September 27, 2010

Topics from the agenda committee:

1. Should the ACLU prevail in its suit against the U.S proposed Drone Air Attacks for targeting Al Qaeda operators? Reference: WSJ 9/2/10, “The Lawfare Wars” within the Review & Outlook Section on Page A14.
2. What are your thoughts on the proposed Mosque building to be built within the two block area of 9/11 ground zero? Ref: Too many to mention.
3. What are your views on denying citizenship to the so called “Anchor Babies” (aka Infants born in this country to both illegal parents.)? Ref: WSJ 9/9/10-“Birthrite Repeal Likely to Increase Illegal Population”Page A7.

Regarding item #1:

There are 2 parts to the WSJ opinion piece 'Lawfare'. It starts with the suspension of the military court's USS Cole case. In my opinion, there may be reasons the Administration might have held off on pursuing the case in military court, reasons beyond those spelled out in the piece. Intelligence gathering secrets could be jeopardized. I think that one could elucidate a theory that we are engaged in a war where hostilities continue, and we ought be under no compulsion to try or release enemy combatants until such time as hostilities have ended.

The 2nd part goes to the legality of drone attacks against an American enemy combatant, specifically al-Awlaki in Yemen. Again, in my opinion, we are fighting an enemy that is in many places around the world, often as non-state actors, and is pledged to fight to the death. We are compelled, thus, to oppose such persons as we find them.

With regard to the ACLU, I hearken back to the words of JFK, 'Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.' The ACLU's mission is all about claimed rights with little regard to costs and responsibility.

Regarding item #2:

The New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd cuts through the muck in Our Mosque Madness.

Here’s an ABCnews segment with Daisy Khan (10/3/10 - and a Town Hall Debate on This Week).

Here’s an article about Rauf.

Here’s one about Sufis.

President Obama added to his earlier comments on the subject during his press conference on Friday, 9/10/10. For more about that press conference, see this MSNBC article and this KPCC Airtalk discussion.

The New Republic contains further opinion on the project.

Currently new on HBO and available on-demand is My Trip to al-Queda.

Recently, one Florida pastor threatened to burn copies of the Koran. Here's Jon Stewart's humorous take on that subject.

Regarding item #3:

A new amendment to the constitution repealing part of the 14th amendment is highly unlikely. Inasmuch as the 14th amendment was part of the Reconstruction amendments, ending slavery in the U.S., a rejection of the 14th can be seen as yet another insult to our African-American President.