Posted on 01/01/2006 2:55:51 PM PST by SunSetSam
December 30, 2005 - The argument over whether President Bush has the authority to direct the National Security Agency to listen in on the conversations of suspected terrorists on US soil is split primarily into two camps; those who believe we are engaged in a war for our very survival against radical Islam and those who believe – and always have – that terrorism operates under a set of rules that govern its actions and therefore should be treated as a law enforcement issue. This is just another example of why there should have been a formal declaration of war after September 11, 2001.
It needs to be repeated as many times as necessary until every single American acknowledges this supposition as a distinct possibility; should we lose this war against radical Islam and the terror it uses to breed fear and submission, our way of life, our government and our country, will cease to exist as we know it.
Those on the “progressive” left have just begun mentally chewing on what for them is a gargantuan idea, that the military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq are but battles in a much more monumental war. Those who understand the danger facing our country have come to the realization that there are two major fronts in our struggle for survival; the physical front (locations of armed conflict) and the ideological front (where the battles for the mind of a society take place).
It is very important to be victorious on the physical battlefields and so far we have been successful. As much as the “progressive” left and the mainstream media would have us believe that we are struggling to achieve victory, the evidence of our success is overwhelming and validated by the millions of purple fingers we have seen in Iraq over the course of three truly free elections. It is further evidenced by the free elections in Afghanistan and accurate polling of both countries that indicate their people believe that their “future’s so bright they have to wear shades.”
If we are to compare Iraq to Vietnam in any way at all it would have to be in contrast. US military efforts in Iraq stand as testimony to the idea that if allowed to do their jobs, and complete their mission devoid of interference from the “progressive” elite in Washington DC and their blind followers who haven’t the vision to see past the daily protest march, the US military will always be victorious. They are superiorly trained and equipped, and motivated by the desire to fight for the freedom of oppressed people rather than, by gutless default, pave the way for tyranny.
More difficult than armed conflict, the ideological front is a battle for the will of our society and is already taking place on our own soil. The controversy over the NSA directive issued by President Bush is a prime example.
Again it needs to be repeated as often as need be; should we lose this war against the oppressive mandates of radical Islam our country will cease to exist as we know it. There will be no civil liberties. There will be no judicial recourse. There will be no petitioning of our government. There will be no First Amendment rights, or Second, or Third. If we fail to be victorious over the fundamentalist zealots who promote radical Islam, not only as a religion but as a totalitarian way of life, this “experiment in democracy” that is our government will be, if texts other than the Quran are even allowed, a short chapter in The History of Infidel North America Before Islam.
It is ironic then that an organization such as the American Civil Liberties Union is fighting for the “rights” of those who would dismantle and outlaw the ACLU, if not behead its leaders, should radical Islam be victorious.
It is paradoxical then that defense lawyers are attempting to have courts overturn the convictions of confessed terrorists and self-avowed al Qaeda operatives. For these lawyers to stand on principle is one thing, for them to stand on principle only to see their freed clients return to the battle against the very principles used to free them is quite another.
It is reckless for “progressive” politicians and activists to be arguing points of order regarding the president’s execution of this war effort when the same points of order, directives and tactics have been used by past presidents and validated by established courts and authorities. In fact, their obstinate refusal to acknowledge recorded history can very well be considered aiding and abetting the enemy and there are consequences for those actions written into the Constitution, unlike the mounting number of fictitious rights frequently referred to by the “progressive” left.
In an effort to safeguard the ideological liberties the Framers had in mind at the writings of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, the “progressive” left is willing to enable our enemies to use our own system to bring about our country’s demise. If the “progressive” left is truly supporting our troops and if they truly want to win the war against the encroaching influence of radical Islam and the terror they use to victimize all who stand in their way, if they are really on our side then it is time for their actions to speak for them instead of their words. So far their words have been selfishly divisive and irresponsible. It is beyond naïve to believe that their words are not being put to good use in the ideological battle our enemy is ruthlessly waging against us.
do you value your LIFE over the FREEDOM of your children or grandchildren?
I value the freedom that has made this country great, and there used to be people willing to die for it, like the Revolutionaries; and there were those who would rather go on living quietly under tyranny, the Tories. The Tories valued their individual well being over the well being of the many, a truly selfish position. The Revolutionaries were willing to sacrifice their own lives for the good of the many, that is NOT a selfish position.
If you think life is worth living without essential liberties defined in our Constitution, then you have succumbed to the very terror the terrorists seek to spread.
Nobody answers what freedoms we have lost, because they nobody can point to any freedoms we have lost. Conversely, ACLU lawyers have found a whole bunch of new rights that apply to terrorist combatants. So one could argue that freedom has expanded during the war on terror, albeit to the wrong people.
What freedom have we lost? What part of the Constitution has been ripped out and trampled on?
How many 9-11 have been prevented because Bush HAS the authority to listen to foreign terrorist in other countries calling their cells here?
We have NOT given up any rights that I can see. We have gone on with our day to day existence as if there was no war. I haven't succumbed to anything, have you?
When the next Bill Clinton, Al Gore, or Adolph Hitler takes office, he won't be interested in your emails or my emails or our phone calls or the web sites we linked to.
He will be focused on the private and professional life of people like Matt Drudge, Bill O'Reilly, or Robert Novak. He wants to know what sexual peccadilloes Matt has, what DVDs Bill is renting and what people Mr. Novak has been talking to.
If enough people who guard our freedom against an overweening government are compromised, if the few remaining righteous politicians are caught in embarrassing positions, or if a corrupt president even knows about the private conversations and the daily whereabouts of good people in positions of power we can kiss our free republic goodbye.
