Posted on 07/05/2002 2:15:16 PM PDT by demlosers
Edited on 07/12/2004 3:38:35 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
A U.S. law authorizing the State Department to designate groups as "terrorist" and which allows those who support them to be prosecuted has been declared unconstitutional by a federal judge, throwing U.S. anti-terrorism strategies into disarray.
A U.S. official who has been dealing with the issue said yesterday there will be "serious problems" if the decision stands on appeal. The U.S. government could no longer use the existing law to prosecute those who give "material support" to groups on the list such as Hamas, al Qaeda, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Amazing how few people understand this.
Isn't this judge from the same band of miscreants who found the Pledge of Allegience to be unconstitutional?
I don't know, but I believe he's under the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
That's two weeks ago folks!
I'm with you. We can get security clearances for jurors if we have to, but lets stop ignoring the Bill of Rights.
But consider this scenario:
1995. Clinton has the Patriot Act in force. OKC bombing occurs. Clinton declares Free Republic an anti-government terrorist group. Clinton orders everyone arrested who contributed to FR.
I believe the Patriot Act has a sunset clause. Unfortunately, I suspect there is about as much chance of Congress failing to reauthorize it as there is of them failing to renew the "assault weapons" ban.
Like with many of the Drug Laws, if we use an external threat to justify the aborgation of our rights ... we all lose big time.
I am for law enforcement going after bad guys who attack us, and to take it to their holes and inner sanctums ... but I do not believe you pass broad laws that can be applied to us all that allow for rights to be trampled.
Warrantless Searches, Annonymous Informants, No hearings, No probable cause, Being held indifinitely, snaek and paek, etc., etc. are all dangerous precedents that could just as easily one day be targeted against any of us as soon as they make what we do, believe, or say "unlawful".
What we need is to get back to the foundation and have people swiftly tried and swiftly punished for misdeeds ... but only after due process. I believe that is still possible, but its going to take major changes with getting a lot of existing law off the books and changes to regulations/policies/precedent associated with lawyers, technicalities, etc. Will not come fast, easy or sure short of a major train wreck which could turn into a cure much worse than the disease because it would allow even worse possibilities on the stage.
In the end, we will all (are a goodly number of us) hve to get involved to make it happen. That's the key, to willingly get involved and make things happen before they are forced on us in the heat of the moment. We are heading for a time, IMHO, when that is exsactly what is going to occur.
Anyhow, just my two-bits worth.
DITTO !!
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