They’re fighting to give captured terrorist suspects more rights…

A day after two military judges ruled against the Bush administration’s system for trying terrorism detainees, Democrats seized on the rulings on Tuesday as evidence that Congress should restore the right of those held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to challenge their detentions.

Senator Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat who is the majority leader, said he would be willing to bring such legislation to the floor.

So what do you do when the Senate Majority leader wants to bestow such rights upon non-citizens?

Redefine what constitutes a citizen, of course (transcript).

Sen. Harry Reid calls the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants “12 million undocumented Americans” in the video embedded prominently on the front page of his web site right now.

It won’t be long before they grant voting rights to al-Qaida members… And it’s pretty clear how they’d vote.

But then again, who’s surprised?

Federal agents arrested Charles Rust-Tierney, the former president of the Virginia chapter of the ACLU, Friday in Arlington for allegedly possessing child pornography.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by ABC News, Rust-Tierney allegedly used his e-mail address and credit card to subscribe to and access a child pornography website.

The complaint states that federal investigations into child pornography websites revealed that “Charles Rust-Tierney has subscribed to multiple child pornography website over a period of years.”

As recently as last October, the complaint alleges, “Rust-Tierney purchased access to a group of hardcore commercial child pornography websites.”

Allahpundit says:

“He could be writing a book on child abuse, say, and wanted to see just how bad it can get.

But if he’s writing a book, he’s researching it awfully thoroughly.”

This story would explain why the ACLU is so eager to argue that child porn should be legalized. It probably also explains why Rust-Tierney once argued against restricting Internet access in public libraries in Virginia (hat tip: StopTheACLU):

“Recognizing that individuals will continue to behave responsibly and appropriately while in the library, the default should be maximum, unrestricted access to the valuable resources of the Internet.”

Child porn = valuable resources? Be sure to use that line in Cell block C when you get there… they’ll love it.

Others:
BLACK VELVET BRUCE LI | Right Voices | Stop The ACLU | The Irate Nation | Stuck On Stupid

It’s a shame that Jimmy Carter-appointee Anna Diggs Taylor saw fit to rule against a tool for defending citizens that has repeatedly proven successful… including this past week when thousands of innocent men, women and children were spared “The Big One“.

Let’s remember who the plaintiffs are in this case:

They include Noel Saleh, a man who has proudly admitted funding Hezbollah, Mohammed Abdrabboh, a Palestinian attorney who admits in this very lawsuit that he represents terrorism suspects (despite having sworn prior to the contrary), Nabih Ayad, whose friends “openly donated millions to HAMAS and privately raised money for Iraqi insurgents at a Los Angeles area fundraiser,” and Nazih Hassan, a member of a group founded with HAMAS money.

It’s interesting what these plaintiffs claimed about the surveillance program, too:

The ACLU filed the lawsuit in January on behalf of journalists, scholars and lawyers who say the program has made it difficult for them to do their jobs. They believe many of their overseas contacts are likely targets of the program, which monitors international phone calls and e-mails to or from the U.S. involving people the government suspects have terrorist links.

They “believe many of their overseas contacts are likely targets” of a program which monitors communications with people outside the U.S. suspected of having “terrorist links”? Well, no wonder they don’t want the government to know what they’re saying or plotting.

The ACLU says the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which set up a secret court to grant warrants for such surveillance, gave the government enough tools to monitor suspected terrorists.

In 1978, the 32-bit VAX systems were the industry standard (only being used by large institutions), and cell phones were used by less than 500 people around the world. A law established in that year to regulate the “electronic surveillance and physical search of persons engaged in espionage or international terrorism against the United States on behalf of a foreign power” is outdated in this day and age of instant messaging, disposable cell phones and an enemy who’s repeatedly tried to exploit our security gaps in furtherance of their declared goal to kill us all. Asking investigators to jump through hoops that could take hours or days when a lead could go cold in less than an hour is dangerous.

Opponents of this security program (which is supported by over 60% of Americans) paint it as a system designed by George W. Bush and a few buddies on the golf course in an attempt to install a fascist dictatorship in America. What they fail to acknowledge is the oversight of this system includes it being periodically reviewed by Congress (including Democrats like Nancy Pelosi).

To say nothing of what 5 former FISA judges have said about the program:

…a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act does not override the president’s constitutional authority to spy on suspected international agents under executive order.

“If a court refuses a FISA application and there is not sufficient time for the president to go to the court of review, the president can under executive order act unilaterally, which he is doing now,” said Judge Allan Kornblum, magistrate judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida and an author of the 1978 FISA Act. “I think that the president would be remiss exercising his constitutional authority by giving all of that power over to a statute.”

So bottom line, this case is about Carter appointee incorrectly ruling on an ACLU-concocted lawsuit on behalf of admitted anti-American terrorist sympathizers challenging a type of program that has succeeded in thwarting massive terror plots on multiple occasions, claiming the President is wilfully breaking the law, despite the program having Congressional oversight and overwhelming support in the Justice Department, the legal community and the American public.

