Al-Awlaki gave up his own rights

I like to label myself a pacifist. I believe that violence should not be used, regardless of the circumstance because we as humans have the ability to reason.
We can rationalize. We have the intelligence to figure out how to cooperate with one another. Bar fights do not solve problems. Street shootings do not offer solutions.
However, what happens when the individual on the other side believes violence is the solution? What if a man has sworn to shed innocent blood? Is it permissible to resort to violence in order to prevent tragedy?
That is not an easy question to answer. We want to cling to our ideals, but we also want to prevent destruction.
Unfortunately, we do not live in an ideal world.
This is a dilemma that President Obama faced recently, and he chose to prevent destruction using focused violence. Obama ordered a drone strike against a United States citizen residing in Yemen who reportedly orchestrated the failed Christmas Day bombing of an aircraft in 2009.
Speaking to the press, Obama announced that “the death of al-Awlaki marks another significant milestone in the broader effort to defeat al-Qaeda and its affiliates.”
Americans are well aware that al-Qaeda is intent on using violence. So our ideals are regrettably tossed aside in order to effectively combat the corruption to which others so adamantly hold on. Thus, we must resort to violent approaches to prevent destruction while never losing sight of our goal: to bring an end to the violence.
Most citizens have accepted that violence is sometimes a necessity in this flawed world. However, the controversy stemming from this specific drone attack, one of more than 200 that Obama has ordered in his less than three years in office, is that al-Awlaki was an American citizen who was not given a trial.
As an American citizen, al-Awlaki is protected under the Constitution whether he is in New York, Mississippi or the Arabian Peninsula.
While al-Awlaki does have citizenship in this country, he was actively at war with this country and honoring his Yemen citizenship at the time. By focusing his life on the death of innocents and the destruction of cities, al-Awlaki gave up his rights that are protected by the Constitution. And, yes, that includes his right to life.
I feel assured that our intelligence agencies knew enough about al-Awlaki and his actions and that he was given due process before the drone strike was ordered, even though that due process did not involve a courtroom.
Obama should not be criticized for his difficult decision to end the life of one who has determined to end the life of many. As the saying goes, “Drastic times call for drastic measures.” Thanks to the individuals who have sworn violence and destruction upon innocent, we are in a drastic time.
And as much as the pacifist in me hates to say it, restricted violence is the answer, for now.

Trenton Winford is a sophomore public policy leadership major from Madison.