Obama’s Death Warrant
Published in Braunschweiger Zeitung
(Germany) on 23 May 2013
by Friedemann Diederichs (link to
original)
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.
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.