[Peace-discuss] Obama and "taking out"

[C. G. Estabrook]

[We noted during the campaign Obama's predilection for the false-macho phrase 
"taking out": he said he wanted to take out "mullahs with nuclear weapons," as 
well as various opponents of US imperialism.  His penchant for the phrase was 
noticeable and disturbing. So far most of those he's taken out have been poor 
families and children in Pakistan.  But it seems that his taste hasn't changed.]

...Speaking of American justice, ondelette, over at FDL, raises an interesting 
point:  for those who believe that leading right-wing figures are inspiring 
violence (whether of the kind that just occurred in Arizona, things like this, 
or even calls for Assange's murder), shouldn't they be treated the same way 
American citizen Anwar al-Awlaki is:  i.e., targeted by the U.S. Government with 
due-process-free assassination for inciting violence?  Doesn't the mentality 
justifying Obama's assassination program necessarily extend to other Americans 
accused of "inciting" violence with their political speech?  While it's true 
that American officials -- once the assassination efforts were leaked -- began 
passing claims to journalists that Awlaki had an "operational role" in Terrorist 
plots, there has been no evidence presented of that, and the concern 
overwhelmingly with Awlaki is that he inspires violence with his political 
speech.  If presidentially-decreed assassination is justified against him, why 
not other American leaders accused of inciting violence?  Shouldn't the 
President order them taken out, too?

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/01/11/justice/index.html