Nukes

...We need to step up internal security. And, in the last resort, if they still can get through and launch a major attack, we will have to use tactical nukes. We are looking at a bio attack that could take out a major American city.

Also, we have to go energy-independent. Get off Arab oil. This means nuclear power. With global warming, nuclear power makes a lot more sense than fossil fuel. The economy needs to be nuclear/solar.

~ Mark A.

Eric Garris replies:

I have yet to be convinced that any nukes, tactical or not, can be used in a defensive manner.

We don't know where Osama is, so all we can do is nuke the general area that we think he might be in. This would be tantamount to bombing Harlem to get some black terrorist whom we think is being protected by Watts community leaders.

In addition, using a tactical nuke in a mountainous area like Afghanistan would result in fallout far beyond the borders of Afghanistan.

The question is, how many innocent people is it moral to kill in order to get one person or one small group of people? How many is it moral to kill on the hunch you might get your target?

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OBL Guilty?

Why, if Osama is guilty, has our government, with a whole month to work and thousands of agents, not come up with anything solid they can share with us? I know little about these things, but is it really possible that this man in Afghanistan had a significant role in these attacks carried out thousands of miles away by 19 men after months of preparation, and not a trace of solid evidence can be brought forward? That is hard for me to believe. Why is the Taliban still asking for evidence of his involvement? Are they pretending they don't know he was involved?

I think the Taliban position of having him tried in a neutral country, if there is such a thing, is a good one.

~ Jim M.

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The Real News

Antiwar.com is the best source for the real news! I tell friends and acquaintances about you daily.

~ Alison K.

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Bacchantes

[Regarding Justin Raimondo's column of October 22, "Noonan's Madness":]

While I enjoy getting a kick in at Peggy Noonan as much as the next person, Raimondo goes overboard and indulges his own delusion: that bloodthirsty media women have spurred the deliberate, logical men of politics into a war frenzy.

This is nonsense. There are plenty of ways to disembowel Noonan (and other female neocons) without blaming her hysteria on her gender, or blaming war hysteria in general on women.

And "Bacchantes"? The thought of a dancing naked Noonan, wrapped in vines and rending the flesh of wild animals and Arabs with her fingers, is too much to bear.

~ Ethan C.

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Temporary Laws

Now tragic events of the WTC and Pentagon attack are compounded with the anthrax scare. But what will make this worse is if we lose our liberties in seeking safety. If the terrorists cause us to restrict our freedoms through oppressive legislation implemented by our Congress than not only have we lost our freedoms but those other countries that have looked up to us to gain their freedom have had their will diminished. Temper safety with breathing room for citizen's rights for all.

Somehow my intuitive feeling was confirmed to keep an eye on Congress that is forever implementing laws to increase their power and restrict our influence. Therefore when the anthrax scare caused Congress to get collective diarrhea and virtually close down I felt relieved because this slowed them down from trying to curtail our influence further than they have done. When they state the anti-terrorist laws are temporary watch out! Already too many permanent government laws have started as temporary.

~ Tony M., Globo-Robo combat decorated SeaWarrior that got fed up being a global devastator for the NWO Golden Parachuters