Election Spurred a Move to Codify U.S. Drone Policy

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/25/world/white-house-presses-for-drone-rule-book.html?hp&_r=0

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine 
Date: Sun, Nov 25, 2012 at 6:41 AM
Subject: re: Election Spurred a Move to Codify U.S. Drone Policy
To: letters@nytimes.com


To the Editor:  

     The Obama administration's assertion that "the process [of extrajudicial killings by drone] is meticulous and lawful" should fool no one. Our constitution provides that laws are created in the Legislature, not the Executive branch.  Two administrations now have tried to elevate the internal musings, guidelines and proclamations of their own departments of Justice to the level of law. But as long as the department of Justice is a part of our Executive and not Legislature, it cannot be.

    Presidential power-grabs are to be expected in times of war, whether it's Lincoln's suspension of Habeas Corpus or Truman's seizure of the steel mills. In this undeclared war, it's particularly critical that we get it right; we cannot tolerate a temporary imbalance "for the duration of hostilities" when the duration may be forever. Our system of checks and balances only works if our Judiciary our Legislature and our People push back.

Barry Haskell Levine