TCTI: Too Crazy Too Ignore
 Dave Ross
drone_ap980.jpg
A drone is much easier to make than a nuclear weapon. Pretty soon any country will be able to buy or make one - a precisely targeted drone. (AP Photo/File)

Could the President order a drone strike on your block?

BY Dave Ross  on March 7, 2013 @ 6:02 am (Updated: 6:18 am - 3/7/13 )

At a hearing Wednesday, the Attorney General of the United States seemed to have trouble answering whether the U.S. Constitution would prohibit the President from ordering a drone strike against a known terrorist who is an American citizen sitting in a cafe here in the U.S. minding his own business.

Said AG Eric Holder, "The way in which you have described this person, sitting at the cafe - the use of lethal force would not be appropriate."

"I find it remarkable that you still will not give an opinion on the constitutionality," said Sen. Rand Paul.

This prompted a real live talking filibuster in the U.S. Senate by members worried that the 2011 drone strike in Yemen that blew up Anwar Al Awlaki set a dangerous precedent. Awlaki had joined al Qaeda, but he was also an American citizen.

According to a leaked justice department memo the United States - as part of its right to defend itself - asserts the right to target al Qaeda operatives wherever they may be: raising the "terrorist in the Starbucks" scenario.

But this whole debate ignores the real threat. Whatever the Constitution says or doesn't say, if a U.S. President ordered a drone strike on American soil, and killed innocent people - as we've done in Afghanistan and Yemen, he'd be impeached and tried for murder.

The real threat from our expanding use of drones is that we have let the genie out of the bottle. A drone is much easier to make than a nuclear weapon. Pretty soon any country will be able to buy or make one - a precisely targeted drone. It's a suicide bomber without the suicide. The real threat is not that the President would order a drone strike on US soil, it's that someone like Anwar al Awlaki might be able to order a drone strike on U.S. soil.

Filibuster THAT.

Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
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Comments (130)


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  • jabailo wrote...
    Send In The Drones
    March 7, 2013 11:25 am
    I hope he could...we need to de-thug my neighborhood. Send in the drones to police the drug deals, assaults and car "prowls".
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  • Cbrew wrote...
    This is a pretty stupid story and it's been blown up by Repubs
    March 7, 2013 2:57 pm
    "Can the President just Kill an American citizen who has joined Al Quaida? without a trial" uh... let me check, YES... unless you prefer the idea that IF Osama bin Laden had obtained US Citizenship prior to launching the attacks on 9/11 we absolutely could not target him on the battlefield. Sounds pretty stupid to me guys... Lets be honest, you fear the Government because right now, it's a Democrat sitting in the Whitehouse, When Bush was running the show, he had the same ability and you can ask him if you want but I guarantee he would say yes i'd order the attack on Anwar Al Awlaki in Yemen, despite the fact that he was a US Citizen. Can the President order a drone strike on US Soil? YES are you kidding me? National Guard troops have been deployed in riot situations before why would you think the President is limited to specific technology? Obviously, regardless of how you guys feel about this, you're making a bunch of noise over nothing, If the President used drones to attack anyone on American Soil the actions would be documented and if he killed innocent people he would be impeached by congress, you know it, i know it and he certainly knows it... Every President has known this from day 1... You guys getting in here and throwing a "DOWN WITH THE TYRANT" party is just pathetic at this point... You're letting media figures play on your fears... and you're letting yourselves look pathetic.
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  • SeattleNative wrote...
    It may be a "stupid" story to you...
    March 7, 2013 3:30 pm
    ...but if the Attorney General of the US is not willing to go on record as to his assessment of the constitutionality of the ability of the POTUS to kill Americans without due process, we have a major issue here.
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  • William Lawn wrote...
    Too funny
    March 7, 2013 4:14 pm
    We have a bunch of "French Republicans".

    Surrender monkeys

    God this is so crazy.

    If Bush was doing it, it would be to keep Americans safe. Anyone opposed would be "French". Unpatriotic.

    You people are just too crazy.

