ZGram - 6/19/2002 - "How many rights? How much liberty?"

[irimland@zundelsite.org]

ZGram - Where Truth is Destiny

June 19, 2002

Good Morning from the Zundelsite:

Nice thinking out there in the desert!  Enjoy!

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Arizona Republic | Letters

June 19, 2002

How many rights? How much liberty?

With whom are we at war? Most of the Sept. 11 terrorists were Saudis, but
we're not at war with Saudi Arabia. The Sept. 11 terrorists weren't from
Iran, Iraq or North Korea, but we've identified those countries as
sponsors of terrorism.

We even have Americans accused of being terrorists. There seem to be
terrorists everywhere. Are we at war with . . . whomever the
administration says is an enemy?

What rights, if any, do our enemies have? One citizen accused of being a
Taliban (John Walker Lindh) is getting a jury trial, while another
accused of al-Qaida links (Jose Padilla) is in military prison. One
foreigner (Zacarias Moussaoui) will be tried in a federal court, while
hundreds of other foreigners are isolated in Cuba.

If we must sacrifice some of our civil liberties because we're at war,
who decides which liberties we will lose and who will lose them? Are our
civil liberties - and the rights of our visitors and enemies - whatever
the administration says they are?

We've been told that this "state of war" could go on for years, even
indefinitely. In wartime we all willingly sacrifice some liberties to the
legitimate need for security.

Since Sept. 11, the government has been saying that we've escaped further
harm because of all our new security activities. If another attack
occurs, does it mean that further curtailment of our civil liberties will
be required?

What happens if this war, which never officially began, only ends when
the administration says it has ended? What if it never officially ends?

How many civil liberties are we willing to sacrifice, and for how long?
What limitations will we accept indefinitely? What level of security is
enough?

Ultimately, to what extent are we willing to sacrifice our liberty for
our security?

Dan Gruber
Paradise Valley

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