|
John Ashcroft - The Scapegoat
Lewis
Goldberg
09/15/2003
The
cry from the left against loss of freedoms is laughable in light of the
fact that it was leftist policies that allowed 9-11 to happen in the first
place. I am not tackling the larger issues of American meddling abroad in
this column - just the administration of affairs here at home. John
Ashcroft, while taking heat from Democrats, [as well as from a lot of
conservatives,] should be commended by the left for doing all he can to
maintain the level of slack border defense to which we have become
accustomed, while keeping terrorism at bay. Yet Ashcroft has become the
punching bag of Democrat candidates and voters alike.
No
less than Democrat presidential hopeful Howard Dean said that Ashcroft
"is not a patriot. John Ashcroft is a descendant of Joseph
McCarthy..." [Washington
Post.] No, Mr. Dean, Ashcroft - though labeled a conservative - is a
descendant of the status quo which the anti-McCarthy people helped to
create. He is doing all he can to ensure that we Americans remain safe in
our homes and while travelling in a country which has had the gate welded
in the 'open' position.
Think
about the reception any politician would get if the real solution to
domestic terrorism were ever presented. Upon 9/11, these restrictions and
actions should have occurred:
- Zero
immigration.
- Zero
international travel.
- Comprehensive
Visa track-down [every foreigner from Islamic nations without a green
card found and expelled - regardless of situation.]
- Every green
card holder from Islamic nations tracked down, interviewed, and
periodically re-contacted.
The
above restrictions are not what was enacted. It would never be
allowed.
Let's
pretend America is a fashionable gated community. In such a place, a guard
is placed at the entrance. Folks with legitimate business needs are let
inside, and all others are turned away. All the people inside have a
feeling of security because the gates are watched.
In
America, the gate is left unattended. The security guard has to patrol the
streets and periodically check inside the houses and buildings to make sure
no one 'rough' has entered.
If
the above list were enacted, soon afterward Americans should have been
allowed to freely resume foreign travel, with strict interviewing and
tracking placed on all foreigners from Islamic nations. No one from any
Islamic nation should be allowed to 'vacation' or 'get an education' in
America until international relations stabilise. This is the gatekeeper
principle at work. The gatekeeper watches the borders, and the residents
stay safe without having to have a prostate check every time they board a
domestic flight. I think in the real world, the gatekeeper is called the
U.S. Army - but I'm not sure if they still exist...they've been out of the
country for some time now...
Ashcroft
is a scapegoat - not your enemy. He is giving the majority of Americans the
America for which they lobbied - successfully - for the last 50 years, and
he's doing a fine job of it under the circumstances. Enjoy.
Your comments and questions are encouraged. [editor@patriotist.com]
Patriotist
LG_the_011303.html
|
