A Justice Department memo obtained this week by NBC News revealed that U.S. citizens who engage in terrorist activities anywhere are fair game for drones:
The President has the authority to respond to the imminent threat posed by al-Qa'ida and its associated forces, arising from his constitutional responsibility to protect the country, the inherent right of the United States to national self defense under international law, Congress's authorization of the use of all necessary and appropriate military force against this enemy, and the existence of an armed conflict with al-Qa'ida under international law. Based on these authorities, the President may use force against al-Qa'ida and its associated forces.
The leaked memo immediately brought to a head the controversy that has been gathering throughout the Obama presidency on the use of drones. Liberal Democrats have long condemned the policy, and many conservative Republicans have come to join them with this latest revelation.
Where do you stand?
In our ongoing popular feature, "Change My Mind," HuffPost challenged former Bush staffer David Frum, now a Daily Beast/Newsweek contributor, to debate foreign policy guru Steve Clemons, of The Atlantic, on the statement: "Obama's drone policy is a threat to American liberty."