Modern Day Star Chamber

"These people can make us disappear."
--Nina Chance (Murder at 1600)

Last Friday, Anwar al-Awlaki and three other people suspected of engaging in terrorist-like activities were killed by a missile fired from a US Predator drone in northern Yemen. This was a sanctioned assassination, as al-Awlaki had been on the 'targeted killing list' maintained by the US government.

Uniquely, al-Awlaki was a US citizen. What this means is that the federal government executed a US citizen without due process, a right that is guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment.

The Fifth Amendment was written to ensure that people would be treated fairly by the government, even those people whom the government or the public might dislike.

The Judge observes that this is the first time in recorded history since the Civil War under Lincoln that the president has used the military to kill a US citizen without due process.

Simply put, the Obama administration decided to take this person out. Once again, this administration has placed itself above the law.

Who will this president target for killing next?