Al-Aulaqi v. Obama: Lawsuit Challenging Targeted Killings

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) have filed a lawsuit challenging the government's asserted authority to carry out “targeted killings” of U.S. citizens ... who are suspected of terrorism but have not been convicted or even charged — without oversight, judicial process, or disclosed standards for placement on kill lists — also poses the risk that the government will erroneously target the wrong people. In recent years, the U.S. government has detained many men as terrorists, only for courts or the government itself to discover later that the evidence was wrong or unreliable.

The American Civil Liberties Union - filed suit in the case of Al-Aulaqi v. Obama Making the stated claim that the policy adopted by the Obama Administration of Assassinating Americans suspected of 'Terrorist' Activities as being UNCONSTITUTIONAL, and in breech of Constitutionally guaranteed rights.

Read More on this subject by clicking through the link above.

I pray that the ACLU and CCR win this case and give back to Americans some of the freedoms they have lost by an over zealous government...

UPDATE:

Here is what the ACLU is reporting on this subject:

"Government Considers Bringing Charges against "Kill List" Target Anwar Al-Aulaqi

The Obama administration is reportedly considering filing criminal charges against Anwar Al-Aulaqi, a U.S. citizen located in Yemen whom the U.S. government has already targeted for death without charge or trial.

In August, the ACLU and the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) filed a lawsuit challenging the government's asserted authority to carry out "targeted killings" of U.S. citizens located far from any armed conflict zone.

The groups were retained by Nasser Al-Aulaqi to bring the lawsuit in connection with the government's decision to authorize the targeted killing of his son, Anwar Al-Aulaqi. The groups charge that if the government has evidence that a U.S. citizen is involved in terrorist activity, he should be charged with a crime and prosecuted.

"While bringing charges against Al-Aulaqi based on credible evidence would be a step in the right direction, it would not mean that he could now be targeted for killing without trial," the ACLU and CCR said in a joint statement. "It is well established that the government cannot use extrajudicial killing to punish people for past acts, but only to prevent grave and imminent threats. A criminal charge for past crimes does not provide a license to kill."

We continue to believe that the courts must play a role in establishing legal standards for when the government can take the life of one of its own citizens without charge or trial. For that reason, we will continue with our litigation."

American Civil Liberties Union © 2010

Reprinted with permission of the
American Civil Liberties Union www.aclu.org...

lol... it's apparent not many here on ATS are interested in the Constitutionality of Obama's so called right to kill American's deemed to be threats to National Security without a fair trial or even Due Process...

Anyway, here is an additional update on this subject: As reported by The Washington Post.

Obama invokes 'state secrets' claim to dismiss suit against targeting of U.S. citizen al-Aulaqi

The Obama administration urged a federal judge early Saturday to dismiss a lawsuit over its targeting of a U.S. citizen for killing overseas, saying that the case would reveal state secrets.

Instead of Agreeing on points raised in the ACLU lawsuit against the Obama Adminstration's use of 'kill lists' that target Americans deemed by the Administration as National Security Threats for assassination - and that outside established war zones - Obama invokes Unconstitutional 'legalities' to try to get the go ahead to murder Americans...


U.S. officials defend "state secrets" claim in al-Aulaqi suit

In a 60-page filing, the government asked U.S. District Judge Robert Bates to dismiss a lawsuit filed by civil rights groups retained by Aulaqi's father seeking to block his Yemen-based son's placement on the CIA and Joint Special Operations Command capture-or-kill list of suspected terrorists.

The filing also asked the court to dismiss the case without debating the merits of any future actions potentially taken against Aulaqi on the grounds that targeting in wartime is a matter for presidents, and that Aulaqi's father did not have legal standing to bring the case.

In an effort to keep secret particular operations in Yemen, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said classified "information concerning whether or not U.S. armed forces are planning to undertake military actions in a foreign country, against particular targets, under what circumstances, for what reasons and pursuant to what procedures or criteria" cannot be disclosed without seriously harming national security.

It's apparent that these people seeking to pressure the courts to throw this lawsuit out are more concerned about being exposed for the illegal activities they're involved with than understanding that thier actions violate our Constitutional Laws...

Nice People, huh?

My feelings on this are obvious... I mean, thier callousness alone towards the Constitutionality of thier actions so that they can get the go ahead to murder an American should be action enough to initiate recall proceedures on those responsible for this.

Philip Berk - instead of trying to get the courts to investigate Obama's ineligability to run for office, why not instead begin Recall proceedures against him, and his flunkies, over items such as this?

Stop spinning your wheels man - BEGIN THE RECALL! lol....

So why not go after the real terrorists and shoot them? You know the guys behind 911 such as Cheyney, Rumsfeld, and Bush Jr?