We don't need no stinking badges

A recent white paper by DOJ provides the legal basis for our drone attacks.

We are the United States of America and have the right to kill anyone anywhere if they are leaders of al-Qaeda or its allies, pose an "imminent threat" and their capture is not feasible.  We are always right, so we do not have to produce evidence that a specific attack is being planned if the target is generally engaged in plotting against the US.

It concludes that such killings do not violate the US Constitution as long as:

• An informed, high-level official of the US government has determined that the targeted individual poses an imminent threat of violent attack against the US
• Capture is infeasible and the US continues to monitor whether capture becomes feasible
• The operation would be conducted in a manner consistent with applicable law of war principles

It matters not whether a foreign country has given its consent.  If we say we should kill someone, we have the legal right to do so.  And, of course, we don't need a court reviewing our decisions.

This is the country we have become.