http://www.trialbriefs.com/politicalassassination.htm
In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford issued Executive Order 11905 to clarify U.S. foreign-intelligence activities. In a section of the order labeled "Restrictions on Intelligence Activities," Ford concisely but explicitly outlawed political assassination:
5(g) Prohibition on Assassination. No employee of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, political assassination.
Since 1976, every U.S. president has upheld Ford’s prohibition on assassinations. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter issued an executive order with the chief purpose of reshaping the intelligence structure. In Section 2-305 of that order, Carter reaffirmed the U.S. prohibition on assassination:
In 1981, President Reagan, through Executive Order 12333, reiterated the assassination prohibition:
2.11 No person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, assassination.
Reagan was the last president to address the topic of political assassination. Because no subsequent executive order or piece of legislation has repealed the prohibition, it remains in effect.
I find it interesting that in criticism of the use of drones the most common criticism is not that it kills innocent people but that it is ineffective since especially in tribal societies it produces blowback and in effect creates a great climate for extremist recruiters. No one seems to mention that the practice hardly gives due process since the drone controllers are cop, judge, and executioner all in one.
What if drones were used to try to eliminate drug bosses or other high value criminal targets in the US. Wouldn't take long for public attitudes to change.
Blog: http://kenthink7.blogspot.com/index.html Blog: http://kencan7.blogspot.com/index.html
--- On Mon, 1/4/10, Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com> wrote:
> From: Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com>
> Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] Obama killing Pakistani civilians at 8 times Bush's rate
> To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
> Date: Monday, January 4, 2010, 5:49 PM
>
> On Jan 4, 2010, at 4:36 PM, Percival Myers wrote:
>
> > Extending the comparison period back for drones only.
> You're fixated
> > on drones. Why? Do you think death by drone is more
> abominable than
> > death by other opposing-force causes?
>
> You're perseverating.
>
> Doug
> ___________________________________
> http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk
>