I found an interesting video on Pat Buchanan’s site that might spark debate and commentary. It is a bit dated since February, but I would like to hear your opinions on it.

On February 24 of this year, Rep. Ron Paul stood to speak in front of congress chastising the Obama administration of plotting to kill American citizens, either in the US or foreign countries, as well as constructing secret prisons and renditions around the globe.

Ron Paul said, “The government deliberately orchestrates needless fear and makes people insecure enough to ignore the loss of liberty.”

What sparked this outrage from Ron Paul is testimony from Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair, who on February 3rd of this year, bluntly admits that government agencies may kill U.S. citizens abroad if they are involved in “terrorist activities” that will endanger American lives.

When pressed by Representative Pete Hoekstra on clarification of this policy, Blair replied:

The director of national intelligence said the factors that “primarily” weigh on the decision to target an American include “whether that American is involved in a group that is trying to attack us, whether that American is a threat to other Americans.”

But is rendition, prisons abroad and clandestine assassinations really that much of a secret? Who doesn’t know the CIA engages in these operations? However, the question is that American citizens who have joined the enemy, namely Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, should they be put under these special conditions? Aren’t terrorists, American or foreign, recusing themselves of their rights by becoming war criminals and enemies of the United States?

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  • Schubert

    ” Aren’t terrorists, American or foreign, recusing themselves of their rights by becoming war criminals and enemies of the United States?”

    NO, NO, NO

    That about does it. This website is a sham. The Neo-Cons who post
    these articles with their RETARDED ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL comments
    MAKES ME SICK.

    So Cubachi…according to you…the law (and it's protections) only
    really applies so long 'as you're not doing anything wrong'

    Glenn Beck made it excessively clear: WE ARE A NATION OF LAWS, NOT OF MEN.

    Obviously you right-wing-Jesus-freaks simply can't get that through your skulls.

    No problem.

    I have been suspecting this type of agenda (to subvert what Glenn Beck says)
    so all what I can (and should) do is simply FOLLOW THE LAW. That
    of course includes COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT reports of anything Fox News/MSNBC or any news site that doesn't endorse this type of 're-interpretation' of their news segments.

    Screw this site, and Cubachi?

    YO MAMMA.

  • Schubert

    It's easy to file a copyright infringement notice with youtube. I'm not gonna stand idle and allow this website to distort/re-interpret/spin by a bunch of neo-con/jesus-freaks what Fox News/MSNBC and other copyrighted news affiliates are saying.

  • Tyler

    I actually think Congressman Paul makes a GREAT point here. WHAT'S NEXT? WHO gets to determine WHAT makes a person a “TARGET” for ASSASINATION?

    I'm NOT saying that threats to our nation shouldn't be dealt with or that people who threaten our country should be read their Miranda rights…that's ABSURD TOO.

    MY point and I'm pretty sure was Rep. Paul's as well is that the United States SHOULD NOT be given the right to just flat-out ASSASINATE people. GO TO WAR, ARREST THEM, TRY THEM, and heck…EXECUTE THEM once they're convicted…but ASSASINATION?

    Just KILLING someone WITHOUT A TRIAL of ANY kind? That is NOT the American way. That's TOTALITARIANISM IN ACTION, folks.

    I don't care WHO thinks WHAT about how “crazy” he might be to bring this up. If there IS PROOF or it's SUSPECTED that someone is a THREAT TO US…then let's CAPTURE THEM and TRY them. THAT is what America is SUPPOSED to do…NO MATTER WHO it is.

    The ALLOWING of such activities is ALSO part of the PROGRESS that government has made for a LONG time towards MORE POWER. Power over LIFE & DEATH…that's a LOT of power, folks. It's definitely not something to be taken lightly.

