A former CIA officer backs the claim that the US assassinated an American citizen and his kids without ever charging them — framed as a dark abuse of executive power.

• The US killed al-Awlaki, an American-born citizen, with a drone strike even though he was never charged with any crime.
• Days later, separate strikes killed his 16-year-old son, a nephew, and later his 8-year-old daughter.
• A former CIA officer who had met al-Awlaki says he was likely a CIA asset who self-radicalized, and that the plan was always to kill him, not arrest him.
• The bigger worry raised: the government claims the president can order the death of any citizen he dislikes, with no trial and no judge.

Outlook: No change expected — the precedent that the executive branch can kill citizens without charges still stands.