Posted on Fri, Sep. 21, 2007

Habeas corpus vote

The United States Senate celebrated this week's 220th anniversary of the Constitution by failing to endorse the restoration of habeas corpus. That a single senator, having sworn an oath to defend the Constitution would vote against the renewal of habeas corpus should shock all Americans.

The fact that 43 senators blocked a cloture motion that would have allowed the Senate majority to undo the damage done by the Military Commissions Act of 2006 is indisputable evidence of the depth to which our republic has sunk. Of the 43 votes against the Constitution, 42 came from Republicans and one from came from an independent (Lieberman).

To all those senators, and all who would deny habeas corpus protection, may I suggest review the United States Constitution. And, in particular, that part in our Declaration of Independence which states:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Would these 43 senators have America (and the entire world) believe that they have the authority to take away inalienable rights which were bestowed upon all men by our Creator?

Lance A. Erley
Warner Robins

Grassroots movement

Here in Georgia people have feared speaking out about the Bush-Cheney debacles, but more and more of our citizens are joining the grassroots movement - being part of the "common people, rank and file, little guys," or grassroots America isn't lonely in our state anymore.

It's outrageous that our Defense Department has been dangerously weakened because President Bush used our country's military might to attack a military weak country that had not attacked the U.S. and was no threat to our country. Now Bush wishes to keep our troops trapped there for years. The U.S. Embassy recently completed in Iraq is the world's largest!

The conflagration begun by the invasion of Iraq on orders from President Bush has cost our own and Iraqi citizens immeasurable grief and will cost, eventually, more lives and trillions of dollars.

Congress has put impeachment "off the table." The Constitution doesn't. It is given in the Constitution as a remedy for unforeseen, illegal, and irrational conduct such as that demonstrated by this president and vice president.

With legislators like those from Georgia, the grassroots' effort is our country's only hope. The "common" people have the common sense lacking in politicians who are destroying our own country while attempting to dominate others.

Mary Jacqueline Adams
Stockbridge

A new definition

There's no doubt that the full page ad in The New York Times crossed the line against a fine general. However, it concerns me that our conservative colleagues have taken such a critical stand.

When the conservatives undertook a character assassination of Sen. Max Cleland, and the personal attacks by the boat people on Sen. John Kerry, the only reaction from either the White House or the then-majority Republican Congress was one of overwhelming joy.

Looks as if the Republicans are establishing a new definition of "hypocritical" by these actions. Deplorable conduct is not acceptable from either party. Pay attention to the issues, or be replaced in 2008.

Bob Hubbard
Perry

Posted on Thu, Aug. 30, 2007

Continuing 'The Big Lie'

There have been four new TV political ads airing for a little more than a week across the U.S. that use wounded veterans or relatives of slain soldiers to explain what a tragedy it would be for Congress "for political reasons" to withdraw from the war in Iraq.

These are part of a $15 million, privately supported effort by a group of powerful Republicans who have strong ties to President Bush. It is the latest effort to shore up crumbling support in Congress for a war that has fallen out of favor with more than 70 percent of Americans.

These 30-second spots are being broadcast in 20 selected states and in more than five dozen congressional districts, preceding the report Gen. David Petraeus is to give to Congress concerning the success or failure of the U.S. surge effort in Iraq.

The campaign is spearheaded by Freedoms Watch, (online, Freedoms Watch.com) whose spokesman, according to The New York Times, is Ari Fleischer, former press secretary to President Bush and a member of the group's board.

Fleischer told The Times particular states were targeted because "Anyone who is considering switching their vote is somebody we care about."

And McClatchy newspapers reported that Freedoms Watch president, Bradley A. Blakeman, is a former senior assistant to President Bush. He says the mission "is to get out the message that surrender is not an option in Iraq - to stiffen the back of Congress to do the right thing and not to switch votes for political reasons."

Lucky us, Georgia is one of the states that the President's Men feel members of Congress need that extra spinal support to keep the war humming.

While one might disagree with the sentiment in the ads because they are deceptive in the way they are presented, everyone has a right to lobby for political causes, even bad ones. It would be nice, however, if the campaign were based on truth.

That's not the case here. These ads are disingenuous; three of the four TV spots are based on a continuation of The Big Lie, that there really is a connection between Iraq and the Sept. 11 attack by Islamic terrorists.

Well I'm sorry, but that just isn't so, and anybody capable of walking and chewing gum at the same time should know this by now.

There is absolutely no evidence that Saddam Hussein, a genuinely nasty piece of work, played any role in 9/11. When America unleashed its "shock and awe" attack on Iraq, it didn't target the Saudi Arabians who co-opted our jetliners and used them as flying bombs.

The U.S. went to war with Iraq supposedly to unseat Saddam because Mr. Bush and Congress mistakenly thought Iraq had those infamous Weapons of Mass Destruction and was a threat to the United States.

But here's the storyline of the first ad broadcast; the others follow the general tone. A injured veteran, in a home-like setting, says:

"Congress was right to vote to fight terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. I re-enlisted after 9/11 because I don't want my sons to see what I saw.

"I want to be free and safe. I know what I have lost.

"I also know that if we pull out now everything that I've given up and sacrificed will mean nothing.

"They attacked us, and they will again. They won't stop with Iraq.

"We are winning on the ground, and we are making real progress. It's no time to quit.

"It's no time for politics."

The ad shows the twin towers of the world trade center with smoke billowing from gaping holes where the airliners hit.

A later ad has a mother of a veteran who tell us that "we've already had one 9/11, we don't need another one."

These ads are slick - and sick. They make their point through deception while twisting reality. Incidentally, the phone number the ads give to call your congressional representative - 1-877-222-8001 - isn't Congress. It's a number at Freedoms Watch, and they are only looking for messages of support.

To call Congress direct, to give whatever message you might wish, the Senate's number is (202) 225-3121 and the House is (202) 225-3121.

Phil Dodson can be reached at 744-4239 or at pdodson@macontel.com.

Moses brought new laws and new regulations for his people. Moses (peace be upon him) not only gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, but a very comprehensive ceremonial law for the guidance of his people.

As regards to Jesus (peace be upon him) he took a strong stand to assure the Jews that he had not come with a new religion or new regulations different from what Moses brought to the world. Jesus was quoted in the gospel of Matthew 5:17-18 saying "Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill for verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no way pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

Mohammad (peace be upon him) took the pains to assure what Jesus had assured before him to the world. Mohammad also came to fulfill not to deny or destroy what Moses had established and what Jesus confirmed.

You can read in the Holy Quran chapter 2 verse 62 "Those who believe in the Quran, and those who follow the Jewish scriptures and the Christians and the Sabians, and any who believe in God and the last day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve."

Muslims have been warned many times in the Quran not to discriminate against any previous laws or scriptures that were revealed upon Abraham, Moses and Jesus and all must be believed in and must be admitted throughout Muslim behavior. The Quran stated in chapter 2, verse 136 "Say you: We believe in God, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ishmail, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to all prophets from their Lord: We make no difference between one and another of them, and we bow to God in peace."

That is why there has never been quoted any statement by a Muslim against the person of Abraham, Moses or Jesus. It always has and always will be, one law and one message from the Lord of Universe to the mankind.

Ahmed Yousef is a resident of Macon.
http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/editorial/letters/17002920.htm
Posted on Mon, Apr. 02, 2007