Posse Comitatus Act Limits Armed Services at Home …

Posse Comitatus Act Limits Armed Services at Home

For 125 years, it’s been the law of the land, and it’s served this nation well. And the Bush Adminstration wants it weakened or overturned. Will “libertarians” please explain to me why the Republicans are the lesser evil? (Not that I think that the Democrats are evil, but the “libertarians” do.) Or are armed soldiers patrolling the streets part of the libertarian vision?

CNN.com - Man, fearing terrorists, fires at helico…

CNN.com - Man, fearing terrorists, fires at helicopter - July 20, 2002

Ah, paranoia. I’d like to thank the administration and the media for feeding it.

John Chwaszczewski, a semiretired construction worker, became alarmed when he saw the chopper swoop down over his garage, about a block from Peters’ home.

“Maybe I overreacted, but I did feel this was terrorism at its utmost,” Chwaszczewski said.

Because terrorism’s utmost is an attack on a residential neighborhood.

Failing school gives student option to go So, i…

Failing school gives student option to go

So, if all the students have bad test scores, those students can leave the school and go to someplace with good test scores? I bet the schools will be lining up for them!

Brazilians Keep Abreast Of Fashion Bikini fashi…

Brazilians Keep Abreast Of Fashion

Bikini fashion show. I’m just passing this on for information’s sake.

The Nando Times: Family of detained terror suspect…

The Nando Times: Family of detained terror suspect denies al-Qaida link

Actually, there’s little linking him to terror except that he’s a Muslim. He was traveling with $12 million in fake checks, of course, but that just means he’s a crook…

Reuters Wire | 07/21/2002 | Egypt arrests 34 suspe…

Reuters Wire | 07/21/2002 | Egypt arrests 34 suspected Islamists

You know, I haven’t seen “Islamists” used in a headline before… At any event, they were arrested for things not generally considered illegal, at least not in a country with real laws.

Wider Military Role in U.S. Is Urged This is ju…

Wider Military Role in U.S. Is Urged

This is just awful.

There are three things I worried this country would lose as a result of Sept. 11, and I’m seeing signs of all three. One is its status as a multiethnic, inclusive entity. That one hasn’t taken too many hits as yet, but there are some people nibbling at it. The second is being a secular society, where religion is essentially private. Already under siege in recent years, it’s taking blow after blow, with things like one of the men entrusted with Constitutional interpretation deciding his powers come from God.

And the third is that the United States is a civilian society. Order is not, should not, be maintained by the military. The President is Commander in Chief, but he is a civilian. The Army, anywhere other than around its bases, isn’t a major presence; the only man in a federal uniform I see on a daily basis is a postal worker. Ralph Eberhart is an Air Force general, and I’m mostly used to seeing Air Force jets, but still…

Don’t get me wrong. I have a lot of respect for the military, and they do a great job. But their job is protection against outside threats. This “Homeland Defense” stuff is not, essentially, an outside threat. It’s a police matter. Our national police agencies screwed up, but turning their duties over to the military is not the answer. Nothing John Ashcroft has done will endanger our liberty more than repealing the Posse Comitatus Act.

washingtonpost.com: Israel Plans New Measures in T…

washingtonpost.com: Israel Plans New Measures in Talks

Hmmm… The Israelis say they’ll issue work permits and allow more passage into Israel. If the Palestinians don’t attack. Hamas is probably already working on its response.