Lawmakers hail a success in the fight against terrorism

{mosads}The congressman who represents Texas’s 31st district, which houses Fort Hood, said in a statement that Awlaki’s death was the first justice for the Fort Hood casualties.

“His death represents the start of the justice process for our casualties and their families,” Rep. John Carter tweeted. “Al-Awlaki was a prime instigator of the attack at Fort Hood.”

Donald Rumsfeld, former secretary of Defense in the George W. Bush administration, also took to Twitter, calling the world more secure after the killing but urging the administration to not let up on the terrorist network.

“The world is safer with Anwar al-Awlaki dead,” Rumsfeld tweeted. “Pressure on al-Qaida needs to be kept up.”

Other senators and congressman commended the killing, including Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Rep Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) and Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.).

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) was one of the few who denounced the drone strike. 

“I don’t think that’s a good way to deal with our problems,” Paul said Friday in New Hampshire, according to MSNBC. “He was born here, al-Awlaki was born here, he is an American citizen. He was never tried or charged for any crimes. No one knows if he killed anybody. We know he might have been associated with the underwear bomber. But if the American people accept this blindly and casually that we now have an accepted practice of the president assassinating people who he thinks are bad guys. I think it’s sad.”