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Kill List Controversy
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Chris Stirewalt, Juan Williams and Congressman Raul Labrador discuss the controversy over the Obama Administration "Kill list."
- Duration 8:16
- Date May 31, 2012
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Chris Stirewalt, Juan Williams and Congressman Raul Labrador discuss the controversy over the Obama Administration "Kill list."
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So let me say it as simply as I can.
Yes in full accordance with the law and in order to prevent terrorist attacks on the United States and to save American lives.
The United States government conducts targeted strikes.
Against specific -- Qaeda terrorists.
Sometimes using remotely piloted aircraft often refer to publicly as drones.
And I'm here today because President Obama has -- instructed us to be more open with the American people about these efforts.
That was.
John Brennan he's the assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism.
A month ago speaking at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and this is power play and we did not know a month ago the significance of mr.
-- speech and why he was talking about the legal rationale.
For using these fly by wire aircraft to be killing people all over the world and and what the deal with that was.
It came to light when we saw in recent days a very extensive New York Times story heavily sourced inside the administration about the fact that the president.
Maintains a kill list a list of people some of whom are American citizens overseas.
Who he deems.
Worthy of killing.
Four there -- connections to al-Qaeda.
It's been controversial.
And it spawning some discussion today the New York Times editorial page took out after the president.
And said that -- he was not as terrible as George W.
Bush she was terrible.
We're doing this and that thank -- he's not some Republican.
But the controversy rolls on we will talk about that with Juan Williams who's with us still but let's get the tape congressman Raul Labrador.
From Idaho he's one.
The standouts in the -- Republican freshman class.
Welcome congressman.
Hello Chris thanks -- -- in your show.
Of course the Internet welcomes you now to question it is.
Is this okay for the president be doing this Republicans have expressed.
Some misgivings about it but in general Republicans have been in favor an aggressive stance when it comes to counter terrorism.
And when it comes to killing folks before they can kill you.
You know I think we need to really look at this I think the New York Times today say that this a lot of power for one person to have -- if you think about it it's not just the president.
What is his advice -- who is giving you know he's an unelected.
Member of the White House staff who is actually making decisions on who should be killed and who shouldn't be killed.
And I have some misgivings about it I need to look at it a little bit more deeply.
But it is interesting that if this were a Republican president you would have all the media really going after them.
And it's kind of ironic.
And congressman Juan Williams is here he's interviewed you before so you're you're you're familiar with this with his with his -- but I want her -- ahead.
Listen this is it because you guys ready to see for Fox News Latino right.
Did we did a very successful -- -- questions Latino in which the -- was quite Pakistan was forthcoming high.
Honest if you haven't seen it go take a look it's available.
All on monitoring -- don't look at that that just happened we just cross promote anyway.
Congressman.
George W.
Bush.
Is at the White House today for the official unveiling of his portrait.
This is a grenade buried today the incoming president has a lot of stuff that about his predecessor.
Republicans are -- hard after him.
But you you make this point about.
What if a Republican was there.
I would suspect that if Dick Cheney and George W.
Bush had to kill list that included American citizens overseas we would see a little bit more than -- cutting from the New York Times right want.
We would be asking for impeach ma'am we would be asking for a lot of different things are the media would be doing that beaten.
You know I.
You know I wonder about this anything from my perspective I think that the American people this on what you could certainly what you see Chris the American people want aggressive grass -- -- -- publisher of the war on terrorism.
And I think that in terms of the controversy about enhanced interrogation.
Public opinion was divided on that topic quite and I think that the idea that you would say these people -- harm to us the American people.
Lots of Americans would say well that's not a bad thing and it's a new -- with the use of these drones and maybe somebody should.
Safe to national security folks let me think who -- is that you're targeting before you do it and let the commander in chief have the final -- So I'm not sure that even if it was President Bush -- people would be more apt to be critical yes I'm not sure that the American public.
Would be going overboard.
I -- congressman I think I think you're right there will be a full blown freak out in the press at least if this were the Bush Administration.
Before we before we have to go Paris and I want to get your take quickly on another.
Controversial issue of the day Republicans.
Led by Trent franks your colleague from Arizona.
Have legislation that would -- and the idea of sex selective abortion gender selective abortion that he says results though not -- -- large number but occasionally.
Having babies.
Or a girl babies.
Suffer this fate instead of boys.
Bring us up to date on that if -- -- Although some studies show that they're sexy and increase in the number of these sex sex selective selective abortions I think that's that's problematic when -- to look at this issue.
I think Trent franks is trying to solve the issue we just need to be really careful -- congressmen that we're not addressing -- You know the thoughts -- -- well you know we're not the -- police here in the United States.
And we need to be careful that we're not crossing the line between trying to prevent something that appears to be a real issue and just talking about what people are thinking it.
Okay that's thank you so much.
-- -- for being with this and please Internet go check out the congressman -- want together.
In Unix and -- extended -- Their Fox News Latino thanks for being with us today.
Thank you for having me.
OK Juan here's what Greg Chan says how -- summary execution better than capture and detention.
Romney cannot make -- still rendition for survivors.
And certainly the point here is.
Guantanamo.
The the Democrats were very upset about Guantanamo we don't have a good place to put these folks now.
And so were -- and there's.
It's it's a morally challenging moment for the country at the very least.
When you read this New York Times piece and you see how it's like well we class we classify any young male that happens to be in proximity of these people as a terrorist.
Heaven for -- just if you had to deliver pizza to these guys because if they -- you on your motor -- you would just be chalked up as another terrorist threat.
-- but now let me just say that I think did you know a lot of these people that we -- are terrorists.
-- So -- I mean I hesitated overwhelming majority no doubt are terrorists right yet so these people are a threat to our well being so just to mind.
Why it is important that we have a sense of who they are and what they are doing.
And remember you would be talking about employee US forces need to go after some of these people whether it was in Afghanistan.
Iran.
Game and any of these places the Arabian Peninsula.
I'd rather have the use of drones and I think most Americans would rather have the use of drones rather than say we are now going to war.
And this picks up on -- and the ongoing crisis in Sears do you think we should send American troops and I'm sorry.
I I doubt at all almost no one wants to send US troops and -- we thank you very much for being with us today was elucidate Indian and -- Always good to be with you because you aware what we learned something from -- them.
You look that's right you learn smoke -- are delicious.
Here.
Can't.
All right last word goes to Greg -- demo.
If bush had to kill list there would be a huge crowd of protesters behind that congressman in the live -- led by Nancy Pelosi etc.
You're probably right -- And.