U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell had this exchange yesterday with Wolf Blitzer on CNN's Late Edition (link courtesy of IMRA): SECRETARY POWELL: We believe that there are significant differences. This was a case of clearly somebody engaged in a direct conflict with the United States. We believe that there are other ways to deal with the problems of the Middle East - other ways that are not enhanced. The likelihood of these other ways working is not enhanced by those kinds of targeted assassinations. So we believe there are differences and distinctions between the two situations. MR. BLITZER: Is the U.S. going to continue this policy as part of the war on terror to go after these targets outside of Afghanistan? SECRETARY POWELL: I would not comment on what targets we might or might not go after anywhere in the world. MR. BLITZER: But what you're saying is the Israelis should stop doing what they did, but the U.S., theoretically, can continue to do -- SECRETARY POWELL: Our policy with respect to the Middle East and targeted assassinations has not changed and we will do what we have to do to defend ourselves with respect to terrorist activities.MR. BLITZER: The U.S. took an action this past week in firing Predator missiles at these al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen, including a U.S. citizen. What's the difference between that targeted killing and the targeted killings the Israelis engage in -- which the State Department has criticized?
So, if I get this, America has the right to target Al-Qaida's operatives because they clearly "engaged in a direct conflict with the United States." But Israel doesn't have the right to target Hamas, Islamic Jihad or the Al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigades because (a) they clearly aren't engaged in a direct conflict with Israel (???) or (b) there are "other ways" to deal with the problems of the Middle East (like what, for instance?).
Nice fudge.
