How do American militants like Anwar al-Awlaki get on a kill or capture list? Reuters reports, it’s a secret panel of Sr. U.S. government officials on the National Security Council that decide and then send their recommendations on to the President. Former National Security staffer Juan Zarate says, it’s an important process. “You have Senior National staff along with counsel reviewing anything the U.S. does from a National Security perspective that touches on law of war, war of terror issues, he says.” The National Security Council says no such panel exists.

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