Anwar al-Awlaki killed

Good news if confirmed . . . and a deserved congratulations to President Obama and the Team America he commands. Part of winning hearts and minds is living up to the dichotomous principle "No better friend - no worse enemy".

Read John Yoo's rebuttal of the claim that the killing of al-Awlaki, an American citizen, was illegal. Make sure to read the comments. Professor Yoo states a 2-prong test for whether a killing is a legal war act: "What is important is not whether someone is an alien or a citizen, but whether they are a member of an enemy conducting hostilities against the United States". In other words, did al-Awlaki qualify as a "member of an enemy" (against the US)? And did his conduct qualify as "hostilities" (against the US)? Keep in mind that historical precedents are necessarily imperfect when applied to a "new type of war".

To President Obama's critics who are reluctant to give credit where credit is due, Walt Harrington reminds that "[President Bush's] only remark about Barack Obama was, as I recall it, “No matter who wins, when he hears what I hear every morning, it will change him.”"

Eric