    We LET our government just KILL AT WILL? That is the WRONG answer. So…just THINK LONG AND HARD before you DISMISS Paul on THIS one. Dismiss him on the things he's said about the terrorists. Dismiss him on accusing the Federal Reserve of giving $5 BILLION dollars to Saddam Hussein towards the purchase of weapons of mass destruction in the early 90s. Dismiss him on his questioning of the events of 9/11.

    But PLEASE…THINK REAL HARD before you just QUICKLY DISMISS him about THIS point being made about TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT CONTROL. PLEASE!

    Closing point…I'm gonna give you a HYPOTHETICAL situation here.

    Put YOURSELF in the shoes of someone who's TARGETED by the government for being a “suspected terrorist.” Now…obviously, if you DID NO WRONG…then you should be able to STATE YOUR CASE. RIGHT?

    Well…if the government decides that you're ALREADY GUILTY WITHOUT TRIAL and decides to ASSASINATE YOU…you're DONE. The government IS CAPABLE of being WRONG in judgement calls and THAT is what Ron Paul was getting at here.

  • Tyler

    Schubert. Take it easy, man. Do you REALLY think that they would INFRINGE COPYRIGHTS if they were just NEO-CONS who were OUT TO PUSH AN AGENDA? They would HAVE THE RIGHTS to broadcast these shows if that was the case, wouldn't they? The government would LOVE for them to distort information therefore your copyright infringement notices would do NO GOOD.

    They WOULDN'T post Glenn Beck and John Stossel if they were just Neo-Cons pushing an Neo-Con agenda.

    The KEY is to THINK FOR YOURSELF and you highly UNDERESTIMATE the people who visit this site if you think anyone's BEING BRAINWASHED by the contributors here.

  • http://www.therightscoop.com/ therightscoop

    It's an article man. get over yourself.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Estes-Parked/100000456039641 Estes Parked

    Schubert, Schubert, Schubert… You must chill, Man!

    First of all, watch the Christian bashing. That's totally uncalled for.

    Second of all, since when does any American have constitutional rights outside of the U.S.? When the children of warped leftists join a violent, foreign group of zealots in warfare, on other soil, NO they do not have the same rights that you and I enjoy.
    You assume those that disagree with you are “Neo-Cons” but I assure you that I am a Libertarian. One that understands the limits of the document I defend.

    Another point to make.. CSPAN House floor speeches are public domain, so good luck with your little crusade against “copyright infringement.”

  • cubachi

    Nobody told you to come to this site. You obviously like the content to come here and read.
    And wow, for a libertarian you sure don't like free speech and opinion.

    Anyway, it's an article and I asked for opinions. You need to chill out.

  • Schubert

    “And wow, for a libertarian you sure don't like free speech and opinion.”

    You can write articles until the host decides you shouldn't. I think the only thing you can't write is death threats and anything which may threaten an institution (it varies in terms of what you can/cannot say).

    Either way, it's not my job to police what you/anyone here says.

    However, I know clear well that posting copyrighted material (in this case Fox News/MSNBC) especially the Glenn Beck show in it's entirety is illegal under copyright and can be taken down (it already was).

    What I oppose is the neo-con/Jesus-freak comments associated with the clips.

    You're taking what Stossel/Beck and others are saying, throwing your own opinion/twist on it.

    Nope. Not gonna have it.

    You can write, commenting on the clips day and night, however posting the actual clips is a VIOLATION OF COPYRIGHT.

    The Ron Paul clip is PUBLIC DOMAIN.

    Big difference, y'see?

    I just want to make it clear to anyone who comes here: PATRIOTISM IS BURNING THE FLAG AND BIBLE.

  • Schubert

    ” I assure you that I am a Libertarian. One that understands the limits of the document I defend.”

    So amendment 6 and 8th don't apply here? Even though these are AMERICANS, you believe that the moment they step over the border they don't deserve protection?

    “When the children of warped leftists join a violent, foreign group of zealots in warfare, on other soil, NO they do not have the same rights that you and I enjoy.”

    Oh, so you represent the U.S. Constitution. You speak on behalf of it and you are the final word on what that document entails?

