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End legal preferences for terrorist suspects: Congress should clarify all federal criminal statutes to insure that so-called "extralegal" preferences for criminal terrorist suspects are eliminated. In some past terrorist investigations, federal rules have been interpreted to require law enforcement to show something more than standard probable cause to obtain warrants. Law enforcement officials should never have to demonstrate anything more than standard probable cause when seeking a warrant in the war on terrorism.

Ron Paul is exactly correct on this matter regardless of how you view the occupation of Iraq and its outcome. The bar for investigating and prosecuting terrorists in this country should never be set higher than for ordinary domestic mass murderers. The current law places the government at a disadvantage when prosecuting these mass murderers.

Similarly, the provisions for letters of marque and reprisal are more fitting in this current action in the Mideast because we have never before employed such a huge mercenary force in our history. Current estimates of total forces in Iraq alone are over 300,000. So we certainly are using mercenary forces very widely. While I have no objection to using armed civilians to support our troops, escort their supplies or provide other security, I do think the president should have the option to employ such persons directly to fulfill specific military missions legally.

My expectation is that we are likely to see some incident embarrassing or damaging to the Bush administration prior to 2009 because these methods were not authorized and used.