Quote from Trader666:
Bullshit. For the FOURTH time, YOU'RE the one accusing the president of ordering murder and subverting the Constitution for authorizing the military to kill a member of Al-Qaeda on the battlefield, so where's YOUR proof?
Article 3 -
The Judicial Branch
Section 3 - Treason
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
----
Now the first thing you should notice about this section, is that it refers to the judicial branch of our government. Why may one ask? Because it is the prerogative of the judicial branch to mete out justice, not the executive. See a problem yet?
Trader666, all dramatic bluster and sophomoric gestures aside, the first thing one should realize, is that the White House assumed the role of the judicial branch and carried out an execution. Whatever the reason, however deserving Awlaki may or may not have been, this is a role the executive was never meant to have.
One reason that comes to mind is because absent this separation of powers, the President could declare anyone a traitor and murder them without any oversight whatsoever. I mean, I know we are asked to trust our government, but that's a bit much if you ask me. It's all about establishing precedents.
Quote from Trader666:I bring it up as a much needed reality check for you. It's also an ongoing policy BTW and al-Awlaki was only one of three Americans killed so far.
Emphasis mine. Only 3, so far.
Quote from Trader666:Finally, I have written several times how I think article 3 section 3 applies. Go back and try reading.
You see, you are confused again. I am not asking how you think it applies, I am asking how you interpret the article...in other words, what it means to you. To me, it means first defining what treason is, and second setting specific instructions on how that can be established legally. Do you have a different take as to what that section establishes? Oh, and just restate it now if you've posted previously. That's gotta be easier than retyping that same paragraph over and over right?
Quote from Trader666:P.S. Would you have refused to carry out your part had you been involved and on active duty?
Probably not. "When I was active duty my mental faculties remained in suspended animation"...to quote the most decorated Marine in history, SDB.
Quote from Trader666:My reference to no charges or convictions isn't my argument, moron.
Ok.
Quote from Trader666:Quote from Trader666:So where's the impeachment and why didn't everyone in the military who had anything to do with this refuse? Would you have refused? Because it's their duty to NOT obey unlawful orders. Where are the courts-martial?
Wha?