Tag: civil liberties

The Koran Burning-Islamic Center Brouhaha

Even in an age of media sensationalism, the intense coverage of the proposed Islamic center at Ground Zero, and a shamelessly bigoted Christian minister’s threat to burn the Koran in response to it, are both jolting and saddening. Neither of these events merited media coverage at all, but in today’s world controversy brings larger audiences … Continue reading “The Koran Burning-Islamic Center Brouhaha”

Marked Imam Tests Lawn-Chair Constitutionalists

“He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” – Thomas Paine The Constitution is being tested in the most extreme way imaginable: does the federal government really have the right to pursue the … Continue reading “Marked Imam Tests Lawn-Chair Constitutionalists”

FBI: No Probable Cause Required For Surveillance

The bitter controversy over the building of a Muslim community center and mosque near the site of the terrorist attacks in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, is sparking new fears of government snooping on Islamic holy places –  which it now claims it can do without a warrant. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), … Continue reading “FBI: No Probable Cause Required For Surveillance”

Life in the USSA

Last week, the Washington Post ran an excellent three-part series on the growing national security state. The series, written by Dana Priest and William M. Arkin, was titled “Top Secret America,” and the articles were titled “A Hidden World, Growing Beyond Control,” “National Security, Inc.,” and “The Secrets Next Door.” This series, said the Post‘s … Continue reading “Life in the USSA”

Post-9/11 Militarism Helps BP, Hurts America

Down on the bayou, reporters and activists have been pulled over and questioned by British Petroleum security guards and local police because they might be “terrorists.” Journalists have been kicked off public property, detained, harassed, and forced to hand over their photographs – and their Social Security numbers. They’ve been prevented from renting boats or … Continue reading “Post-9/11 Militarism Helps BP, Hurts America”

A Parliamentary Mob on a Rampage

  When I was first elected to the Knesset, I was appalled at what I found. I discovered that, with rare exceptions, the intellectual level of the debates was close to zero. They consisted mainly of strings of clichés of the most commonplace variety. During most of the debates, the plenum was almost empty. Most … Continue reading “A Parliamentary Mob on a Rampage”

European Parliament Set to Approve Snooping Bill

BRUSSELS – Private information on innocent citizens will be handed over to U.S. law enforcement authorities under an agreement slated for approval by the European Parliament this week.In February, members of the Parliament (MEPs) rejected a plan to allow data on everyday bank transactions be given to the U.S., citing concerns over fundamental civil rights. … Continue reading “European Parliament Set to Approve Snooping Bill”

Plotting Terrorism

Barack Obama may not have come into office pledging to get the U.S. out of Afghanistan, but he did pledge one thing: to close the Bush-era prison at Guantánamo within a year. That couldn’t have been clearer. And as I wrote back then, it was also a reasonable basis on which to judge whether a … Continue reading “Plotting Terrorism”

Supreme Mediocrity

“Your modesty overwhelms me, Yogi.” “Why not, Boo Boo? I’ve got a lot to be modest about.” Those are my two favorite lines from The Yogi Bear Show, a cartoon I watched when I was a kid. After his reply to Boo Boo, Yogi looks self-conscious as he realizes what he has just admitted about … Continue reading “Supreme Mediocrity”