Posted on 09/13/2001 10:19:48 AM PDT by Jeff Head
To: The Congress of the United States
Whereas Osama Bin Laden, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Taliban and other Islamic terrorist groups or organizations have committed Acts of War against the People of the United States resulting in horrendous loss of life and destruction of property (particularly in the dastardly and infamous attack on September 11, 2001), and
Whereas these groups have been harbored and abetted by rogue governments including (but not limited to) Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and any others so proven to abett or harbor said terrorist organizations,:
We therefore, as citizens of the United States of America, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, petition the Congress of the United States to recognize and formally delcare that a State of War exists between the United States and any Islamic terrorist group waging war against the people of the United States, or any nation or group which harbors or abetts them,
and to authorize and direct the President to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the same,
and, to pledge all of the resources of the country to bring the conflict to a total, complete, unmitigated and victorious conclusion resulting in the total annihilation and destruction of these groups and the the governments that harbor and abett them, and the occupation of said territiories and administration of the same until a local, civilized governing body can resume civilized governance of those areas so effected.
Signed
Sincerely,
HERE IS THE LINK TO THE WHOLE PETITION - http://www.petitiononline.com/declwar/
Cordially,
So, the government can fight a war without declaring war, but they need a declaration of war to suspend our civil liberties?
Personally, I don't like the idea of undeclared war. I think we should have declared war in Vietnam, Korea, and the Persian Gulf; and I think we should declare war now.
Don't make any mistake. I favor military action. Before we get done any bases used by bin Laden should look like Carthage after the Romans got done with it.
But we can -- and should -- send in the 101 without a declaration of war against bin Laden. That gives him too much. At a minimum, it allows his followers to argue that attacking the WTC was a legitimate act of war, no different than when we struck the Iraqi command bunker with the civilian bomb shelter above it. Given a clever, Johnny Cochrane or Alan Dershewitz-type lawyer, that could be the wedge they need to escape a conviction.
We should go after the entire network, kill any who resist, then try and hang any of those who surrender who were accomplises. That's how we treated pirates in the 18th and 19th century. That's how we should treat these banditti today.
Cordially,
Sometimes they make pretentions that they are doing so. That is what Blackbeard did. But smart nations do not rise to the bait. They declare them as outside the law and kill them.
Jeff, several Congressmen, including Senators Biden and Warner, have said that there will be no declaration of war.
Public Notice
If your senator or representative is unwilling to vote for a declaration of war, ask him,
"Congressman, just what would it take for you to vote for a declaration of war?"
Personally, I don't like the idea of undeclared war. I think we should have declared war in Vietnam, Korea, and the Persian Gulf; and I think we should declare war now.
They do not need a declaration of war to suspend civil liberties, and even a declaration of war cannot be used to suspend civil liberties. Civil liberties can be suspended during periods of civil unrest -- riots, for example. But only those liberties relevant to maintaining control -- curfews, etc. Even under those circumstances you cannot suspend the right to trial by jury, self-incrimination, etc.
As to an "undeclared war," if we are only fighting bin Laden it is not a war. It is a use of military force to restore public safety, and hot pursuit of the perpetrators of a crime. Should any nation choose to resist these efforts, particularly if they abetted the terrorist beforehand -- that is a causi belli, and should lead to a declaration of war. But, just as the Royal Navy did not need a declaration of war to fire upon pirates, we do not need a declaration of war to use Apaches against bin Laden.
(Note that a use of force resolution by the Congress authorizing the President to use armed forces to pursue terrorists would be appropriate, and desirable.)
Since our enemies do not wear uniforms or anything else which identifies them as soldiers, they are not entitled even to treatment as prisoners of war. They are war criminals, and even those we capture alive can be tried in front of a military tribunal and, if convicted, executed.
I wish I thought we had the guts to do it.
Personally, I differ with you. Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.
Personally, I differ with you. Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.
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