TRUCKER IN U.S. QAEDA BUST

New York Post ^ | 5/26/03 | CYNTHIA R. FAGEN

[kattracks]

May 26, 2003 -- Federal agents have nabbed an Ohio truck driver after unmasking him as an al Qaeda operative in plots to collapse a suspension bridge and blow up an airliner in the United States, according to a new report.

[Teacher317]

I worry about you guys who are disheartened when al Qaeda thugs are arrested in America before they kill innocent Americans.

Stop being disingenuous. I lament the violation of anyone's rights.

Do you feel that we should do anything to protect Americans after 9/11, or should we just read your constitution, not mine, and wait until the next 9/11 and the next one and the next one?

In case you hadn't noticed, there is only one version (are you promoting moral relativism here?), and yes, protecting Americans is what the Constitution charges the federal government with doing. Have you read it? Try it. It's rather clear. America is charged with protecting us AND protecting our rights. It must do both, simultaneously, eternally, and without exception. I'm so sorry that you erroneously believe that we must choose between the two, but this is not the case. Sacrificing one to do the other "more efficiently" is a blatant violation, and opens a very wide door for totally abandoning half of their mandated responsibilities. (Of course, most Americans hardly mind, because government has decided that they must take on thousands of other chores, so that dropping one small one like protecting our rights surely is a good trade-off, right? What a shame that you agree.)

Nothing in my constitution grants the freedom to an al Qaeda thug to kill innocent Americans

Duh.

[Nothing in my constitution] handcuffs those who want to prevent the next 9/11.

Really? Your version must have a boatload of erasure and blacked-out lines. The entire Bill of Rights handcuffs them. The phrases "shall not" and "none shall" are rather prominent. Again, I encourage you to read it. Really.

One of the many reasons we honor LEO's so much is that they must do their challenging and dangerous job of protecting us in the face of these limitations. Personally, I'm all for those ideas that will make for a better police force... ideas like making it easier to fire bad LEO's (unions make every profession's performance worse in the long run), modifications to evidentiary rules (the Miranda warning exclusions are rather silly), accountability for those LEO's who make mistakes that harm others (including perjury), income tax exemptions (increases net pay which increases supply and allows for more competition), repeal of property confiscation laws (that encourage legal theft), etc.

One final question, do you feel that we should just ignore the realities of al Qaeda and 9/11?

Once again, the problem is NOT that we are paying attention to those who are oragnized and conspiring to commit violent acts, it is that the precise methods used should be appropriate. There is a difference.

Or, using your "logic", would you rather promote summary street executions for speeders, because it is better than doing nothing and 55,000 are killed every year?

[sit-rep]

Indeed... The factor that these boiling water IQ's forget to consider is most connections on the bridges mentioned in other articles as potential targets, are mostly riveted connections.

I guess us dummies aren't supposed to know these things...

[oceanview]

those were 2 ME guys who had been drinking at a local bar all night, and thought it might be fun to "climb on the bridge" afterwards.

[Migraine]

Taking a more sophisticated tack, the organization is recruiting Canadians, women, African-Americans and Arabs with "clean passports" as spies and suicide bombers who would have a better chance of slipping through security.

We mustn't overlook the probability of their recruitment of IRA and French syndicalist scum, either.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Any law can be abused by a corrupt government. Do you suggest we get rid of laws, thereby eliminating the abuse thereof? Of course not. That would be absurd.

The PA is being vilified as something dangerous, when NO ONE has demonstrated that it has been used for anything other than to stop terrorist suspects.

Appeals have been made in courts of law, and the courts--liberal and conservative appointee judges--have upheld the Patriot Act.

I think the hand-wringing is unnecessary. The American people rose up for Freedom in the 18th century, and if their Freedoms are truly threatened by their government again, they'll Rise again. Right now, most of America believes, rightly, that Islamists are our most potent enemy--not Bureaucrats.

Just my 2 cents.
RD

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

those were 2 ME guys who had been drinking at a local bar all night, and thought it might be fun to "climb on the bridge" afterwards.

Guess they didn't see "Saturday Night Fever".

[ladyjane]

Loosening bolts- reminds me of the tail that came off of the aircraft that crashed into a New York City burrough, in November of 2001. I don't believe the cause of the crash has been determined...

Interesting

[EGPWS]

All good Muslims in New York, Boston and other cities on the East Coast should leave."

Gee, I wonder how many will stay in Boston, New York, and other cities.

[lelio]

Looks like they may have realized that U.S. West Coast is on their side.
That's why I laugh every time I hear our Washington State governor say that WA isn't a known target. Could it be at all due to that we have Baghdad Jim representing us, or that if UBL showed up in Seattle he'll likely be invited to participate in a drum circle and smoke some pot afterwards?

[lelio]

We mustn't overlook the probability of their recruitment of IRA and French syndicalist scum, either.

I disagree: the definition of "recruitment" means you have to actively go out and ask them to join your team. They're either already on their side or have lined up at their front door.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

I remember the song "Sweet Home Alabama", and the words, but just what was it Neil Yound said that caused those words to be written?

My husband, along with several other 'bama boys, was stationed in Rapid City in 1975, and that song was always being played, but I've never heard the full story on the lyrics. Thanks in advance.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Thanks in advance.

Neil Young had a song called "Southern Man" wherein the lyrics depicted a racist attribute to a typical southern man. I remember one line that went something like this:
I hear bullwhips and crosses burning.

He must have been singing about Sen. Robert KKK Byrd (RAT).

Lynard Skynard's lyrics were in response to that bilge, as it upset many who were real "southern men".

[Migraine]

I disagree: the definition of "recruitment" means you have to actively go out and ask them to join your team. They're either already on their side or have lined up at their front door.

Ya had me goin' there for an instant. Wow; you nailed it right on the head!

[DoorGunner]

You should remove the link about the "bomb" in Bellingham.

What you have here is (apparently) a somewhat dim Alaska fisherman. Not terrorism related.

DG

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

Oh, okay. Now I understand.

I remember when we were stationed at Ellsworth, there was a guy there from St. Paul. When he met my husband, and found out he was from Alabama, he said, "ARe you prejudiced?" My husband replied that no, he wasn't, he tried to judge people by themselves and not their skin color, and the St. Paul guy said, well, I am, I hate all *******."

So much for the typical southern stereotype.

[Mr. Mojo]

A lot of fans of the Patriot Act seem to be under the delusion that we never would've been able to go after terrorists like this al Qaeda guy without the Act.

[doug from upland]

I agree. I hate the fact that we need the Patriot Act. Someone show me a better way, please.

[George W. Bush]

Try again, doofus.

[George W. Bush]

I hate the fact that we need the Patriot Act. Someone show me a better way, please.

The better way is to let Patriot sunset in a few years. And that's what the Congress intends, barring another major terrorist incident. Regardless of what Ashcroft/Ridge/Bush thinks. Strangely enough, Congress is right on this. Patriot Act cannot be tolerated as more than temporary. They are finding it difficult to fully staff it because reputable people don't want to have anything to do with parts of it.

[bert]

...they slowly get more and more info out of them.....

It's sort of amazing really..... every time they tighten the screws further revelations are made.