – wie auch die jahrelang andauernde Inhaftierung von mehr als 160 Terrorverdächtigen im Lager Guantanamo Bay.

This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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