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Posted December 14, 2001
Smoking Gun
After reading a variety of articles and watching the latest soundbites on the news about the new video tape of Bin Laden, the question comes to me again and again: if we now have the "smoking gun," if it is "pretty clear" that Bin Laden was involved in the Sept. 11th attacks after seeing this video, then what was the evidence we used to convince our allies to join us in war? This video which has been described as having "a good picture but poor sound quality" is what our leaders are now telling us is the evidence of Bin Laden's involvement. I just find it amazing that this, a tape found at the end of the war in Afghanistan is what we are using to justify it.
Doctor Paul's Courage
Republican Representative, Doctor Ron Paul's, well written article ["Terrorism and the Expansion of Federal Power," December 11] ... intelligently pointed out the possible loss of our Constitutional freedoms in these crisis days. As a lifelong voting Democrat, I applaud Doctor Paul's courage to correctly speak out against those, Democrats and Republicans, who would use terrorism to subvert our Constitutional freedoms.
A Hundred Willie Hortons
I have a brief comment on the new secret military tribunals that Bush is proposing. I suspect that most of us think that Bush's desire for secret military tribunals is simply a clumsy grab for power for power's sake, and perhaps it is. But there is another explanation, and that is that Bush has something to hide. We didn't need secret military tribunals to deal with Charles Manson, Al Capone, or even the German or Japanese war criminals of World War II – not even the late great Evil Empire of Stalinist Russia required secret trials! It is clear that there is no justification on either national security grounds or the grounds of safety to individual jurors that requires such absolute secrecy. Of course I don t know what Bush could be (is?) hiding. One possibility is that there are a hundred Willie Hortons out there that Bush wants swept under the rug. Recall that Bush Sr. was instrumental in eliminating criminal background checks on immigrants to assist his pro-business cheap labor policy. Or perhaps it is the case that the people in custody with the strongest links to the terrorists have financial dealings with the Bush family. Or maybe there are a lot of innocent people who have been badly tortured by panicked government agents.... Or all of the above, or something else altogether. Not only are the trials to be secret but the convicted are to be either shot on ships and buried at sea, or shipped to friendly police states where nobody will ever see them again. Why such a demand that not just the trial, but the end result, indeed even the fact that it took place at all, be kept a state secret?
Antiwar President
Any of you guys thought of running for President? I'd vote for you! You're the only ones who seem to know what's really going on.
Advice from a Pensioner
Dear President Putin,
We are very sorry our appointed President, George W. Bush, has decided to break a thirty-year treaty with the Russian people. Please be assured that freedom-loving people do not approve of such decisions as breaking agreements with friends! Our appointed President quoted you as saying, "We are on a path of a fundamentally different relationship." Some advice from a pensioner who has studied Russian history: be cautious! "Trust but check"!
~ John W. Hazouri, retired Human Rights Representative for local 947, of The International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Accomplices in War Crimes
According the NPR reports by Ivan Watson, attempts at surrender by Taliban/al-Qaeda fighters are being rejected by the "Northern Alliance" unless they include the surrender of Osama bin Laden and top associates. This refusal to honor offers of unconditional surrender is a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. These illegal terms for surrender implicate the US civilian and military officials as accomplices in war crimes.
~ Carl Reynolds, The Don Quixote Society, Oregon
Help from Allah
[Regarding "Afghan Kamikaze Camels Warning," December 12, BBC:]
These are not kamikaze camels, but disguised "help" from Allah – in the form of camels – to cause panic and trouble amongst the infidel army. This has always happened in the battlefield. Ask those who experienced the wars in Chechnya, Kashmir, and Afghanistan (in the war against Russia). In fact, the first time it happened was during the Badr War, the first war in Islam's history, during Prophet Muhammad's lifetime. Ask your nearest Muslim scholars.
~ Muhammad S.