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GRANTING U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN ASHCROFT
THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT

by Judith Haney

USNEWSLINK/November 15, 2001

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft is fast becoming the nation's whipping boy. I say let's stop it immediately and grant him the benefit of the doubt regarding his non-stop efforts to identify and prosecute terrorists who are presently inside of the United States waiting to carry out more murders of as many Americans as possible.

These are dangerous times. We are in an undeclared  state of emergency and time is of the essence in securing our nation's borders.

Americans, NOT AMERICA, are the targets of determined Islamic terrorists. And until that danger is resolved, we must place our trust and confidence in government officials who are sworn to preserve, protect, and defend our country and it's citizens.

I am not naive. Nor am I ignorant of the Bill of Rights, and Constitutional law. Neither is General Ashcroft, the President, the Vice President, and members of Congress.

BUT, let's not lose sight of the reality of the present danger that exists for each and every American living within and without the United States.

To all the critics and pundits who have generously heaped criticism on Ashcroft's terrorism tactics, I submit this concept: When one thinks of terroristic acts against "America", we are referring to acts against Americans. Osama Bin Laden has identified "Americans" as his target, not our country. He has issued a declaration of war against the "people" of America, not America's soil.  For these reasons, our government officials must take unusual measures to stop terrorist before they murder again.

I will be the first to raise holy heck if Ashcroft's policies abuse American citizens. However, common sense dictates that his agenda is to prosecute terrorists, not average law-abiding American citizens. Therefore, what's the gripe?

I am in favor of the FBI seeking out and interviewing certain Islamic people currently residing in the United States. And, I am in favor of tapping their telephones, and their internet mail, and keeping them under 24-hour surveillance, and putting them in a secure facility if they are identified as terrorists, associates of terrorists, or sympathetic to terrorists. I am in favor of the Bush Administration's decision to try terrorist cases before a military tribunal because it benefits to our country and it's citizens to handle it that way.

The United States must adhere to the Geneva Convention with respect to the treatment of non-citizen terrorists and sympathizers who are captured inside the United States. That means they are treated in a humane manner. However, it does not mean they are entitled to civil liberties and civil rights. They are prisoners of war and once identified, they should never again be allowed to roam free inside of the United States.

President Bush and Attorney General Ashcroft presently enjoy the trust and confidence of many Americans with respect to their recent decisions to limit the civil rights and civil liberties of Islamic terrorists and their sympathizers. If they abuse the trust bestowed upon them by Americans, they will account for their acts in November, 2004. Until then, grant them the benefit of the doubt.

Judith Haney is the Editor of USNewsLink.

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