Lawmaker Wants to Revoke Executive Order Banning Assassinations

By Dan Dupont / January 18, 2001 at 5:00 AM
Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA) has introduced a bill designed to permit the U.S. government to use assassination to "eliminate" international threats. Executive order 12333, issued by President Reagan, states that "No person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, assassination." Reagan's action affirmed previous executive orders. Barr, however, believes this unnecessarily ties the government's hands when dealing with terrorist threats. "Present strategy allows the military forces to bomb...

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