Cut the cat-and-mouse game! (Barbara Simpson article)

Where's the sense of urgency about protecting the security of Americans in this country from terrorists?

In December, President Bush signed an updated intelligence law, which, among other things, tightens border security by requiring anyone entering this country, from anywhere, to have a passport.

Two weeks ago, his administration announced the new guidelines. Then, last week, he said he "read in the newspaper about the need to have passports" and – we're told – he said, "What's going on here?" The comments were made at a meeting of the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

Huh? We're talking about the president of the world's only superpower. He signs a bill, his administration supports it and three months later, reads about it in the paper and is astonished.

Mr. Bush reiterates he's concerned about our border security, but apparently he's more concerned that our cooperative and friendly Canadian and Mexican neighbors will be inconvenienced.

I wouldn't mind because the bigger issue is the security of our country. Trade be damned if it puts us at greater risk of terrorists. Apparently the piles of Qurans, prayer rugs and other Muslim accoutrements – found along the trails that illegals have worn into the environment of Arizona, California, Texas and other states – to the president at least, signify nothing. All those illegals are just poor Mexicans looking for honest work.

While the administration dithers about how to handle the president's change of mind concerning the bill he signed into law – can a president just change his mind and undo a law? – there are other crises of terrorism all but swept under the rug.

Yes, President Bush supports the troops. He meets, salutes and speaks highly of them. They admire and support him. They do their job and with that, put themselves in the care of the government.

You might want to take a look at Marine 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano. He made a split-second decision in the midst of war in Iraq and in the process, killed two of the enemy. He faces charges of premeditated murder with a possible death sentence. So far, the administration is silent.

Yeah. Tell that to the troops next time they're faced with wartime decisions hinging on life or death – namely, theirs or their buddies.

How can this not put a damper on their enthusiasm to do what the military is charged with doing: fighting a war, beating the enemy, and freeing a country?

It makes me wonder. I'm not in the military, but I have young family members who are and friends whose children are. For them, I have fears.

I also fear for the civilians we recruit and encourage to go to war zones to work for the overall scheme of peace we support. The government, per se, may not be recruiting people for civilian jobs in war zones, but it does that by awarding contracts to civilian firms. The jobs pay well and carry high risks.

Quick now, what's the name of the latest American taken hostage by Islamist militants?

You know who I mean – the man shown on Arab satellite television last week. He was surrounded by three masked, armed, menacing men who indicated intent to separate the man's head from his body.

We've seen that before and know the outcome. Hundreds of civilian foreigners have been kidnapped in Iraq over the last year and dozens have been slaughtered, including Americans.

Probably not. The administration has been virtually mum, having taken more than 24 hours to identify him as 47-year-old Jeffrey Ake, of La Porte, Ind. He was snatched while visiting a water-bottling plant.

Officials managed not to identify him until after he was seen on television begging for his life.

It's amazing what people will do when threatened with having their heads chopped off.

No sooner was he identified than presidential Press Secretary Scott McClellan said there would be no negotiation with terrorists.

So much for Mr. Ake, his family, his four children, his friends and all Americans who thought they were part of a country which would protect its citizens.

In line with the administration kiss-off of Mr. Ake, mainstream media summarily dismissed him. His violent abduction was reported almost as an afterthought, buried in other stories and was dropped after two days.

There was a time – not long ago – that Americans attacked anywhere in the world would know their country would do just about anything to protect and save them.

That's gone and terrorists know it. That's why they kidnap innocents, humiliate them on television, reduce them to tears and begging, and then kill them in a manner they know the civilized world considers abhorrent and vile.

And we are so civilized that we allow it to happen under the rubric that we will not bargain with evil.

Yes, but don't we have moral obligation to put a stop to it? If we have the guts to invade Iraq or Afghanistan or any other country for a greater good, then we have an obligation to provide civilians we lure into the battle scene, with top-notch security.

And, if and when that security fails, we are obligated to unleash full military force against the enemy to put an end to their cat-and-mouse game.

As an American, I'm stick of playing mouse to a cowardly cat that hides behind hoods and swords and has no morals.

Barbara Simpson, "The Babe in the Bunker" as she's known to her KSFO 560 radio talk-show audience in San Francisco, has a 20-year radio, television and newspaper career in the Bay Area and Los Angeles.

Savage & RUSH with Barbara & Laura. Now that's a lineup.

Well done Babs!!! The Babe in the Bunker -- great lady!!
Hopefully she sent a copy of that writeup to Bush. She, like any other caring, awake American, knows the gravity of the situation. And the criminal neglect that Washington is guilty of on the issue...

So, when does this law go into effect? Anybody seen anything like a timetable? If I am going to go to Canada in 3 months, I need to know if I have to have a passport in order to get back home.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.