Whatever happened to due process?

In the Daily Herald Fence Post Nov. 30 there was a letter by Therese Battaglia that was somewhat condescending, and I’m being polite, toward Obama.

I don’t know how many people realize that in April 2010 Obama gave permission to the CIA to kill or capture Anwar al-Awlaki. This was the first known example of an American President ordering the death of an American citizen in violation of applicable federal laws and constitutional rules. He was neither accused nor convicted of any crime. The president has now justified the killing of an American citizen without a trial. He is above the law.

The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution clearly mandates: “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.”

The question that must be answered, and never will, is what are the crimes of which Awlaki is charged? Why wasn’t an attempt made to capture him? Why was he deprived of life without the slightest due process? What will prevent Americans from being added to the kill list? What will keep the Oval Office from deploying the armed forces of the U.S. or CIA to silence any American voices foolish enough to question the policies of the president?

I referenced Battaglia because your letter and mine may put us on the hit list and if Obama is re-elected we will be afraid to write these letters. For those of you that think I’m nuts, he has already killed one American who was not charged with any crime, how long before they come for you?

Robert Chmela

Elgin