I believe you're right. And they probably never will because it would blow their argument all to hell.
ACLU lawyers have found a whole bunch of new rights that apply to terrorist combatants
Them, and McPains bill of rights for terrorists.
No. Rush is protected by the fourth amendment, not a right to privacy. If the goons who are trying to prosecute him could get a search warrant, they would have his medical records.
The 4th amendment is the primary basis of privacy rights.
And I could win the lottery. You are worried about something that hasn't happened. You are fighting against something that hasn't happened.
He will be focused on the private and professional life of people like Matt Drudge, Bill O'Reilly, or Robert Novak. He wants to know what sexual peccadilloes Matt has, what DVDs Bill is renting and what people Mr. Novak has been talking to.
Then you need to complain about what J.Edgar Hoover did. People don't care anymore about who is sleeping with whom? At one time, people committed suicide because they were rumored to be gay. Now, it's more like a badge of honor to them. The world has changed and we have to change with it. Listening to intercepted phone calls from al queda will not destroy this country. We have not lost any rights. It's you who are running scared over something that has not even happened.
righteous politicians are caught in embarrassing positions,
If they are righteous...what are they doing in embarrassing positions?
if a corrupt president even knows about the private conversations and the daily whereabouts of good people in positions of power we can kiss our free republic goodbye.
I don't see it as the evil you do. You see it as political blackmail gain. I don't think Americans would sit to kindly for that. I see it as a national security issue and a war on terror issue. Two entirely different positions. It is proven that the majority of Americans feel the way I do.
Sure they would, for a lot of reasons. 1) With their American defender on its knees they have a vested interest in helping us back up because the bad guys in the world will see it as an opportunity. 2) If (because of reason 1)things start to go bad around the world, America with its military still intact, will be a one of the most secure places to invest especially since we will be closing our borders to trade and building our manufacturing capability.
But, it didn't happen. We're still standing.
But the World Trade center isn't. What Clinton did was to create a China that is ten times the strength it was before. They are building a nuclear threat and a naval threat to Asia. He helped empower and embolden terrorists by supporting Yassir Arafat and helping to create the Palestinian Authority.
I don't know how many more Clinton's this country can stand but I sure don't want to make it easier on whoever will be the next Democrat in the White House.
Rather than let the government listen to Al Qaeda, let everyone listen.
I think that's like hiring Mexicans to do the work we should be doing.
In a utopian world that could happen, but not in reality. Our government people come from our pool of Americans.
But when those ordinary Americans become federal employees, they are shackled by an clumsy and oppressive bureaucracy that won't let them do their jobs. Ask a border patrol agent.
Thanks for the research on that Cboldt.
I don't agree. They have already given up, thrown in the towel. They don't care what happens to us. I believe most of the world would rejoice. Just take the war in Iraq as an example if you don't believe me. The countries we thought would back us for the past blood and treasure we lost and spent freeing them from tyranny, they stabbed us in the back and basically told us to go to hell. You want to put your faith in countries like that rebuilding America?
But the World Trade center isn't. What Clinton did was to create a China that is ten times the strength it was before. They are building a nuclear threat and a naval threat to Asia. He helped empower and embolden terrorists by supporting Yassir Arafat and helping to create the Palestinian Authority.
That's crap cowardly, corrupt clinton left for Dubya to clean up. Some of it's past the PONR, and we have to deal with the hand clinton left.
I don't know how many more Clinton's this country can stand but I sure don't want to make it easier on whoever will be the next Democrat in the White House.
Do you seriously think I'm comfortable with that thought? We have not lost any freedoms. If you are worried about rights being taken from us, focus on the aclu, not listening in on terrorist phone calls.
Rather than let the government listen to Al Qaeda, let everyone listen.
You're talking total chaos and anarchy. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Especially them. Americans should have the right of free association. If the government has the right to put anyone named "David Nelson" on a no-fly list, then we should be able to make our own no-fly lists.
IMO, this is a war against civilizations where there can only be one winner. Islam is a cult in my eyes. A death cult.
I wholeheartedly concur.
I can't respond to any of that because it makes no sense.
We've lost the freedom to discriminate. We've lost the right to carry weapons on airlines. We've lost the fourth amendment right when we travel or enter a government building. Private pilots have lost the right to fly over certain airspace under penalty of being summarily shot down. We've lost the right to go to the bathroom in the last ten minutes of a commercial flight. We've lost the right to even make a joke about a bomb.
Freedom will help us keep our freedom and our lives.
They will never choose this country over islam. It's too easy for them to attempt a take over from within with the help of leftist and some of our politicans who cow tow to their cult.
PC may be the instrument of our downfall.
This country is in dire need of a no fly list filled with mohammads.
1] Close the borders.
2] Round up and eject illegals.
3] Arm the pilots -- ALL who want to be armed -- NOW!
4] Repeal the BS gun control laws and be very vocal and visible about it. How much terrorist activity -- or crime -- do you think there will be if terrorists and criminals think that everyone is armed?
5] Temporarily shut down LEGAL immigration until we get a grip on things.
6] Profile. Profile. Profile. Quit picking on Grandma and MoH recipients at airport check in lines. Get lessons in airport security from Israel.
7] Follow the Consitution scrupulously. The Constitution is what sets us apart from all others. Honor it and keep it as the objective worth fighting for. If we disregard it when we face a danger, it's not far from being ignored when there is a threat, or a rumor of a threat until we forget about honoring it at all.
Our military forces and our politicians all take the same basic oath -- to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. You can't do that by ignoring or dishonoring it.
We used to have the right to carry weapons on an airline.
The fourth amendment.
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