    Got it. Mr. Constitution.

  • Tyler

    The Constitution governs the rights of CITIZENS AS WELL as just WITHIN U.S. SOIL. Now…OTHER COUNTRY'S governments don't have to abide by our Constitution, but OUR government DOES NO MATTER WHERE we are.

    Also…my point in my LONGER comment still stands. It's NOT about whether or not terrorists have Constitutional rights or not. It's about ASSASINATIONS PERIOD.

    We SHOULD be allowed to imprison suspects and interrogate them using such methods as waterboarding…heck…I'd go EVEN FURTHER if it were my decision.

    The ONLY issue I have with the PRISONS is the INDEFINITE DETENTION aspect of it. If we CAPTURE someone who we suspects has valuable information about a terrorist plot…it DOESN'T HELP us to KEEP them there INDEFINITELY. We SHOULD have a TIME LIMIT on that. After all…if interrogators CAN'T get all the necessary information from someone within a FEW MONTHS…then they're NOT GOING to get it ANYWAY. The idea of being able to imprison someone DEFINITELY is ALSO another example of government having TOTALITARIANISM IN ACTION.

  • Tyler

    Correction: INDEFINITELY

  • Schubert

    “It's an article man. get over yourself.”

    I'll keep visiting this site to get my daily Beck and weekly Stossel, the clips are great and I watch them all.

    And yeah, I'll now report each and every single one (non-PD) to youtube
    and other hosting sites of the copyright violations.

    You can keep your faith in Jesus, and I'll keep mine with the U.S. Constitution.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Gary-Jackson/1316589869 Gary Jackson

    You need to chill out fool. That name calling isn't going to win you any friends.

    Maybe you should stick to the basic Ron Paulian tin-foil-hat websites where your looniness is never challenged. Try Stormfront, that's about your speed.

    Do you even know what a “neo-con” is?

    Just another way for you crazies to say you hate the Jooooooooooos!

    It's all the evil Jooooooooooos fault, ya know!

  • Tyler

    Who what with the when where? What the contributors are doing is NO DIFFERENT than an OPINION section of a NEWSPAPER.

    Would you be this outraged if it were an opinion you LIKED? That's just downright silly, bro. That's WHY we have DISCUSSIONS and FORUMS. To ARGUE the issues.

    You don't like that they feel differently about this than you do? Say so and give a good example of why. It'll do ONE OF TWO THINGS.

    1.) Go in one ear and out the other (so-to-speak since this is typed)

    OR

    2.) They MIGHT actually SEE YOUR POINT and CHANGE THEIR PERSPECTIVE.

    That's how these things work. C'mon, now.

  • Tyler

    I agree with you that Schubert needs to take a chill pill on this one, but might I ask WHERE you and other people who have accused Ron Paul of being Anti-Jew ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH THAT?? Just curious. Hahaha!!

  • http://www.therightscoop.com/ therightscoop

    what a hypocrite you are. you come and enjoy the fruits and then complain about the tree you're getting them from. Well, honestly, I've had enough of your crap. You're done.

  • Tyler

    You SHOULD REALIZE that Scoop ACTUALLY RECORDS these shows HIMSELF…which means that all he's gotta do is REPOST, so…GO AHEAD. WASTE YOUR TIME & ENERGY. HAHA!!

  • spinnikerca

    The point is that they aren't terrorists, but suspects, and will never be given the opportunity to defend their positions. Someone just 'decrees' they are dangerous, with no due process, and off with their heads.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Estes-Parked/100000456039641 Estes Parked

    That's Ms. Constitution to you.
    And Tyler made my point for me. Thanks Tyler.

    “you believe that the moment they step over the border they don't deserve protection?”
    What I believe is irrelevant.. What the documents state are what carry the day. Also, I live in a border town and I am fully aware that once I cross that border into Mexico, I no longer have any rights. Just ask the many friends of mine that were locked up for weeks by the federalies, for no reason, then stripped of all the money they had on them. Nope! No rights, like it or not.

