[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by Praetorian

AND ANOTHER THING!!!!


There has been a policy debate in this country, for the last 15 years, about how to respond to terrorism.

One political party views it as an overt act of war, best left to the various branches of the armed forces to deal with.

The other political party insists it should be a criminal matter, left to law enforcement agencies and the Courts to sort out.

The injustice of this event should show the world why the criminal justice system is woefully unable to handle these acts of calculated mass murder, and should act as an anchor around the neck of the next politician who suggests we return to the latter policy.

Where would Bush the Younger fit into your matrix?

On June 9, 2005, in a speech on the Patriot Act, he pointed out:

We've made terrorism the top priority for law enforcement, and we've provided unprecedented resources to help folks like yourselves do their jobs.

Since 2001, we've more than tripled spending on homeland security; we've increased funding more than tenfold for the first-responders who protect our homeland. Law enforcement officers stand between our people and great danger, and we're making sure you have the tools necessary to do your job.*

Or, for that matter, where would you place Bush the Elder? On 27 January 1989, on the occasion of James A. Baker III being sworn in as secretary of state, the first President Bush said:

In another era, the Secretary of State's role was largely confined to matters of war and peace. Today's world is much more complex than that -- more dangerous, too. Today's Secretary of State must be prepared to work with our allies to solve such global threats as the international narcotics trade, terrorism, the degradation of the world's environment, and the economic distress of developing countries.**

For his part, in 1986, via proclamation, President Reagan affirmed his commitment to fight terrorism using all of the means of American power at his disposal.

The United States has a clear policy of combatting [sic] terrorism and of refusing to make concessions to terrorists. We have sought cooperation with all nations, on both a bilateral and a multilateral basis, to fight terrorism. We have put those who would instigate acts of terrorism against U.S. citizens or property on notice that we will vigorously confront this criminal behavior in every way -- diplomatically, economically, legally, and, when necessary, militarily. We have demonstrated our resolve.***

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* Source is here
** Source is here.
*** Source is here,