Bill Van Auken

What is spelled out here is a presidency which has arrogated to itself the “right” to act as judge, jury and executioner in carrying out secret assassinations of American citizens as well many thousands of other human beings around the globe. The overturning of any limitations on this power of life and death lays the groundwork for a police-state dictatorship.

A confidential Justice Department white paper on the legality of “lethal operations” against US citizens made public Monday night argues that virtually unlimited power is placed in the hands of the American president to order the assassination of perceived enemies of the state anywhere around the globe.

While spelling out certain conditions that would purportedly make the targeted killing of an American citizen legal—such as the target being an “operational leader of Al Qaeda or an associated force” who poses an imminent threat of violent attack and whose capture is not feasible—the paper goes on to provide arguments that essentially render these conditions meaningless and non-restrictive.

As if that were not enough, the term “associated force” is defined so broadly that a member of virtually any armed movement deemed hostile to US interests can be targeted. Moreover the paper specifically states that while the conditions it presents are “sufficient” to make such a state killing legal, the absence of one or all of them does not mean that an assassination would be illegal.

“This paper does not attempt to determine the minimum requirements necessary to render such an operation lawful, nor does it assess what might be required to render a lethal operation against a US citizen lawful in other circumstance, including an operation against … a US citizen who is not a senior operational leader of such [Al Qaeda] forces.” it states.

In other words, the document leaves the selection of assassination victims—including non-Al Qaeda opponents of US imperialism—to the discretion of the president and his military and intelligence operatives.

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Stephen Lendman

Throughout his tenure, Obama governed lawlessly for the monied interests that own him. He's waged no-holds-barred war on humanity. Strategy includes homeland tyranny, fear-mongering, saber rattling, hot wars, proxy ones, drone ones, domestic political ones, geopolitical ones, financial ones, anti-populist ones, sanctions, subversion, sabotage, targeted assassinations, mass murder, cyberwar, and more.

In May 2009, Obama prioritized cybersecurity. He called cyber-threats "one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation." "America's economic prosperity in the 21st century will depend on cybersecurity." He ordered a top-to-bottom review. A Cyberspace Policy Review report followed. He waged cyberwar on Iran. He did so cooperatively with Israel.

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Nicolas J.S. Davies

By selecting its senior officials through “legalized bribery” within a superficially democratic system, the United States has developed a more sophisticated way to institutionalize and justify ever-expanding plutocracy, militarism and war crimes.

One family stands out as playing exactly that role in the political career of Barack Obama: the Crown family of Chicago. The importance of this relationship in Obama’s career exposes some of the roots of his subservience to the government of Israel, his threats of aggression against Iran, his expansion of the JSOC/CIA targeted killing program, and his unswerving commitment to record military budgets in a time of economic and fiscal crisis.

Americans who went to the polls in 2008 believing that a vote for Barack Obama was a vote for peace, now face the prospect of a presidential election in which both major party candidates will be openly wedded to endless war, cold-blooded “targeted killings,” record military budgets, and the systematic violation of U.S. and international law.

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Stephen Lendman

On February 1, Hillary Clinton ended her tenure as Secretary of State. John Kerry was sworn in to replace her. Two recent articles discussed him. One called him a reliable imperial warrior. The other said he's Israel's man at State. He was chosen to further America's imperium. He'll do what he's told.

He supports global wars. He endorses unchallenged US dominance. Hardline administration policies will continue seamlessly on his watch.

Throughout his Senate tenure, his pro-Israeli voting record was impeccable. His support is unwavering. He endorses strengthening Israel's security. He values America's special relationship. He backs generous financial and military aid. He calls Jerusalem "Israel's indisputable capital." He favors moving America's embassy there from Tel Aviv. Doing so is illegal. In 1947, the UN declared it an international city. It remains so today.

He's no friend of Palestine. He called Arafat a failed leader and unfit peace partner. He supports militarized occupation harshness. He's comfortable with settlement expansions. He's silent about stolen Palestinian land. Dispossessed Palestinians don't bother him. Nor does stealing their resources. He deplores Palestinian liberation. He supports wrong over right. He's against humanitarian missions to besieged Gaza.

After Israel's May 2010 Mavi Marmara massacre, he said Israel "has every right in the world to make certain weapons are not being smuggled in." Activists on board had none. They brought food, toys, stationary, kitchen utensils, mattresses, towels, construction materials, and other vital items Gazans need. Other blocked and successful missions did the same thing. Kerry knows but won't say. Nor do other US and Israeli officials.

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