for life and liberty

Poll: Majority Of Americans Approve Of Sending Congress To Syria

"As President Obama continues to push for a plan of limited military intervention in Syria, a New York Times/CBS News poll showed that though just 1 in 4 Americans believe that the United States has a responsibility to intervene in the Syrian conflict, more than 90 percent of the public is convinced that putting all 535 representatives of the United States Congress on the ground in Syria—including Senate pro tempore Patrick Leahy, House Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and, in fact, all current members of the House and Senate—is the best course of action at this time." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPoll: Majority Of Americans Approve Of Sending Congress To Syria

House Republican Claims Reagan Stood Up To Chemical Weapons Use

"Ronald Reagan did exactly the opposite. For the majority of the 1980s, Iraq under Saddam Hussein was locked in combat with the Islamic Republic of Iran in a war that killed more than 1,000,000 people on both sides. The United States explicitly backed the secular Hussein over the Ayatollah Khomeini’s government in Tehran, still smarting from the embassy hostage crisis that had only ended when Reagan took office. That backing not only included the shipment of tons of weapons to support Baghdad, but also looking the other way when Iraq unleashed its chemical weapons stockpiles — including sarin and mustard gas — against Iranian civilians and soldiers alike." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHouse Republican Claims Reagan Stood Up To Chemical Weapons Use

Syrian Islamist extremists in the opposition prepare for US missile strike

"In a statement disseminated on the Twitter account of one of its supporters, the radical group Fateh al-Islam offered advice to Islamists, warning that for every U.S. missile that hits a regime target, another will strike a jihadi base. 'Start changing your locations, and use safe houses, and don’t move around in obvious convoys,' said the supporter, Abdullah Saker, detailing precautionary measures. 'Take away mobile phones from the troops, and send them away from the leadership.' 'America destroyed jihadi bases in a very short period of time in Afghanistan and Iraq, and killed a large number of them, because they weren’t prepared. So don’t fall in the trap of laziness,' he added." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSyrian Islamist extremists in the opposition prepare for US missile strike

Jim Bovard: We can’t trust White House Syria claims

"Can we expect the U.S. government to be honest about an alleged atrocity which the president is invoking to sanctify his foreign policy? History is not reassuring on that score. Whitewashing the Katyn Forest massacre helped blindfold both American policymakers and the American public regarding the brutality of the Soviet Union. It took 69 years for the U.S. government to disclose that it had deceived the American people regarding one of World War II's landmark atrocities. If it takes as long to find out what the U.S. government knew regarding recent alleged Syrian attacks, we will not have the full story until 2082." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJim Bovard: We can’t trust White House Syria claims

U.S. Navy: Cost of strikes against Syria ‘nagging’ but not ‘extraordinary’

"The cost of possible military strikes against Syria would not be 'extraordinary,' the US Navy chief said Thursday, downplaying the potential price tag of the operation. The Navy currently has four destroyers in the Mediterranean ready if called upon as well as the aircraft carrier Nimitz and accompanying warships in the Red Sea. It was the first time a senior US military officer had openly acknowledged the Obama administration was considering using Tomahawk missiles in a strike against Syria, though officials had privately leaked that possibility previously. The Pentagon’s estimates are apparently based on the assumption that any intervention would last no longer than a few days." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Navy: Cost of strikes against Syria ‘nagging’ but not ‘extraordinary’

The Costs of War in Syria

"Politicians want a war to appear cheap, at least up front, while the bureaucrats want bigger budgets. Once the war starts, though, all bets are off, and any political or legal authorization given to the administration to wage war will be a de facto blank check for future unlimited outlays for occupation and conflict on an unlimited timeline. We’ve already seen this in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and while the two countries descended into chaos, the claim was made that since the U.S. regime had 'broken' Iraq and Afghanistan, the taxpayers were now on the hook to finance the 'fixing' of the broken countries. The regime knows that all it needs to do is start a war, and the money will begin to flow indefinitely." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Costs of War in Syria

Should NFL players be allowed to smoke marijuana?

"Despite being legalised in both of those two states, marijuana remains on the NFL’s list of banned substances; players found to have used the drug are punishable with fines and suspensions. Not everyone believes that should be the case. Many players will be sympathetic to their cause. The former NFL lineman Lomas Brown, now an analyst for ESPN, told the Detroit News last year that at least 50% of players smoke pot. Earlier in 2012, ESPN had reported that as many as 70% of prospects trying out at the NFL Combine admitted to having used the drug at some point. A number of players have enjoyed highly successful careers despite acknowledged marijuana habits." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingShould NFL players be allowed to smoke marijuana?

Long Beach police caught on camera beating suspect with baton

"Police say Lopez resisted arrest and kicked at an officer's baton. He fell to the ground after being Tasered. Santos Lopez was beaten with a police baton at least six times while on the ground. Officers ordered him repeatedly to get on his stomach, but he refused, leading to even more tasing. He is now at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. His family says he's suffering from broken bones, cuts, and a collapsed lung. Santos Lopez is expected to face charges for resisting arrest and battery. His family is planning to sue the department for police brutality. Police say the responding officers didn't know about Santos Lopez's undiagnosed mental condition at the time of the incident." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLong Beach police caught on camera beating suspect with baton

It’s Jury Appreciation Day!

"Although the right to a jury trial is guaranteed by the American Constitution, it has been under a relentless attack over the years. Most Americans are unaware that 95 percent of the cases in our criminal justice system never go to trial. And, in the few cases that do go to trial, jurors are typically misled about their prerogative to acquit (“jury nullification”). In November, Cato will be re-releasing an e-book, Jury Nullification: The Evolution of a Doctrine, by Clay Conrad. Glenn Reynolds reviewed the initial publication here. Let me take this opportunity to report on several positive developments that will help to revive the doctrine of jury nullification in American law." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIt’s Jury Appreciation Day!

Internet Governance Meltdown II: The Unilateral Right to Amend

"The U.S. government was one of the only commentators to express unqualified endorsement of the proposed changes in the registry agreement. And it was pressure from law enforcement interests promoted by the U.S. government that also led to the troubles in negotiating the RAA. We see accountability and responsibility for policy making migrating further and further away from the individuals and organizations who participate in ICANN’s bottom up process, and towards state actors and ICANN staff. A key contributor to this migration is the idea of a monarchical ability of the authorities to discern 'the public interest' and impose rules, top down, on the public itself to pursue that 'public interest.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInternet Governance Meltdown II: The Unilateral Right to Amend