Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Win The War “Over There” By Deporting Radical Islamists from “Here”

To me it is obvious that legally deporting Radical Islamists will greatly improve internal security in the US and it is irresponsible in the extreme to continue to allow Radical Islamists freedom of movement in the US. (For my definition of Radical Islam see preceding blog). What is not so obvious is how a policy of deporting radical islamists will further US foreign policy objectives and help us and our allies win the war in Iraq, Afghanastan, and wherever else the global war against radical islam takes us in the future. Writer Diane West of the Washington Times has a number of columns trying to say the same thing. (see for example)

To understand the benefits to our foreign policy, you have to look at it through the eyes of our enemies who openly state that they are at war with the USA and its interests throughout the world. Think Almadenajad of Iran, Nasrallah of Hezbollah, Osama Ben Laden, the leaders of Hamas, and others. The leaders of the radical islamist movement look at the US and the West and think we are weak, that we lack the will to carry on the long war with our enemies--them. By far the greatest confirmation of our defeatist outlook is that we allow potential enemy combatants and enemy sympathizers to reside in the west. We do not perform any kind of thorough check of incoming muslims to see if they are radical islamsist and, when we finally do deport a radical islamist, it is usually after a long legal process that has dragged on for years (like Sami Al Arian). We allow those who advocate instituting Sharia law among the host country Muslim population and in the society in general continued residence in the US.

So, leaving aside all the current legal barriers to deporting radical islamists, let’s imagine we start deporting radical islamists as a matter of public policy. What affect will this have “over there“ ?

1. It will tell our enemies that we finally understand that our county has an enemy and that the enemy is Radical Islam. As in: “we believe you, we won’t patronize you, we will accept you as our enemy.” In fact, because we are so afraid of you and since you are such an awful enemy, we in the multi-culural west will actually have to openly categorize you based on your beliefs, something we never ever do, by creating a class of persons--radical islamist--who are made exceptions to our normal criminal justice system. (Note: The author Lee Harris in his book Civilization and Its Enemies has discussed at length the nature of our radical islamist enemy, and the inability of many in our society to allow for the possibility that we really have an implacable enemy).

2. It will tell those potential migrants in the emigrating countries that your economic prospects of immigrating to the west are severely diminished if you are a radical islamist. And that if you manage to slip by and we find out later you are a radical islamist, you will be deported. If you are a radical islamist “over there“, then no more student visas, no work permits, no tourist visas, nada. And any family reunification you are thinking about will take place back where you came from, not here, as in your family joining you on the way out.

3. It will help US troop moral as they will not experience the phenomenon of fighting radical islam overseas only to come home and see that we allow radical islamist to live in the USA.

4. It may help moderate muslim leaders in the old country gain political advantage over their radical co-religionists.

5. It may help our weak-willed allies in Europe adapt the same policy. Leadership by example.

5. OK. I need more reasons or ideas on how deporting radical islamists from “here” will help us “over there”……….intuitively it sounds great!

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Declaration of War

I saw the movie Obsession last week, and even though I read alot about the radical islamist threat, the movie scared and motivated me more than usual, so here's an idea.

A frequent topic re Radical Islamists is that our legal system is inadequate to deal with the threat. Our criminal justice code and immigration laws and procedures were not designed to handle issues of this magnitude. So, for example, when I discuss with others the implementation of a policy to identify, take into custody, and deport radical islamists, most people usually agree with the concept. Very few of us want individuals who are correctly identified as radical islamists to live in the United States. So how do we legally get from here (currently allowing radical islamists freedom of movement within the country) to there (legally deporting them)?

I think the legal means to that end is a Declaration of War against Radical Islam. OK, OK, I know a Declaration of War is normally directed against a country, not against a movement or a part of a religion. But I think having a document in front of us may help move this forward. The stategy would be:
1. to draft such a resolution
2. to distribute to our congresspersons (as in "see, look at this") or place full-page advertisement in the newspapers, or hand it out at rallies, etc.
3. to have one or two Congresspersons introduce the Declaration, and then watch the interest and sponsors grow.

For all I know, a sample document may have already been written. If anyone can give me the reference, please do so in the comments below. If this document has not yet been written, perhaps there are attorneys out there who can help. As reference, take a look at the Declarations of War by the US Congress for World War I and World War II.

Declaration of War Against Germany--WWI

Declaration of War with Japan

Updated Resolution: 8/17/2006
[Proposed] DECLARATION OF WAR WITH RADICAL ISLAM

Joint Resolution Declaring that a State of War exists between Radical Islam and the Government and People of the United States and making provisions to prosecute same.

Whereas the extraterritorial movement known as Radical Islam has planned, advocated, and committed unprovoked acts of War against the people of the United States of America

Whereas, numerous representatives of said Radical Islam have announced that their exists a State of War between radical Islam and the United States,

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, that a State of War now exists between Radical Islam and the United States and is hereby formally declared. The President is authorized and directed to employ the military forces of the United States as needed and the resources of the Government to carry on the war against Radical Islam. Further, recognizing the danger posed by individuals who are loyal to Radical Islam who are now or may in the future be residing in the United States and its territories, the President and the Attorney General of the United States are hereby authorized to identify such individuals, take them into preventive custody, and deport them from the United States.

For purposes of this Declaration, Radical Islam is defined as those individuals or organizations who advocate, support, plan or execute jihad attacks against the United States and its foreign allies and interests or those who support the overthrow of the Constitutional government of the United States and in its place the establishment of Sharia law. Further, the distinction is made herein between Radical Islam and Moderate Islam (the later being expressly excepted from the intent of this Declaration.)