Predictably, commenters criticised with my aversion to the Obama administration’s view that not only may it declare any American citizen an enemy combatant anywhere in the world but that it may also assassinate that American without having to give any grounds for doing so. Predictably, I say, because one thing we’ve learned, or been reminded of, in recent years is that there are many people who think that the problem with a Jack Bauer approach to counter-terrorism is that Mr Bauer is dangerously soft on terror and too keen by half on respecting the rule of law and constitutional niceties.
Props to National Review’s Kevin Williamson for opposing this extension of Presidential power. Doubtless other (mainstream) conservatives do too, but in general the GOP’s attitude to these matters has not changed now it’s no longer in power.
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