Secret Memo Made Case to Kill American Without Trial

The Obama administration's secret legal memorandum that opened the door to the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, the U.S.-born radical Muslim cleric hiding in Yemen, found that it would be lawful only if it were not feasible to take him alive, the New York Times reported Saturday, citing unnamed people who have read the document.

The memo, written last year, came after months of extensive interagency deliberations and offers a glimpse into the legal debate that led to one of the most significant decisions made by President Barack Obama — to move ahead with the killing of a U.S. citizen without trial, the newspaper reported.

read the full article below or here