This is Our President...

[Joe Guy]

[Bicycle Bill]

Which of course casts the military (or the DEA, or ICE, or whoever is carrying out these strikes against the boats) in the role(s) of apprehending officer, judge, jury, and executioner all in one.

-"BB"-

[Big RR]

Does it surprise you? The presidency has been on a downhill slide on human rights for years, and most presidents are happy to be judge, jury, and executioner (or at least cause of great harm). It spans both sides of the political spectrum--from W and his "war" to Obama targeting bin Laden... The legal niceties are nothing compared to the rush of being able to do these thing unilaterally. Which is why the presidential power must be curtailed--individuals cannot stand the temptation to become a dictator.

We say we are a government of laws, but we are becoming more an more a government of individuals who exercise power.