I never said the government was required to “defend” our rights. That is YOUR word, not mine.
What you said was "But, in the context of this issue, It is not the job of our nation to guarantee, extend, or protect these rights except as the individuals involved are citizens or the United States."
You also said: " I only take issue with your insistence that our Constitution obliges us to guarantee these rights to some Pushtoon zealot..."
Make up your mind. No one, not we as individuals, nor our governmnent, has any obligation to "guarantee these rights to some Pushtoon zealot," or to anyone else.
What we are obligated to do is to respect those rights as far as our own actions are concerned. That obligation stems ultimately from the laws of logic, from the principle of reciprocity, and from the fundamental axioms of morality.
You are not entittled to the benefit of those rights for which you fail to respect those same rights for others. That's why it's morally acceptable to kill in self defense. If we fail to respect the inalienable rights of others, we forfeit those rights for ourselves. No if, ands, buts or exceptions. Otherwise, self defense would be immoral.
Now, will you explain, as you have failed to do so far, why we ought to extend those Constitutional protections to every single person on the face of the earth, including the scum of the earth, as you propose.
In addition to the laws of logic, the principle of reciprocity, and the fundemantal axioms of morality (see above,) there is also the simple fact that the Constituion does not limit its recognition of rights to citizens or residents of the United States (legal or otherwise,) nor does it limit the right of anyone to contest the actions of the US government in our courts of law, nor does it restrict anyone with respect to which parts of the Constitution they may rely on in their legal arguments.
For example, the Fifth Amendment of the Bill of Rights says the following: "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."
The operative word is simply "person." Not "citizen." Not "resident of the United States." Not "person legally within the borders of the United States." Simply "person," with no other qualification.
Disprove any of that, if you can. The burden of proof is on you.
I pity you for your dysfunctional brain.