Killing Al-Awlaki: The Domestic Legal Issues

Idaho Journal of Law & Public Policy, 2012

U of St. Thomas Legal Studies Research Paper No. 11-38

46 Pages Posted: 25 Nov 2011

See all articles by Robert J. Delahunty

Robert J. Delahunty

University of St. Thomas School of Law (Minnesota)

Christopher J. Motz

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: 2011

Abstract

The killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, an American citizen, by a US drone strike in Yemen last September, caused considerable controversy. Some critics of the Obama Administration's decision to target and kill al-Awlaki objected that the President lacked statutory authority to conduct military operations against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Other critics argued that al-Awlaki may have been an effective publicist and recruiter, but had not been shown to be engaged in AQAP's operational activities against U.S. targets. Still others claimed that as a U.S. citizen, al-Awlaki had a constitutional right to more due process than he had been given by a so-called "death panel." This essay examines the domestic legal arguments on both the "powers" side (i.e., whether the President had sufficient legal authorization) and the "rights" side (i.e., that al Awlaki was entitled to greater process). It focuses on open source material relating both to al Awlaki and AQAP. It concludes that under domestic law, the killing was lawful.

Keywords: law of war, national security, foreign policy, war on terror, drones, due process

Suggested Citation

Delahunty, Robert J. and Motz, Christopher J., Killing Al-Awlaki: The Domestic Legal Issues (2011). Idaho Journal of Law & Public Policy, 2012, U of St. Thomas Legal Studies Research Paper No. 11-38, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1963976

Robert J. Delahunty (Contact Author)

University of St. Thomas School of Law (Minnesota) ( email )

MSL 400, 1000 La Salle Avenue
Minneapolis, MN Minnesota 55403-2005
United States

Christopher J. Motz

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

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