By Rami G. Khouri

STORY SUMMARY

If you want to better understand the best and worst aspects of the American system of government and the morality that underpins it, you should follow one of the most fascinating developments taking place in Washington these days: the debate that has opened on the secretive world of the government’s use of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to kill suspects who are accused of being senior members of Al-Qaeda.

This reflects the best aspects of the American way of government, where different branches of government check and balance each other to minimize the abuse of power, and ensure compliance with constitutional safeguards of citizen rights, including the most fundamental human right not to be arbitrarily deprived of one’s life.

The ugly side of the same American morality and government policy, however, finds it perfectly legitimate to kill anyone suspected of being an imminent threat to the U.S., without subjecting the charges against the targeted person to the full protection of the law and constitutional safeguards that make the U.S. such an attractive country for so many people around the world.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Columnist/2013/Feb-13/206203-the-impressive-ugly-debate-on-drones.ashx#ixzz2KxA7XOgt
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)