False arguments

I was surprised to see so many commentators, among them many who really should know better, claiming that the killing of terrorist Awlaki in Yemen raised constitutional questions since he was "an American citizen."

By that logic, American soldiers during World War II would have had to ask each of the enemy soldiers they were fighting against if they had been born in America. If so, they would have had to arrest them and take them back to the U.S. for trial rather than killing them.

The U.S. is at war with al Qaeda. Just ask them if you have any doubt.

There also seems to be some confusion about Awlaki's actual role in al Qaeda's war against the U.S. He's not simply a guy with a loud mouth. He's not a misguided student typing away in a college dorm between bong hits. He's part of the leadership - as should be evident to all given the fact that one of the terrorists' top bomb makers was with him when he was killed.

Sure, the First Amendment protects speech. I don't think even the ACLU would say that gave Hitler the right to wage war against the U.S. I'm kind of thinking the NRA wouldn't stand up for his right to bear arms against us either.

Get a grip, people.