Al-Awlaki Was an American Citizen

To The Editor:
On Sept. 19 at a media gathering in the Rose Garden of the White House, President Barack Obama responded to the growing popularity of special interest pledges by some freshman members of the Congress by asserting that the constitutional oath of office is uppermost for elected officials in the United States, saying, “the last time I checked, the only pledge that really matters is the pledge we take to uphold the Constitution.”
Eleven days later Americans heard the breaking news that United States forces in Yemen had killed the recently installed leader of al-Qaeda, Anwar Al-Awlaki. Americans everywhere celebrated this covert activity of our government making Americans safer and confirming that we are winning the war on terrorism.
But Ron Paul, the “champion of the Constitution” cut short the jubilant celebration for some of us when he pointed out that Al-Awlaki was an American. An American who was protected under the Constitution of the United States. An American who was entitled to a “speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury…and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation…to be confronted with witnesses against him…(and) have compulsory process witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.”
I don’t agree with Al-Awlaki’s political positions and methods just like I didn’t agree with Timothy McVeigh’s political positions and methods. However, the rule of law was applied in the case of Timothy McVey and he was granted his constitutional rights which concluded in a public trial by his peers resulting in a guilty verdict and his execution.
I later watched the news footage of Obama praising the killing of New Mexico native Anwar Al-Awlaki noting this as a “major blow” against al-Qaeda. Obama continued saying, “This is further proof that al-Qaeda and its affiliates will find no safe haven anywhere in the world.”
As I sipped my coffee I thought about the president’s Rose Garden scolding of some elected officials 11 days earlier. It is ironic that his words about pledges to uphold the constitution only matter sometimes such as when they serve to achieve a political agenda.
Plenty of people including the elected and those who elect them, Republicans, Democrats and Independents, will agree with the president about the killing of American citizen Anwar Al-Awlaki.
This time I agree with Ron Paul and I believe that if this disregard for the United States Constitution continues that American citizens will soon find no safe haven anywhere in the United States.
EDWARD REEVES
West Cape May