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Lawsuit over American drone strikes dismissed by U.S. judge

(Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit filed against the U.S. government by the families of three American citizens killed by U.S. drones in Yemen, saying senior officials cannot be held personally responsible for money damages for the act of conducting war.

Lawsuit over American drone strikes dismissed by U.S. judge | Reuters

This is injustice on many different levels.

1. The US government has not declared war on any nation, specifically Yemen.
2. This was a targeted assassination, not a battle in any war zone.
3. It was SPECIFICALLY directed at American citizens, civilians, not foreign troops.
4. In legal terms, the dismissal is a violation of the First Amendment's protected right of redress.

I'm sure there's more but these are some of the main issues.

I didn't know we were at war with Yemen.

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Again, why would this matter? The US is operating in Yemen with Yemenese support.

It matters because of the decision made by the court.

According to the OP the court has decided that people cannot sue the government for conducting war.

Which is not being conducted.

It also matters because these were American citizens killed by the US government. I forget what clause of the constitution allows for that.
 
The protections of the constitution should most certainly apply to Americans abroad, especially the protection against being killed by our government. But more than that, those protections should guide how we interact with the world as a whole. They are not just rights we have against our own government, they are how we think governments and nations should behave. The United States believes that governments killing people without due process is wrong. We should apply that everywhere. The United States believes that cruel and unusual punishment is wrong. We should apply that everywhere. The United States believes in equality of race, gender, and religion. We should apply that everywhere.
 
The protections of the constitution should most certainly apply to Americans abroad, especially the protection against being killed by our government. But more than that, those protections should guide how we interact with the world as a whole. They are not just rights we have against our own government, they are how we think governments and nations should behave. The United States believes that governments killing people without due process is wrong. We should apply that everywhere. The United States believes that cruel and unusual punishment is wrong. We should apply that everywhere. The United States believes in equality of race, gender, and religion. We should apply that everywhere.

True Americans may believe in those human rights doctrines but the US government clearly does not even though government servants are mandated to abide by the Constitution.
 
True Americans may believe in those human rights doctrines but the US government clearly does not even though government servants are mandated to abide by the Constitution.

It's easy to piss on our elected officials, but almost no one goes down the path towards public service without being a genuine patriot who loves this country. Even the bad ones.
 
Just because you said so?

Its not because I said so. You do not bomb people in countries we are not at war with.

Hahaha you certainly hope so, don't you? God forbid it was it was actually for the purposes of national interest.

People who care about national interests do not allow another country to come in and drop bombs on their citizens who happen to be near any alleged terrorists.If their politcians are like ours then they have metaphorical stretch marks around their lips because someone give them some cash.

Yep.



Then we agree!


Uhhh...no. We'll help while it's in our best interests to. Your dissension is noted, thank you.


It is not in our interests to bomb people in countries whom we are not at war with.It is not in our interests bomb an alleged terrorist who has yet to do anything to us.It is not in our interests to turn a country's population against us because we decided to bomb some innocent people.
 
It's easy to piss on our elected officials

It is when most do not abide by the Oath of Office (e.g. the current POTUS, not to mention his predecessor). How many honest politicians do you know?

almost no one goes down the path towards public service without being a genuine patriot who loves this country. Even the bad ones.

You're terribly idealistic. IMO, most do it to gain power, wealth and fame, not for patriotism and love of country.
 
We are not at war with Yemen.So it doesn't matter what that individual is ALLEGEDLY doing. If we were at war with that country then sure bomb his ass and anyone seeking to harm our troops.

All Yemen must do is prevent the persons from organizing attacks and start extradition procedures. I have not looked at the Yemen situation exactly, but I assume it is very much like situations I have. If a country allows mass murder in another country to be planned, organized and executed from within the safety of its boarders it is de facto engaging in undeclared war. The attacked country by precedence and law is totally in its rights to stop it with any level of military force required.
 
But I thought you never read his "sophistry"?

You must be too young to remember, but I'm not.

Back during the days of the Bush administration we were inundated with the sophistry of Yoo, Bush, Gonzalez et al

It was talked about on all the mainstream media.
 
It's easy to piss on our elected officials, but almost no one goes down the path towards public service without being a genuine patriot who loves this country. Even the bad ones.

Some humans, perhaps all to some degree or another, delude themselves.

For example one might delude himself that he is a patriot and loves his country, yet pass all sorts of illegitimate legislation or executive orders that demean the Constitution. Others think nothing of ordering government activity that greatly benefits the profits of companies owned by friends.
 
Again, why would this matter? The US is operating in Yemen with Yemenese support.

As is the case with many countries and governments, the Yemeni government does not appear to represent the Yemeni people.

Claiming that our murder is legitimate because the government says so rather insults the families of those who have been arbitrarily murdered, doesn't it?
 
How do you want to treat persons organizing operations of mass murder from areas, where the warlord or elite protect those persons.

How shall we treat persons organizing operations of mass murder from areas inside the Beltway?
 
You are forgetting the differences.

One wears a business suit with an American flag lapel pin and the other rides camels? :confused:
 
One wears a business suit with an American flag lapel pin and the other rides camels? :confused:

I often find people haven't thought much about issues, where they none the less have strong opinions. :peace
 
You must be too young to remember, but I'm not.

Back during the days of the Bush administration we were inundated with the sophistry of Yoo, Bush, Gonzalez et al

It was talked about on all the mainstream media.

Oh so you didn't read it. Interesting.
 
It matters because of the decision made by the court.

According to the OP the court has decided that people cannot sue the government for conducting war.

Which is not being conducted.

It also matters because these were American citizens killed by the US government. I forget what clause of the constitution allows for that.

Sure it is. A war on al qaeda. Not Yemen.
 
Its not because I said so. You do not bomb people in countries we are not at war with.

Looks like you do.

People who care about national interests do not allow another country to come in and drop bombs on their citizens who happen to be near any alleged terrorists.If their politcians are like ours then they have metaphorical stretch marks around their lips because someone give them some cash.

Looks like they do.

It is not in our interests to bomb people in countries whom we are not at war with.It is not in our interests bomb an alleged terrorist who has yet to do anything to us.It is not in our interests to turn a country's population against us because we decided to bomb some innocent people.

Looks like it is.
 
As is the case with many countries and governments, the Yemeni government does not appear to represent the Yemeni people.

How would you know?

Claiming that our murder is legitimate because the government says so rather insults the families of those who have been arbitrarily murdered, doesn't it?

Who cares?
 
Sure it is. A war on al qaeda. Not Yemen.

No it is has not been declared and is not being conducted on Americans.

Or maybe I am wrong and it is in which case there is longer any moral justification for our government to exist.
 
Letters of marque and reprisal should be required for the use of drones.

Very interesting.

I have thought a lot about this myself. Not necessarily for drone strikes but in general.

According to one account I read some merchant marine corporations requested letters of Marque from the government during WWII and of course were outright denied.

I wonder how much money we would save on the defense budget if we were to start the practice again.

Obviously not every threat could be handled by such private contractors but some could and probably more effeciently than by uncle sam.
 
No it is has not been declared and is not being conducted on Americans.

Why does it need to be declared?

Or maybe I am wrong and it is in which case there is longer any moral justification for our government to exist.

Morality? What are you talking about, this about geopolitics, not what you personally think is right or wrong.
 
Why does it need to be declared?



Morality? What are you talking about, this about geopolitics, not what you personally think is right or wrong.

It is not about geo politics it is about the actions of our government.

Which was supposed to be governed by the constitution. I guess geopolitics negate that law for you.
 
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