  • Tyler

    The Federales are MEXICAN law enforcement from the MEXICAN government. OF COURSE THEY don't have to abide by OUR Constitution.

    OUR government DOES have to REGARDLESS of geographic boundaries.

  • http://www.therightscoop.com/ therightscoop

    Sorry guys, but schubert is banned. I just can't take his crap anymore. this has been going on for a while now and I've had enough. I don't mind people disagreeing with me or any of my co-bloggers, but he takes everything to the nth degree.

    So there's no use in responding to his comments. I'll leave them out there but he won't be coming back to respond.

  • Tyler

    YEP!! Also, like I said. Even if they ARE terrorists…we STILL CAPTURE THEM INSTEAD. INTERROGATE THEM if they're believed to have VALUABLE INFORMATION. If they DON'T have valuable information, then they should STILL BE TRIED BEFORE they're executed. MAKE AN EXAMPLE out of the guy if he IS guilty. DON'T just SECRETLY kill? That's TALIBAN tactics…NOT UNITED STATES tactics.

  • Tyler

    No problem, Scoop. I CAN'T BLAME YOU. I'm just sorry for you that you may have to work harder now to keep the wonderful clips you show available to us if he ACTUALLY DOES takes the time and effort to constantly report you.

  • http://www.facebook.com/AMrSmith Robert Smith

    …worst case scenario, double-agent with whatever materials needed to cause death….best case scenario, mole with documents and knowledge or information to counter any terroism….too many factors to be just a black and white issue…embassies abroad are for people caughtup in something they shouldn't be caught up in…there are many facets of intelligence gathering the average joe on the street doesn't have a clue about…as far as the copywright infringements…anyone can post this stuff with the proper tivvo and computer hardware..anyone!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/AMrSmith Robert Smith

    …your page, your call….

  • Tyler

    Intelligence gathering and detaining people for questioning is one thing, but to ASSASSINATE people and to imprison them INDEFINITELY. That IS a black and white issue and that's what Ron Paul's addressing here.

    Personally, I have NOTHING AGAINST “torture” as long as it ISN'T EXCESSIVE. I mean…it WOULD be kind of jacked up to say…BREAK FINGERS if somebody is INNOCENT.

    That's why I LIKE the idea of waterboarding and why I was FURIOUS at all the goobers who were against it. You can tell REAL QUICKLY whether somebody knows something or not…and you're not actually drowning them…it JUST FEELS like you are. BEAUTIFUL IDEA.

    Just to further prove the point that waterboarding SHOULD BE BROUGHT BACK…there are currently 3 U.S. Navy Seals right now who are BEING TRIED for PUNCHING a terrorist suspect. REALLY? If we were ALLOWED TO WATERBOARD…they WOULDN'T HAVE HAD to punch the guy.

    Waah…my captors ABUSED me with that right hook. Meanwhile YOUR guys are SAWING…not just chopping, but SLOWLY SAWING people's heads off. I would MUCH rather get ROUGHED UP than have a RUSTY HANDSAW going back and forth on my neck. Anyone disagree with THAT notion?

