Target in Libya Is Clear; Intent Is Not

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/world/africa/21assess.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine 
Date: Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 4:10 PM
Subject: re: Target in Libya Is Clear; Intent Is Not
To: letters@nytimes.com


To the Editor:

   It is a mystery. President Obama has decreed the death of Anwar al-Awlaki, but not of Muamar al-Qaddafi. The one is an American citizen, charged with no crime and the other seems to be involved in killing crowds of his own subjects daily. Yet president Obama has hired the (now wobbly) Yemeni armed forces to rub out al-Awlaki and has pointed part of our (already over-stretched) military at Qaddafi.  Is the one at risk of death just because he is an American citizen? Is the other immune because he has an army in his pocket? Is there any justification for such an extra-judicial slaying in either case? 

  It is a nice change to have a president with a good command of the English language. It would be nicer if he would communicate what's going on.

Barry Levine