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  • sportsguru wrote...
    Cbrew
    March 7, 2013 6:23 pm
    That's a heck of a post and I agree with your assessment.
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  • Hayduke wrote...
    Well put, Cbrew.
    March 7, 2013 7:08 pm
    To echo what I heard all through the previous administration, Republicans, "you're either with us or against us."

    All this second guessing of the WH policy is "giving aid and comfort to the enemy."

    "They were for (drone strikes) before they were against them."

    "We're fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them over here."

    "We are at war, don't question our Commander in Chief." And on and on and on.

    Is all this starting to sound familiar yet, Republicans?

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  • SeattleNative wrote...
    That's the standard non-argument by Obamabots
    March 7, 2013 9:54 pm
    B-b-b-b-b-but if it was Bush...We'll, Bush did this, Bush did that...

    News Flash: BUSH ISN'T PRESIDENT.

    It's funny though how fanatically lemming liberals attacked Bush over the Patriot Act, but their "chosen one" Obama signed the NDAA which gives FAR MORE OVER-REACHING POWER TO THE PRESIDENT than the Patriot Act, and all they can do is say, "B-b-b-b-but if it was Bush"...

    How about living IN THE PRESENT?

    Show a little backbone and address the subject. Do you agree that Holder was right to dodge the question whether or not the President has a constitutional right to kill Americans without due process?

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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Parrots
    March 8, 2013 2:42 am
    Your Dear Leader Obama is the only one talking about randomly killing American citizen on American soil. And for what? Is this like the Clinton years when he use the Federal government to assassinate Randy Weavers wife and baby at Ruby Ridge. Or him forcing Janet Reno and the ATF to murder all those children in order to keep us American in fear of the government? All they did was murder innocent American children. And now your Dear Leader threatens us Americans with the same? Paranoia? Obama made this claim and now marionette Holder and the MSM is back peddling, doing damage control, for the regime. "No. You did not hear Obama say that!"

    Left wing Parrots since your Dear Leader is UN accountable, he can say or do anything he wants. And he is! None of this is Bush's fault. American Presidents don't do this to Americans. It is Your Dear Leader owns ALL OF THIS! And all you Useful Idiots voted for this. TWICE!!!!!

    2014 Parrots! Mark that year on your Calendars. You know full well what will happen!

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  • mobeta wrote...
    He will do whatever he wants, he is our dictaor and don't forget it!
    March 8, 2013 7:36 am
    The rule of law and the constitution have been thrown out the window and he could care less about any laws that we have. BHO will do whatever he wants and has the DOJ doing his dirty work, killing Americans and running a gun running operation and stealing money form us the tax payers at a rate never seen before. And the stupid public just goes along so whocare what happens to our freedoms? Lib's don't care until their liberties are taken away and that will happen sooner rather that later. BHO is a bad man and has very bad intentions for this coutry. First, to get us fighting and dividing this country like he already has like never before. Then create crisis after crisis to keep our eyes off the ball at steals us blind. Even Hugo would be proud of BHO and the direction he is taking this country. Congrats lib's, you have destroyed this country! The moral fiber is gone!
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  • Hayduke wrote...
    No, Bill and SeattleNative, I don't support drone strikes on US soil.
    March 8, 2013 9:07 am
    But it bears repeating that your side seemed very comfortable with whatever constitutionally questionable measures Bush/Cheney took. I don't see how my pointing that inconvenient fact out to you guys would lead you to conclude that I must therefore support domestic drone strikes.

    I do, however, support them overseas, as I think they've been very effective at eliminating many top terrorists. Although I'd like to see less civilian casualties.

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  • Hayduke wrote...
    One more thing, SeattleNative:
    March 8, 2013 9:11 am
    As long as your side continues to this day to bash Bill Clinton, I will reciprocate by going after Bush.

    And I think it's safe to say that history will judge the adulterer far more positively than than the class clown.

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  • hpitantso wrote...
    SPD
    March 12, 2013 1:02 am
    Was first on the list,trade off for them seem's to been waterfront eye's in the sky or front rooms
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