Letters to the Editor
MacDonald
Published Letters: 14
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We Are All Terrorists
[Read the article: The Weekly Standard mentality and the Senate Intelligence Committee]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]While the impunity with which laws can be broken by a mere drop of the buzzword "terrorism", let's not forget the other half of that equation: the ease with which "old crimes" can now be relabelled "terrorist acts". This from 2001-02:
"ACT-UP/SF activist David Pasquarelli and AIDS accountability Project activist Michael Petrelis were given felony terrorism charges for their alleged participation in a phone, fax and email "zap" to bring attention to AIDS corruption and oppose the dangerous quarantine plans contained in the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act. Bail was set at a punitive 1.1 million dollars for the pair. Finally, the bail was reduced and the men were freed after spending 72 days in jail."
The charges were dismissed on a "technicality".
http://www.whatisaids.com/media112901.htm
Not only is whoever freely listening in, they are free to interpret almost any speech or act of dissent or civil disobedience as "terrorism", and make sure you rot while trying to clear yourself.
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Shooter, I think I'm your Huckleberry
[Read the article: The fun and excitement of civilization wars (fought from afar)]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Shooter, Let's exchange Steyn's ambiguity for some straight talk here if you don't mind:
"It is my contention that Steyn is conceding that the war on terror is getting old, tired, misunderstood, whatever."
Who exactly is misunderstanding the war on terror? Is there a war on terror the way the president and most of Congress are selling it by their retoric and actions or isn't there?
What's instead of the "old, tired" war on terror? A change of outlook on the world? A change of policy? A change of domestic political strategy?
Does that mean McCain is old and tired?
"Now, should you folks actually have it sink in, that someone like Steyn is ready to cede ground on the argument, are you going to pick at him abut why he is relenting, or be pricks and insist on a public confession of sin? I ask, because if you are pricks about the whole thing, this step forward will be withdrawn."
Well I'm just gonna brave it and pick at him about why he is relenting even if it's gonna amount to a demand for a public confession of sin. Why is Steyn relenting, Shooter? Which step forward is it he's taking? Nay, tell me why should "we folks" give a shit about Steyn's one step forward, or two steps back, in the first place?
It can't be a step towards maturity and independence, since you are single-handedly promising us the noble gesture will be withdrawn if not met in the right coddling spirit.
If the step forward is withdrawn, what will happen? A rejuvenation of the old tired war on terror? Permanent orange alert?
Who exactly are you to step forwards and backwards on behalf of Steyn and the Swivel Chair Warriors? Dick Cheney?
I'd really like to know WHY!!! you are relenting from that position of power of yours.
Regardless of what Steyn meant by by his "confession", do you agree GG nailed somebody real f-ing good in this Post?
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Errare Humanum Est
[Read the article: The fun and excitement of civilization wars (fought from afar)]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]@Slancio,
Mr. Krystal is making a profound point. His own gig at the New York Times is living proof of the "deterioration of the quality of thought of the pensioned opposition". The Gray Lady once again lets us know she is senile to the point of irrelevance.
There is, however, that interesting notion of Krystal's:
"erring on the side of safety". Would that be another step forward - an admission that one CAN err on the side of safety in these noble matters - or an artfully deployed contradiction in terms?
"But for the House Democrats, sticking it to the phone companies — and to the Bush administration — seemed to outweigh erring on the side of safety in defending the country."
O man! to get paid real-world responsible $$$ for that level of writing. . . Never mind Orwell, Kipling must be the saddest man in Heaven today.
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Sucker Punch
[Read the article: McCain: Threatening to bomb sovereign countries is "naive"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's not that McCain doesn't favour bombing any sovereign country, it's just that in this case it's advisable to do it without saying anything first. In that way Musharraf won't be so embarrased.