The Open and Shut Case of Anwar al-Awlaki

As is currently linked to the Drudge Report via the Washington Post, there is now a so-called moral debate taking place over the targeting and killing of the American-born Islamist cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who provided assistance to the 9/11 hijackers as well as "spiritual" inspiration to the Undiebomber and Fort Hood shooter, Dr. Nidal Hasan. How many American civilians and soldiers are dead, or could be, directly as a result of Anwar Al-Awlaki's actions, planning and support? Sheikh Awlaki was a direct conspirator and wager of war against the United States as a top key member of Al Qaeda. He tried, and was at times devastatingly successful, in aiding horrific Islamist terror attacks inside America. That far surpasses mere treason for a native citizen. Traitor Bradley Manning merely disclosed his nation's closest-held and most classified secrets. Anwar al-Alwaki's actions caused many deaths, and could have caused many more had the Undiebomber succeeded in more than just scorching his groin. Awlaki was in an active state of war against the American people. He already had much of our blood on his hands from Fort Hood alone, never mind 9/11. Case open, case closed. Two simple words. people: it's war. And War is Hell. Wars suck, but sometimes they have to be fought as a matter of self-preservation alone. Do people forget America is in an official state of war against its enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan, unofficially in Libya? President Obama most assuredly has already targeted Colonel Qadhafi to date. Bring the conflict to a quick end instead of it becoming his Iraq or Vietnam. Question. Would FDR have militarily taken out American Tokyo Rose given the shot? You bet he would. Think of the effects on morale on both sides alone. It was for those very same reasons that Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the famed Imperial Japanese naval commander, was shot down in the Western Pacific in a military operation on FDR's orders. Japan mourned a national hero while America cheered a great strategic and moral victory over her self-declared mortal enemy. It was much the same in America recently regarding the successful operation against Osama bin Laden. Al Qaeda was none too happy that day, I can tell you. It was their 9/11. A mighty tower went down in flames. Not all things in life are black and white absolutes, people, but war sure is or should be. You kill the enemy for the greater good of winning and ending the war. Color me Patton, but Anwar al-Awlaki waged direct war against the United States on behalf of Al Qaeda. See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya. No matter where in the world he came from, including the US, Anwar al-Awlaki was a legitimate military target due to his most hostile and often fatal activities against the US. End of conversation. On that note, I will end with the fact that is was a hell of a birthday present to wake up to on CNN. Made my day. Okay, who's next? Oh, yeah. Hope Springs Eternal. Have a great day, all. I just did. Oh, and ACLU, you can sue me. Good luck with that in court. Really, what are we supposed to do? Fly Ron Paul and ACLU lawyers into the heart of wartorn Yemen to meet with Al Qaeda leaders and reason with them? On second thought...