Letters to the Editor
-
@Ondelette
Thanks. I'm still, despite my reporting experience, prone to asking a question that is too complicated; but that doesn't necessarily address your suggestion about putting something in the pot that is "wiggle proof."
At the same time (and this is why I got out of broadcast news), I hate the stupid questions that are asked. I want these people to do the hot foot every time.
"Keep dancing!"
But you've given me an idea about how to "de-legalize" my question, yet retain the impact about how these Brits could find themselves being regarded as non-persons in an American court.
-
@AI
Evidently, you missed my last post to you. If you accuse people of malevolence, you need to defend your accusations. If you point out inadequacies in the bill, you don't. When you cited the legal opinions which went through the bill point by point and criticized each word in situ in its clause, your case was strong, and I said so. When you accused the government of in general deliberately passing a law that says one thing with the intent of doing another -- deliberately acting in bad faith -- you do have to defend it. Otherwise no law, Constitution or other document can be trusted.
-
Re: HR 1955 (Home-brewed etc.)
http://dailykos.com/story/2007/11/26/85326/401
Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism?
Mon Nov 26, 2007[...] Just read the text of the legislation, and these claims of potential abuse seem absurd. Have I become a paranoid conspiracy theorist? I don’t think so, but explaining why takes some doing.
[...] In its findings of fact, the House stated:
(6) Preventing the potential rise of self radicalized, unaffiliated terrorists domestically cannot be easily accomplished solely through traditional Federal intelligence or law enforcement efforts, and can benefit from the incorporation of State and local efforts.
Wait, "Preventing the potential rise of self radicalized, unaffiliated terrorists"? How would that work? And why does it need the further integration of Federal, State, and local intelligence and law enforcement efforts?
[...] This is not just a study commission; there is a permanent "Center of Excellence for the Study of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism in the United States."
[...] The issue is not the need to fund serious scholarly research into terrorism violence and bigotry. The issue is whether or not we want our tax dollars wasted by political cronies providing the type of answers the current administration wants. This is not to suggest that individual scholars would be the hacks, it is that by circumventing the traditional scholarly process which includes privacy restrictions and peer review, the proposed study commission achieves two politicized functions:
*** 1 *** Researchers could collect the type of data that government agencies are currently forbidden to do because of past abuses regarding surveillance and data collection, and there is no guarantee that individualized information would not be passed to law enforcement agencies of the Department of Homeland Security.
*** 2 *** The scholars chosen would reflect a skewed collection favoring research and analytical models that are biased in favor of the views and legislative desires of the current administration. This is true whether it is a Republican or a Democrat in the Oval Office.
*****
None of this is necessary. News Flash! There are already a number of excellent centers that study terrorism and violence in the United States.
[...] I sometimes disagree with what these groups have to say, but they have produced a substantial body of work that creates a public dialogue without a "Center for Excellence."
I have a much cheaper plan than the "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act." In fact it doesn’t add a red cent to the existing taxpayer burden...it’s called a library card.
Tell the Senate to reject this pending legislation, and refer those interested in more information to the Library of Congress, it’s a block away from the U.S. Capitol building, and it is free to the public. What a deal!
http://dailykos.com/story/2007/11/26/85326/401
-
All the same
I do wish somebody would study and investigate how a homegrown terrorist like Eric Rudolph could enjoy a homegrown terrorist support network that protected him for 4 years, including local townspeople, and local, if not county and state police, and yet nobody but Mr. Rudolph himself has ever been indicted.
I would also like to go to a disaster prep/MCI class and not hear stupid terrorist scenarios that assume that all terrorists are somewhere beyond piss in your pants and stare at the spider schizophrenic. Like the ones that start with terrorists unleashing a world wide epidemic of a disease that has been totally eradicated except for some preserved samples because they are suicidal and want the whole world to die. If somebody has studied these things, how come that hasn't changed?
The bill has its problems. The ACLU and CCR postings that AI put up detail something I(we)'ve been seeing for years in IHL discussions. There is no good definition for terrorist or terrorism. But there are violent groups. What should we do about them?
-
Ondelette & Jebbie
Our friend is okay? Haven't heard in a while.
Very verbose a couple of days ago. He concerned me when he mentioned going to an alternative healer. I, of course, lobbied for the one who could write a new scrip. I thought we reached a compromise when I suggested he do both, and he agreed. But agreement and action are, we all know, two very different critters.
I am also concerned that we haven't heard from him today, but the busy signal makes me think he may be lurking.....and if me posting about him brings him out of the woodwork so we have a chance to give him a onceover then so much the better.
No worries on the venting, feel free. Jebbie's concerns notwithstanding, I know the difference between hate speech and plain ol' anger and frustration. I can't possibly get the full flavor, but I do feel your pain.
Jebbie - AND WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE DOING GIVING THE SAUDIS MORE BILLIONS of military aid?
It is the contemplation of such as this that I am hoping to escape for just a couple of days while singing Carmen Ohio in Key West. I feel your pain too, and will raise a glass in salute to both of you.