A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the
truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.
- President John F. Kennedy
President Barack Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
I
am writing you about the ongoing Official practice of targeting American
Citizens just because of what they say; I
urge you to immediately stop all illegal, immoral, counterproductive and
unneeded means to fight terrorism.
Example: US-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaqi, described by US officials as “the most significant risk” to the United States, was killed [in Yemen] on Friday [9/30/11] in what was called a “significant blow”
Example: US-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaqi, described by US officials as “the most significant risk” to the United States, was killed [in Yemen] on Friday [9/30/11] in what was called a “significant blow”
"A
significant blow" all right - a
significant blow to the rule of law and our precious American democracy!
First, *if* it is OK for our Government to kill
this American, it would be OK to kill any American anywhere any time for any
reason.
Example
10/19/2011: Anwar al-Awlaqi’s 16 year
old US born son was also killed in Yemen in a drone strike ‘sanctioned’ by the
US Government. As far as I can tell,
he was not accused of anything at all.
This is just plain wrong!
Second, while I do not like hate
speech, religious and political comments are always protected by our
US Constitution. What would have prevented our Government from
saying that Reverend Martin Luther King's 1967 anti-war statements gave aid
and comfort to our enemies during wartime, and, therefore,
designating him as a target for 'legal' assassination?
No evidence has ever been offered that cleric al-Awlaqi had any connection to
Al-Qaeda. Information does exist that his opinion of the US changed from
support to hostility when we attacked, invaded and occupied two sovereign
Islamic Nations that did not attack or pose a threat to the US.
*if* this Cleric gave 'material support to terrorists', fine:
arrest him and have him stand in a jury trial in open US court with real legal
charges in front of a Judge where witnesses can be cross examined. But, even if
found guilty, this charge does not carry the death penalty, nor should it.
Documents for the process used to decide who is a target and
why are said to be State secrets. We were told not to worry because it is
wartime, only a few Americans are on the ‘hit list’, and some lawyer said it
was OK to kill them - but only if it is a clear life or death situation where the
person cannot be arrested.
Finally, these actions give America an even worse name in the
Arab and Muslim world. How can we claim to support Democracy abroad if we kill
those of us we do not agree with? Isn’t that what the Rulers in Syria are doing
right now, and what the Governments in Egypt and Libya did for 40 years?
Thank you for your time to read my letter,
Sincerely,
Stephen Salgaller
338 Gerard Avenue
Elkins Park, PA 19027
steve@don-eve.dyndns.org
