The bin Laden tapes

Yesterday "Public Enemy #1", the "Wanted Dead or Alive" man himself Usama bin Laden (UBL) released a new audio tape. In it he promised more attacks and offered something of a truce to the United States. I usually hate to state the obvious, but with so many people twisting the words, beliefs and feelings of 'non conservatives' perhaps it is important to do just that.

I think bin Laden motives are to further divide the country. He sees how the Bush administration is under fire for going overboard on their domestic security and he sees the infighting about it. Bin Laden thinks he can take advantage of that. 'Conservatives' may argue that this proves that such criticism against the President and his policies give aid and comfort to the enemy. I say that UBL may be getting some false comfort, but he will get no aid even from the harshest of Bush critics. We don't want a world in the image of George Bush and we sure as Hell don't want one in the image of UBL. His words don't effect my opinion on Bush, Iraq, the war on terror or anything one bit. He is still public enemy #1 to all Americans and sane people across the world.

As far as the offer of a "truce" I have to laugh. Nice try, no deal. We may have a nut job as President, attacking the wrong country, spying on Americans, poorly preparing us for future attacks, but al Qaida has to be destroyed for the good of the world. The truce offer is a joke and no one I know or respect would even consider such a meaningless offer.

The Bin Laden threats should be taken seriously. Our diversion in Iraq has left him not only alive, but still at least the figure-head leader of al Qaida. I am sure there are those inside our borders who plan to attack. They may succeed in doing so. However it will only strengthen the resolve of all Americans to defeat al Qaida, even as we continue to call for the removal of our President who has handled this danger so incompetently and illegally. We can easily separate the issues. Bin Laden and others make a mistake if they think we don't.

Usama bin Laden has no sympathy from progressive or Bush critics. However, just because we all agree that we hate bin Laden, it does not mean we will automatically concur with all the President's actions in the name of that cause. All Americans share the same goal, our arguments are only on the means to achieve them. In America we criticize our leaders even punishing those who break the laws. But just because UBL hates Bush and many people in the USA also dislike George Bush, that does not mean that we therefore support anything bin Laden has to say. If UBL, GWB or anyone else thinks differently they only further demonstrate their lack of understanding of the people of the United States.

related article by MQAblog

A Good Thing? Oklahoma City Conspirator to be Released

When I first heard that Michael Fortier was to be freed from prison I was angry. The 1993 attack on the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was a horrific act of domestic terrorism. Women and children were among the hundreds killed that April in 1993 and I wanted harsh punishment for anyone involved in this anti-American behavior.
During the Oklahoma City investigation and trial I wanted everyone to get lifetime imprisonment, hopeful that it would deterfuture right wing wakos. This included people like Michael Fortier who were not indirectly involved in the bombing but shared the ideology. I did not get my wish.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Michael Fortier was sentenced to 12 years and ordered to pay $200,000 US in fines after pleading to having prior knowledge of the bombing plan but not alerting authorities, to helping move and sell stolen guns, and to lying to federal authorities

Yesterday, though I saw the end of the Abrams Report on MSNBC and heard him making a very good point about the impending release. He argued that it was actually very good that Fortier was being let go at this time. First, Dan Abrams talked about why he should have been punished for his involvement.

Fortier admitted that McVeigh told him about the plot to bomb the Murrah Building before it happened. He says he didn't think McVeigh would actually do it and there is nothing to suggest he helped them carry out the plot in any way. But nevertheless he deserved to be punished. But unlike most criminals who cut deals, the feds had almost nothing on him when he turned, possibly a gun charge. He was called as a witness before the grand jury and rather than cover his behind like most, he came clean and told the authorities he would cooperate in any way he could. That included incriminating himself by admitting that he was told about the plot.

The he explained that without this eventual admission by Fortier prosecution of McVeigh and Nichols may not have been possible. Abrams agued that the release of Fortier would encourage others in a similar position to expose serious crimes, realizing that the risk of punishment would be tempered by the promise of eventual freedom.

