Posted on 04/27/2009 9:05:25 PM PDT by jazusamo
It used to be said that self-preservation is the first law of nature. But much of what has been happening in recent times in the United States, and in Western civilization in general, suggests that survival is taking a back seat to the shibboleths of political correctness.
We have already turned loose dozens of captured terrorists, who have resumed their terrorism. Why? Because they have been given "rights" that exist neither in our laws nor under international law.
These are not criminals in our society, entitled to the protection of the Constitution of the United States. They are not prisoners of war entitled to the protection of the Geneva Convention.
There was a time when people who violated the rules of war were not entitled to turn around and claim the protection of those rules. German soldiers who put on U.S. military uniforms, in order to infiltrate American lines during the Battle of the Bulge, were simply lined up against a wall and shot.
Nobody even thought that this was a violation of the Geneva Convention. American authorities filmed the mass executions. Nobody dreamed up fictitious "rights" for these enemy combatants who had violated the rules of war. Nobody thought we had to prove that we were nicer than the Nazis by bending over backward.
Bending over backward is a very bad position from which to try to defend yourself. Nobody in those days confused bending over backward with "the rule of law," as Barack Obama did recently. Bending over backward is the antithesis of the rule of law. It is depriving the people of the protection of their laws, in order to pander to mushy notions among the elite.
Even under the Geneva Convention, enemy soldiers have no right to be turned loose before the war is over. Terrorists-- "militants" or "insurgents" for those of you who are squeamish-- have declared open-ended war against America. It is open-ended in time and open-ended in methods, including beheadings of innocent civilians.
President Obama can ban the phrase "war on terror" but he cannot ban the terrorists' war on us. That war continues, so there is no reason to turn terrorists loose before it ends. They chose to make it that kind of war. We don't need to risk American lives to prove that we are nicer than they are.
The great Supreme Court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said that law is not some "brooding omnipresence in the sky." It is a set of explicit rules by which human beings structure their lives and their relationships with one another.
Those who choose to live outside those laws, whether terrorists or pirates, can be-- and have been-- shot on sight. Squeamishness is neither law nor morality. And moral exhibitionism is beneath contempt, when it sacrifices the safety of those who live within the law for the sake of self-satisfied preening, whether in editorial offices or in the White House.
As if it is not enough to turn cutthroats loose to cut throats again, we are now contemplating legal action against Americans who wrung information about international terrorist operations out of captured terrorists.
Does nobody think ahead to what this will mean-- for many years to come-- if people trying protect this country from terrorists have to worry about being put behind bars themselves? Do we need to have American intelligence agencies tip-toeing through the tulips when they deal with terrorists?
In his visit to CIA headquarters, President Obama pledged his support to the people working there and said that there would be no prosecutions of CIA agents for prior actions. Then he welshed on that in a matter of hours by leaving the door open for such prosecutions, which the left has been clamoring for, both inside and outside of Congress.
Repercussions extend far beyond issues of the day. It is bad enough that we have a glib and sophomoric narcissist in the White House. What is worse is that whole nations that rely on the United States for their security see how easily our president welshes on his commitments. So do other nations, including those with murderous intentions toward us, our children and grandchildren.
Slam,Bang,BUMP!
Liberals, lefties and lawyers. They don’t fight. Their kids will never serve. So, it costs them nothing, and they reap class benefits.
Μολὼν λάβε
Great summation of how they think, and you are absolutely right in your projection of the results. The only good news in all of this is that a lot of the ones killed will very likely be Libs, because they live in the target cities of our enemies. Karma is a b!tch.
Thanks for the ping jaz.
I grew up in a home with a Flaming Leftist Mother and Dominant Grandmother (Hollywood Script Writer) that would make Pelousey look like Tinkerbell. Father was a John Bircher. One might think I never had a chance.
Long story short....My disgust with the IDIOCY of the Leftist mindset goes waaaaaaaay back, thus when Dr. Sowell puts his thoughts to paper in his enviable style he provokes within me assorted, and stirring reflections.
There is no negotiating with the Leftist mindset period. There is only finding means by which to neutralize the effect on others by those afflicted. One must never ignore the Leftist, as that is what has happened that we are where we are today.
I’ve posted in the past that “...facts are to be faced...”, and one of the “facts of life” that must always be dealt with as priority for survival in our Republic is the penchant for dominance by the Leftist elitist mindset.
I think anybody can look today at the picture before us and see just what I mean. They are not to be ignored, but dealt with, and put down. Leftism is a Mental disorder, and a terrible destructive force upon our society.
“President Obama can ban the phrase “war on terror” but he cannot ban the terrorists’ war on us. That war continues, so there is no reason to turn terrorists loose before it ends. They chose to make it that kind of war. We don’t need to risk American lives to prove that we are nicer than they are.”
I love Dr. Sowell as much as I loathe 0bama!
“Repercussions extend far beyond issues of the day. It is bad enough that we have a glib and sophomoric narcissist in the White House. What is worse is that whole nations that rely on the United States for their security see how easily our president welshes on his commitments. So do other nations, including those with murderous intentions toward us, our children and grandchildren.”
And seriously...when you read his statements, the writing is so fine that it sounds gentle...but then you realize, too late, that you’re being beheaded, LOL!
Nice to see an educated, articulate, realist of a black MAN, chiding Brother 0bama!
“Correction Obama is a communist pig.”
Origin of swime flu? (I’m just sayin’...)
“We don’t need to risk American lives to prove that we are nicer than they are.”
The irony here is that the issue always comes down to this in war: who is better?
Americans are better.
We need the courage to answer so. Better to fight for and save the better people.
Unfortunately, we have become so self-flagellant that many so-called Americans don’t think that any more. Nor would they dare ask such a question.
And not just the “news” ones, either.
It makes me SICK.
It upsets Squantos when his photo is posted!
Ha. I never wear red before June .....
This is why I believe every capable young adult should serve a two year enlistment in the military.
People will fight harder to perserve their self image than their lives.
I couldn’t agree more, Leftists have to be dealt with and not ignored and Zer0 knows it, thus his mention of a domestic Army. It’ll be a disaster if he tries to pull it off, IMO.
BTW...Just curious, did your Dad, Mom and Grandmom ever speak to each other? :-)
Amen to that Diana. I don’t believe I’ve seen Dr. Sowell come down on anyone like he has on Obama, that in itself shows how serious a problem we have with him.
Correct, Americans are better. It’s a shame there are so many who don’t think so and also a shame they’re not willing to fight for our country.
There is a time for talking and a time to take action and the time for talking to terrorists was over long ago.
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