Protecting the United States Constitution Over-Shadows Terrorism

Hundreds of thousands of Americans have died in creating and defending the United States Constitution. We cannot be sidetracked in our supporting and defending the United States Constitution because terrorists killed 6000 Americans. Every reaction we take must be constitutional or we have all ready lost the war, regardless of how many military battles we win.

Attack #1 – Special Tribunals, Phone Taps on Lawyers, Detention without Due Process.

The primary justification for theses unconstitutional acts is that the people we are prosecuting are foreigners. This is absurd. Our constitution does not allow one government to follow the constitution for good suspects, while a separate government acts outside the constitution to allow the government to kill foreigners more conveniently. We have only one government and it must stay within the limits of the constitution. Our only decision is whether to put foreigners into our system or send them home. That is our only choice. Once inside our system, everyone receives a fair trial, because that is the only judicial system we allow. Every system we create must be under the constitution. Not because terrorists deserve it, but rather because it is the only systems we will tolerate. Period!!!

Our Constitution states:

Article I - Congress (not the president): Section 8 – Will constitute all tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court. Will declare war (which at this writing they have not done). Will make rules governing captures on land and water. Will regulate land and naval forces. Section 9 – The writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. (The president can never suspend habeas corpus!!!)

Amendment IV – The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V - ...nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law...

Amendment VI – In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial...

Amendment XI – The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to... citizens or subjects of other foreign states.

Summary against Attack #1:

1. The president is taking actions constitutionally restricted to congress alone.
2. It is constitutional to extradite foreigners to their home for trial.
3. It is constitutional to give foreigners a fair trial in our system.
4. But it is unconstitutional to create unfair government systems for any reason at all. It has nothing to do with what terrorists deserve. Our government never has the right to develop anything outside the constraints of the constitution. Period!!! That's why we have a constitution.

Attack #2 – Military Action Taken Before Diplomacy is Exhausted.

Article VI – This constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treatise made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land...

Therefore it is breaking the constitution to disobey international laws that we have created through our treaties. We have signed the United Nations charter, thus promising to exhaust diplomacy before we send our military to fight.

In Iraq we did it right. We went through the United Nations and won multiple resolutions against Iraq and a deadline to comply. When the deadline ended, we attacked. Back then an entire country was invaded, and we waited to do the right thing.

This time we did the wrong thing, because our hearts ached for 6000 victims of murder. My heart aches too. But I want a civilized world that brings others up to our standard, not a chaotic world that brings us down to them. Every thing we have done this fall could have been done next spring after following the steps called for by the United Nations charter.

It is wrong to go to war with out attempting diplomacy through the United Nations first, because we joined the United Nations through a legal treaty. We went to war because foreign suspects were not extradited to us. This happens every year. The United States offers asylum every year to foreigners. Going to war for a failure to extradite a suspect is against international law, and furthermore, will lead to a never ending war with the rest of the world.

We went to war because of training camps in Afghanistan. Let us not forget that we have the best covert operations training facilities in the world. If you doubt it, look at what the special forces of our country have done. Most Americans are unaware of the actions taking by special forces over the last 50 years to topple governments and ruin economies around the world. When it is "us", we call it "black ops". When it is "them", we call it terrorism. Whatever the name, we are the best in the world at it and will continue to train Americans to be the best in the world at it.

Training of this type takes place in half the countries in the world, and we have no intention of securing American covert operations training. Going to war because of training camps is against international law, and furthermore, will lead to a never ending war with the rest of the world.

Summary against Attack #2:

1. It is against the constitution to break international law.
2. Therefore it is unacceptable to:
1. Go to war before exhausting diplomacy through the UN.
2. Go to war for a failure to extradite a suspect.
3. Go to war because of covert operations training facilities.

CALL TO ACTION:

I do not call on Americans to support me or my e-mail. I call on Americans to support and defend the constitution. If you believe the constitution is under attack from the current administration or anybody else by the things listed here or not listed here, you must act. Waiting will not help. You must act!!!

I call on every supporter of the United States constitution to join a nation wide general strike on George Washington's birthday, 22 February 2002. I define a general strike as no work, school, transportation, travel, buying or selling. Stand-by to be called a traitor. Be proud of being called a traitor. You are acting radically like Patrick Henry (liberty or death), daringly like John Paul Jones (we have not yet begun to fight), intelligently like Thomas Jefferson (we declare eternal hostilities toward all tyranny both physical and mental), with wit like Benjamin Franklin (a little neglect may breed great mischief), and with leadership like General Washington. Never forget all five of the above were traitors to the crown - AND proud to be traitors to the crown in support of liberty.

If we do not support and defend the constitution during these times of terror, then we do not deserve a constitution. I cannot think of a more appropriate time to stand up for our constitution than on the birthday of the Father of Our Country. If George Washington was content to work within the limits of the constitution, then the current administration had damned well better be content to do so as well. Get together on 22 February, and decide a course of action for every community in America to defend against the current attacks on our constitution.