Under the law, his failure to report what he knew is a crime, but we need to encourage people like Fortier to come forward and come clean. His testimony was crucial. He told the back-story that made the other evidence, receipts, sightings, et cetera, come together. Without him it would have been far more difficult to get convictions of both McVeigh and Nichols. We always talk about using the justice system to send a message to criminals to let them know they will be punished for their crimes.
Then we also need to send an equally important message to lesser offenders that they will get some benefit for testifying against their friends. Fortier will now emerge from prison a targeted man. He's given up everything because his buddies were evil, and now he's served more time than many of the prosecutors on this case ever wanted. The victims' families appear divided. I understand the anger of those who say he should remain behind bars because he could have prevented it from happening.

I am not a regular viewer of Dan Abrams show and may not find myself agreeing with him again anytime soon. But this type of argument needed to be made. We see so much abuse of the criminal justice system with white collar criminals getting slaps on the wrists while drug offenders rot behind bars. It good to recognize when leniency can be used to a positive end and take notice when the Justice system administers a fair penalty based on the public good.

read HERE how others commented on my blog entry...MQAblog

DEBUNKED! 'Clinton did it too' found to be factually inaccurate

What's the old saying? Denial is more than a river...Something like that. One of the arguments we are hearing now in defense of President Bush's secret electronic monitoring is that Clinton did it too. Here is yet more evidence that this is not true. Notice that these misleading statements are being made at the highest level of the Bush Administration. It is little wonder that so many are misinformed.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the Clinton-Gore administration had engaged in warrantless physical searches, and he cited an FBI search of the home of CIA turncoat Aldrich Ames without permission from a judge. He said Clinton's deputy attorney general, Jamie Gorelick, had testified before Congress that the president had the inherent authority to engage in physical searches without warrants. "I think his hypocrisy knows no bounds," McClellan said of Gore. But at the time of the Ames search in 1993 and when Gorelick testified a year later, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act required warrants for electronic surveillance for intelligence purposes, but did not cover physical searches. The law was changed to cover physical searches in 1995 under legislation that Clinton supported and signed.

Bush's attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, made the same arguments as McClellan during interviews Monday on CNN's "Larry King Live" and Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes."

Of the comments, former Vice President Al Gore said Gonzales made a "political defense" of the president, showing why the attorney general should not be in charge of reviewing charges against Bush and should instead name a special counsel. "His charges are factually wrong," Gore said in a written statement Tuesday. "Both before and after the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was amended in 1995, the Clinton-Gore administration complied fully and completely with the terms of the law."

Guest Blogger: 'America Blog'

Slew of Republicans refer to Democratic party as "plantation"

- when are they apologizing?

by John in DC - 1/17/2006 05:42:00 PM

If Hillary needs to apologize for using the word "plantation" to describe the GOP, I can't wait for the media to now demand apologies from:

Townhall.com
The National Review
The Wall Street Journal
Rush Limbaugh Show
Newsmax
The Washington Times
Bob Novak


Hat tip to Atrios

'President' Gore's Speech

Today Al Gore delivered one of the most important speeches of our lifetime. He laid it on the line that our country is in real danger of being destroyed by George W Bush and his actions. It reminds us all what America is really about. The mainstream media will probably not carry more than a sound bite (if that) and right wingers will smear the man as usual. But I suggest you grab a cup of coffee and settle in to hear a powerful call to action to save The United States of America. (Aired ONLY on C-Span - look for replays - full video to be posted here later)

video clips
full text
discussion

Happy MLK Day

It's a freezing Monday morning here in New York with temperatures in the teens. Over the weekend it was almost as cold with 50 MPH winds. Certainly the coldest since I got here, but it snowed too so that's nice.

I have to work today but here in Harlem today is a big holiday. The streets are empty, when they are normally bustling with people heading to work. I'm sure the weather is also a factor. There is a parade and many other events today here and throughout the city. Unfortunately it is just another Monday for me.