ACLU Wants Court to Ban Assassinations

Argues that targeting a US citizen is unconstitutional
Posted Aug 31, 2010 8:39 AM CDT
ACLU Wants Court to Ban Assassinations
This Oct. 2008 file photo by Muhammad ud-Deen shows Imam Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen.   (AP Photo/Muhammad ud-Deen, File)

The ACLU and the Center for Constitutional Rights have made a bold move in their quest to get Anwar al-Awlaki off the CIA's "capture or kill" list. The rights groups filed a lawsuit yesterday asking a federal court to declare all assassinations unconstitutional, unless the target poses an imminent, specific danger, the AP reports.

A lawyer for the government said the killings were in line with the laws of war. "This administration is using every legal measure available to defeat al-Qaeda, and we will continue to do so as long as its forces pose a threat to this nation," he said.

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