  • jbluv

    That schubert guy must be just another paid black angels in this administration;-( who knows. He gets on my nerves just by reading his post. I'm sorry Scoop, Cubachi that you guys are getting paid nothing for all your hard work and yet had to take some of this blackheaded people. I'm glad you took the proper action right away. To tell you the truth, I am an immigrant to this country,(guys forgive my grammar, english is not my primary language). Anyway, I honestly not worried about my future, but I am worried about this country and it's generations future, since BHO came out to the campaign trail of presidency. Why? I was once the generation of the totalitarian governing country, and I am afraid that America may turn into one like what I had belong to before or maybe worst, as I could feel it's coming, just the way this administrations imposing their agendas. So, like many Americans who felt something isn't right with this administrations, frustrated the way they run the country, and we can't do anything about it all. We turn to popular people who voice our frustrations, like Glenn Beck, Sarah, Hannity, as we want to know, what's going on. I think most Christians, people that have the heart or passions for others, found a place here, sooo grateful that rightscoop share their site to us, because we can't afford to pay premium cable. I guess, we Christians/ American citizens dems/ rep. we all come here because we care, we fear for this country and frustrations keeps on rising that we don't know what we can do to get back this country, but at least for now, if we can get ourselves aware of what's going, having that much knowledge is at least a big help. And the least that we expected are having to encounter some blackheaded people. It's hard to fathom that many people from this country has no sense of where this country is heading to. Maybe some do but because of their political affiliation that things doesn't matter? some thinks it's because of race? but hey, I get that too, but that's the way it is, I moved on. I do believe, that life without God's guidance I'm probably a lost creature or might be a dead walking being. Because we believe in God, we care, so we are here!
    Thanks so much for this opportunity Scoop!

  • http://twitter.com/FoundingLegacy Founding Legacy

    All I have to say to you is, in the words of Johnny Cash: “I admire our freedoms in America. I admire your freedom to burn your flag if you want to. And I admire my freedom to keep and bear arms so I can shoot you if you try to burn mine.”

  • SgPoyzer

    Te “Rights” of citizens are inalienable and come from the Creator, not from the Constitution or government. The Constitution serves to protect those rights from the abuses and tyranny of government. The Constitution governs the government and delineates which powers are granted to the federal government, leaving the rest of the powers of government to the states and citizens.

  • keninmontana

    Tyler I agree with most of what you're saying, on the three SEALS I would like to point out that they chose to have their case heard before a general courtmartial. They can defend themselves, present evidence and be represented by legal consule,as opposed to a Captian's mast which essentially pleading guilty and accepting company punishment.

  • keninmontana

    Something of interest I've come across since the whole debate about terrorists and how to classify them started. I keep hearing and reading about the Geneva conventions being brought into the debate on the wrong side. According to the conventions and the International Rules for Soldiers, these individuals fall outside of the protections granted by both to soldiers, like mercanaries. They do not wear a uniform to identify themselves, they hide behind civilians as well as carry out attacks on non-combatants. Solution?, kill them in the field, once brought to American soil they do, unfortunately or not (depends on your point of view)recieve protections under the US Constitution. I agree with Ron Paul on the point of assassination of American citizens, if they are killed on the battlefield, oh well, but if captured bring them here, “fairly tried,fairly judged and fairly hung”.

  • http://www.facebook.com/AMrSmith Robert Smith

    …let me repeat myself, you do NOT have a clue….

  • Tyler

    Well, my point still stands then. You just kind of said that in other words.

  • Tyler

    I'm well aware that there are multiple examples in our country's history EVEN WITHIN our borders where the idea of Habeas Corpus was suspended. Abe Lincoln suspended it during the Civil War declaring Martial Law, after the Pearl Harbor bombing, Japanese Americans were taken from their homes and thrown into concentration camps SOLELY because they were Japanese, and I'm sure there are OTHER examples that we DON'T know about.

    That DOESN'T make them any LESS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

  • Tyler

    Thank God that STATING YOUR CASE is STILL A RIGHT. That just further proves my points that ASSASINATION is unacceptable.

  • WLJ

    Right Scoop

    If this is not a wake up call that there is something seriously wrong with the way we are prosecuting the war on terror I do not know what is. Rights come from our humanity, that is to say God, not the government. The Constitution is merely a representation of the rights already bestowed upon all humans by nature. All the great philosophers of the Western Civilization understood this, to include Thomas Aquinas, John Locke, and Jefferson. The Neocon's attack on natural rights in preference for government bestowed rights is an attack on the very pillars of Western Civilization. The damage to liberty will be far worse than attack that a terrorist could possibly hope to accomplish.