While our minimum wage airport security officials are focusing on shaving cream and toothpaste, the terrorists are being handed a gaping loophole in security by the liberal Left and their terror-loving “plaintiffs”.

Thanks.

Others:
Old Soldier wants to thank the ACLU for being so helpful… to terrorists.
Confederate Yankee correctly identifies one of the ACLU’s tactics in securing this bad judgment… forum shopping.
“The Great One” weighs in.
Volokh analyzes the decision.

SURVEILLANCE!

“During the investigation an unprecedented level of surveillance has been undertaken and that surveillance has had as its objective to gather intelligence and evidence in support of the investigation,” he said.

“We have been looking at meetings, movements, travel, spending and the aspirations of a large group of people. This has involved close co-operation not only between agencies and police forces in the UK but also internationally.

This wasn’t the first successful use of surveillance.

It worked in January of this year.

…and back in 2002.

…and November, 2001.

If these busts had occurred in the U.S., we’d be reading about the ACLU’s lawsuit on behalf of these jihadis and hearing calls for impeachment from the liberal Left.

But, of course, if the attacks had not been prevented using such surveillance methods, we’d be reading about the lawsuits on behalf of terror victims and hearing calls for impeachment for allowing it to happen.

Bottom line… the best way to catch a terrorist is to imagine what a liberal would do… then do the exact opposite!

UPDATE: Looks like our own liberal-hated surveillance system picked up some of this “chatter”:

The Guardian newspaper, citing unidentified British government sources, said that after the arrests a message was sent to Britain telling the plots, “do your attacks now.” That message was intercepted and decoded earlier this week, The Guardian said.

A U.S. congressman briefed by intelligence officials, who did not want to be identified because of the sensitivity of the investigation, said U.S. intelligence had intercepted terrorist chatter.

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cross-posted at GOPBloggers

Today, the New York Sun reports:

A former Florida college professor, Sami Al-Arian, has pleaded guilty to aiding Palestinian Islamic Jihad and agreed to serve more jail time before being deported, according to records made public today by a federal court in Tampa.

But is this really a surprise? Afterall, a video surfaced last July of Sami Al-Arian as a “fiery fundraiser for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad”. But despite the video, and in light of Al-Arian’s admission, let’s look back at what liberals said in defense of this terrorist…

In July, 2004, the website, DemocracyNow, whined:

In late September 2001, al-Arian was invited to be a guest on The O’Reilly Factor. Al-Arian thought he was going to be discussing Arab-American reactions to the attacks. Instead, host Bill O’Reilly went on a tirade against him, basically accusing al-Arian of supporting terrorism and terrorist groups. O’Reilly dug up comments al-Arian had made 15 years earlier and suggested that he should be followed everywhere he went. All of this on live international television and just weeks after the 9-eleven attacks.

If it weren’t for websites like DemocracyNow, who would stand up for the terrorists and attack those who would dare “basically accus[e]” a terrorist of being such?

And just 3 months ago, the ACLU wrote a letter to the Department of Justice urging them to drop all charges against a suspected terrorist. From the ACLU’s website:

Dr. Al-Arian was arrested in February 2003 and charged with conspiring with a Tampa terrorist cell, charges which Dr. Al-Arian vehemently denied. The ACLU said the government failed to prove that he provided funds or otherwise engaged in any terrorist activities.

Gosh, if the ACLU had been more forceful, they might’ve been able to get this poor terrorist released. Surely he and his jihadi brothers would reward the ACLU for their hard work by not flying planes into their buildings.

Eric Boehlert, writing for Salon.com called the investigation into the terrorist a “prime-time smearing” and said:

By pandering to anti-Arab hysteria, NBC, Fox News, Media General and Clear Channel radio disgraced themselves — and ruined an innocent professor’s life.

Now that Al-Arian has pled guilty, I wonder what kind of “smearing” Mr. Boehlert will classify it as.

The Socialists called it a “witch hunt“. But then again, when have they ever been right about anything?

TalkLeft cheered the initial news about the terrorist’s trial.

Other liberals tried to use Al-Arian’s case as a way to bash the Patriot Act. In fact, the DailyKos website called it, “one of the biggest courtroom tests yet of the Patriot Act’s expanded search-and-surveillance powers.”

Consider the test… passed.

Others:
StopTheACLU says, “Sorry ACLU, but America won this one.”
Wizbang has pictures of Al-Arian’s group that the liberals love to defend.
Matt says, “Looks like the Patriot Act works.”

The Senate bill is dead… for now. Can you imagine if our lawmakers treated other criminals in our country the way they’re pandering to undocumented immigrants illegal non-citizens? Sure, I know he stole your car, but he’s had it for 7 years, so let’s put him on a path toward ownership. Now if he’d only had it for 3 years or less, there would be consequences for his actions.

And the undocumented immigrants illegal non-citizens are so mad that we’re not rewarding their criminal behavior, they’ve decided to fight back… against a country who has for too long already been providing them with “welfare, food stamps, medical care and other benefits often without paying any taxes“. The nerve of us.

