> Most of the Middle Eastern guys being held by
> our government, if I am not mistaken, are not
> citizens of this country. Therefore, they are not
> protected by our Constiution and the other
> laws we have in place.

US laws and civil rights only apply to citizens, and not to visitors? That seems completely wrong to me. Most democracies extent the same rights to foreign nationals as they to to domestic nationals.

> The writer of this speech wonders about the
> suspension of habeas corpus becoming
> common. I'm sure the same thing was said
> when the greatest president we've ever had,
> Abraham Lincoln, did the same thing during
> the Civil War. The same thing happened
> during World War II when FDR ordered
> Japanese-Americans put into internment
> camps. The thought process is like I said
> before: We are fighting Middle Easterners,
> thus: a Middle Easterner is more likely to want
> to harm America.

But it isn't fair to say that all (or even the majority of) Middle Eastern people want to harm America. Habeas Corpus is an important point, and one that in my opinion should not be dropped under any circumstance.

> The writer wonders about military tribunals.
> Military tribunals are not going to be used
> against *citizens of this country.* They will be
> used against what are, essentially, prisoners
> of war. People who are not citizens of the
> United States HAVE NO CONSTITUTIONAL
> RIGHTS.

Doesn't the Bill of rights or the Constitution say that *everyone* has certain inaliable rights? Or does it just apply to people born in the US? If a foreign national is arrested in America do they still have the constitutional right to be Mirandized? Do they have the constitutional right to trial by jury?

> In closing, *your* rights and *my* rights are
> not being infringed upon. It is the "rights" of
> people who aren't even citizens of this country
> that are being "infringed" upon. (Notice the
> quotation marks.) And if you still believe that
> yout rights are being taken away, and you can
> get enough people to go along with
> you...well...that's what the Second Amendment
> is for. To ensure that the power of government
> resides with the people.

What can I say, except "thin end of the wedge"?

> The Other "Step 1: Open mouth. Step 2: Insert
> foot." Matthew

winter"Not American, but still entitled to an opinion, I hope"mute