Re: [OT] NYC Terrorism (was: RE: [dvd-discuss] Re: Sen.Hollings plan s to introduceDMCAsequel : The SSSCA)

[jerwin(at)gmu.edu]

----- Original Message -----
From: Jeme A Brelin <jeme@brelin.net>
Date: Wednesday, September 12, 2001 1:30 pm
Subject: Re: [OT] NYC Terrorism (was: RE: [dvd-discuss] Re: Sen.
Hollings plan s to introduceDMCAsequel : The SSSCA)

> 
> On Wed, 12 Sep 2001, Richard Hartman wrote:
> > Well, there now we have to wait on Dubya.  I sincerly hope that 
> he has
> > the guts to do what needs to be done.  (For a well-written piece 
> that> says exactly what _I_ think needs to be done, check here:
> > http://www.claremont.org/precepts/296.cfm This piece was written by
> > Bruce Herschensohn directed to President Clinton after the 
> incident in
> > Saudi Arabia in '96 -- it is even more valid today than it was 
> then.)
> Don't you realize that such a "war on terrorism" would give the US
> government unprecedented in-roads to violating civil rights?
> 
It is unclear if the current rhetoric demanding "war" means a war in the
traditional sense, or the rhetorical sense-- war against drugs, war
against poverty, etc. From what I've read, most of the demands are
actually for the former.

Some letters to the Washington Post actually suggested an "Israeli"
style response, although whether the writers intended to advocate
torture, assasinations without due process, destruction of the
terrorist's parents' homes (corruption of the blood), and military
occupation of territories, is somewhat unclear to me.

It would not be appropriate for the United States to flail about and
strike random targets, in an attempt to kill suspected terrorists. Nor
would it be appropriate for the US to occupy (for instance) Afghanistan
for "security purposes." Such actions would probably incite more
terrorist acts.

What is required is a good solid investigation that will enable the US
to identify the specific groups involved in the attack, their allies,
and any supporting governments, and a measured response that will not
incite a lengthy sequence of reprisals. 
Jeremy Erwin