Letters to the Editor
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It's about responsibility, and motives
Thanks for this piece, and the discussion.
What strikes me most, as an American citizen, is how eagerly (and effectively) this particular Administration has been in avoiding any legal or moral repercussions of its policies. They'll argue their points til the cows come home. But they do not want to be held accountable for anything. To me, that's a sign of hubris, laziness or guilt, or some combination.
I'm also struck by how much of these terror policies are not necessary and even counter-productive, from rendition to torture to secret prisons to warrantless spying to eliminating habeas corpus to pre-emptive war.
For example, if you torture people you eliminate the legal option, like prosecuting the blind sheik, proving your case, and throwing him into a dark jail cell for the rest of his life. Meanwhile, real reforms like accounting for chemical plants and tracking cargo on planes and ships, that takes too long or turns into a political football where political contributions can slow down the process. And what does it say to the Syrian government, a dictatorship, when a supposed democracy like ours secretly ships them people to torture? These policies only worsen our problems, not resolve them.
That's why I think this has all been about getting, keeping, and growing power, not keeping the country safe. They might think they're keeping the country safe, but the results are obvious and were easily predictable beforehand.
Last, I still have not figured out how, as a citizen, to make this government change policies, not just politicians. Writing letters hasn't worked. The only idea I've seen might work is selectively supporting moderate/progressive politicians in primaries against the politicians who so eagerly sold out their institution (Congress) and our Constitution, Democrats and Republicans.