So here’s the flyer threat they’re circulating around the day labor camps. (Hat tip: Part-Time Pundit)

Here’s the flyer from the scheduled Houston event. I’m glad they picked Monday, because I have my lawn cut on Thursdays. Whew, that was a close call.

The boycott calls for undocumented immigrants illegal non-citizens to avoid:

I guess that’s supposed to damage our economy or something. This from a group of 12 million who live off our government programs without paying a single dime into the system. It would be nice if you guys included our welfare offices and healthcare systems in your boycott.

By the way, did you know there’s an easier way to keep from supporting American transportation systems, schools and merchants? You can always…

Update: Want to contact the organizers around the country? Yours truly has consolidated all of their email addresses into a handy list for quick emailing - just copy and paste and let your voice be heard. Buena suerte mis gringos del compañero.

jallen@borderaction.org; aracorn@acorn.org; california@bamn.com; Gonzales@seiu.org; reynamatiz@yahoo.com; jamesj@seiu105.org; dusti@latinainitiative.org; PITATIMO@aol.com; cdeliard@yahoo.com; fried_jonathan@yahoo.com; Alianza17demarzo@bellsouth.net; mazemun@icirr.org; MLewis@elcentroinc.com; maguilar@harvestamerica.org; nancyo@ywcatopeka.org; info@sunfloweract.org; brich@kccir.org; rmyers@mclu.org; malmeida@miracoalition.org; juanescareno@mosesmi.org; dtromanhauser@neappleseed.org; windofthespirit@verizon.net; LEldridge@seiu32bj.org; juventus@email.unc.edu; Marisol@elpueblo.org; aeryca@pcun.org; diazr@daywithoutanimmigrant.com; issuesfirst@gmail.com; hernandez@highlandercenter.org; lulaccouncil1@yahoo.com; bordernet2001@yahoo.com; mexxia5@sbcglobal.net; egonzalez@seiutx.org; juancarlos@core.com; asalazar@wisc.edu; davidl_wisdom@sbcglobal.net

By the way, notice some of the usual suspects among this list: Election fraud proponents like ACORN and America haters like the ACLU.

Via StoptheACLU comes this little nugget from the ACLU:

Citing growing concerns over court decisions that have weakened laws designed to protect whistleblowers, the American Civil Liberties Union today called on Congress to enact stronger protections for whistleblowers, especially those in the national security arena. Legislation that would take steps to correct some shortcomings in whistleblower law - but without critical protections for national security whistleblowers - was the subject of a hearing held by a panel of the House Government Reform Committee.

Yes, let’s just do away with those annoying “top secret” clearances and just make the military publish all war plans online, force Homeland Security to upload all security protocols to a free database and allow everyone with access to the most sensitive national security data to create online journals to post such information for the world to see. Then we’ll put a kind and sensitive warning on the website, asking anyone with nefarious plans, to please close the browser or risk a harsh talkin’ to… perhaps a wagging finger in the face of repeat offenders as well.

Sandy Berger supports the idea.

Since the lawsuit was filed in U.S. Federal Court in the Eastern District of Michigan, where I practice, I’ve already been contacted by concerned U.S. citizens who wish to intervene in the case as interested parties (whose interests and welfare are affected by this case) in support of the government’s activities. And we may do so. You may feel free to contact me regarding this if you are interested in adding your name.

But apparently only when they are enforced against conservatives. Surprise, surprise.

Legislative leaders signaled their support yesterday for a significant expansion of the buffer zone around clinics that perform abortions in Massachusetts…

A bill filed yesterday by state Senator Jarrett T. Barrios and two other lawmakers would prohibit demonstrators from coming within 35 feet of the clinics’ walk-in entrances or driveways.

Others:
Matt is watching this case as it’s in his backyard up in MassaCHUsetts.

Only a Democrat would understand the Hillary Clinton logic that allowing murderers to vote will “restore the integrity of our system and strengthen our democracy.” But considering that 70-85% of those felons would most likely vote Democrat, it’s understandable folks like Clinton and John Kerry would author such a ridiculous bill.

Of course, the ACLU takes this opportunity to jump it with its own brand of idiocy:

Some have described felon disfranchisement as the last vestige of slavery in our country.

Perhaps they’d have a point if the disenfranchisement was about the color of someone’s skin and not the fact that they were CONVICTED OF A FELONY!

It’s amazing how quickly someone will sell out basic common sense in a quest for power and prestige.

Here is the Democrat view of our electoral system in a nutshell:

1. Democrats admit their base isn’t the brightest

2. Democrats need murderers, rapists and child molesters to vote

3. Democrats are eager to have the mentally ill vote

4. Democrats wants children as young as 14 to vote

5. Democrats want illegal aliens to vote

6. Democrats don’t want election laws to apply to them

It’s no wonder they effectively controlled the government for half a century while MSM helped gloss over the issues. It’s also no wonder they’re losing more and more control as the population gains access to more information and sees the truth.