The Struggle is Over, Apparently We Lost.

We learn, recently, the President Obama can now order the assassination of American citizens, wherever they may be, it they have allied themselves with terrorists and present a danger to the United States. All of this is based, it would seem, on nothing more than a determination of "guilt" by the president. What an interesting outcome. Here's the constitution on the subject:

Amendment 6 - Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses. Ratified 12/15/1791.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Notice a difference? These days, one can be subject to a "hit" (extra-judicial execution) even as an American citizen should the president be convinced, by whatever means and sources, that you're a "terrorist".

In a further example, the lawyer for the "blind cleric" who was convicted for the first World Trade Center bombing, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for passing along communications between her client and others characterized by the government at "terrorists". Lynne Stewart, an attorney with a life long history of defending leftists and radicals was imprisoned for allowing her client to publicly speak. Words, now, qualify as jail sentences, and this in a nation whose first amendment reads as follows:

Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791. Note

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

So this is now America. We jail attorneys because of what they let their clients say, we assasinate US citizens on no more than the say so of the president. We also listen to everyone's phone conversations, read all their emails, survey all their mail and have so for quite a while--indeed much of it before 9/11--so why did 9/11 happen?

It is terrifying to be an American in this time. We, even under Obama, have moved so far away from the principles this nation was founded under. Indeed, I fear we may already have lost our freedoms permanently.