With death of al-Awlaki, have Obama and Koh reversed policy?

Anwar al-Alaki has not appeared on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list or on lists at other federal agencies. (Screen shot from FBI website, US Govnmt.)President Barack Obama has enjoyed far more support from media and international advocacy groups for his actions in the war on terrorism than President George W. Bush did.

Obama’s State Dept. legal adviser Harold Hongju Koh said during a press conference in 2010, “This president of the United States said that torture and cruel and inhuman or degrading treatment will not be used going forward with regard to interrogation practices. So there has been a clear turning of the page.”

Koh should now explain why killing someone is more benign than waterboarding. Thus far the international rage towards Bush remains at bay with Obama in office.

I’ve often wondered if Bush could have gone after Osama bin Laden, but knew the furor that would ensue from domestic and international leftwing groups. Many such groups, with support from people like Koh and Obama, targeted Bush and some wanted to haul him before the International  Court  of Justice. I found that offensive because it undermined US sovereignty.

I believe but cannot prove the US government knew bin Laden’s whereabouts long before he was killed.

Apparently the Obama administration has changed policy when it comes to dealing with perceived terrorists even when the terrorist is allegedly an American citizen.

The American Civil Liberties Union did file a lawsuit after the federal government froze al Awlaki’s assets and placed the alleged terrorist on a hit list. That lawsuit is complicated and details about the lawsuit on behalf of al Awlaki are provided in a story at ABC News.

Obama faces a tough re-election battle in 2012. Sometimes politicians flipflop on policy as a practical matter. Legacy media in the U.S. do not appear to realize the sharp contrast between Obama’s statements during his presidential campaign and his actions after becoming US president.

It is doubtful legacy media, long allied with Democrats, will ask Obama or Koh about the policy change, or whether death by drone or jet is considered by the left to be more humane than waterboarding.

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(Commentary by Kay B. Day/Sept. 30, 2011)