Movement in the Right Direction in Terrorism Cases by Jacob G. Hornberger January 12, 2010 We libertarians just might be winning the battle over whether terrorism cases belong exclusively in federal court, as compared to a dual system in which the feds can, at their option, prosecute suspected terrorists in the Pentagon’s “judicial” system at Guantanamo Bay. Keep in mind that the debate is not whether the constitutional system should ...
Two Critically Important Debates by Jacob G. Hornberger January 11, 2010 Two of the most important debates facing the American people involve two particular issues, one in domestic policy and one in foreign policy. Both debates are critically important because they entail diagnosing two major woes that are facing our country and arriving at correct solutions to resolve the problems. The domestic debate, which I ...
Conservative Hatred for America by Jacob G. Hornberger January 8, 2010 The alleged attempt by that passenger to explode a bomb on that flight to Detroit confirms how much conservatives hate America. Oh, I’m not saying that conservatives don’t love their federal government. Of course they do. Everyone knows that. But that’s the problem. In the process of loving their government, they have a deeply ...
Conservatives Are Wrong on Guantánamo by Jacob G. Hornberger January 7, 2010 Conservatives are using the Detroit terrorist incident to demand that President Obama stop releasing prisoners from Guantánamo, especially those set to be released in Yemen. They’re also pointing to the fact that some of the prisoners the Pentagon has released in Yemen have joined the ranks of anti-American terrorists. Eight years ago, the Pentagon ...
A Dual System of Justice Violates the Rule of Law by Jacob G. Hornberger January 6, 2010 Conservatives are once again on the rampage, this time with respect to the alleged Detroit bomber. They’re saying that he should be treated as an enemy combatant rather than prosecuted as a criminal defendant. Ironically, as they criticize President Obama’s decision to treat the alleged bomber as a criminal defendant, they block out their ...
Trade Wars and U.S. Foreign Policy by Jacob G. Hornberger January 5, 2010 For those who think that the U.S. Empire is good, holy, sacrosanct, and above reproach when dealing with foreigners, here is a little bit of reality for you. Last September the Obama administration suddenly imposed an enormous 35 percent import fee on tires imported from China. The fee was apparently a sop that President ...
Hornberger’s Blog, January 2010 by Jacob G. Hornberger January 1, 2010 Friday, January 29, 2010 The Constitution Doesn’t Give Rights to Anyone, including Americans by Jacob G. Hornberger An interesting and revealing exchange regarding rights and the Constitution took place recently between defense attorney Bruce Fein, who spoke at FFF’s 2008 conference “Restoring the Republic: Foreign Policy and Civil Liberties,” and Guantanamo military prosecutor Edward White. Fein is representing a ...
Fight Cuban Tyranny with American Freedom by Jacob G. Hornberger December 31, 2009 Once again, the U.S. government’s 112-year obsession with controlling Cuba rears its ugly head. This time, it involves the arrest by Cuban authorities of an American subcontractor who works for a company named “Development Alternatives, Inc.” According to the New York Times, (see here and here) “the company won ...
Denial on Terrorism and Foreign Policy by Jacob G. Hornberger December 30, 2009 Do you ever wonder why it is that so many Americans steadfastly refuse to acknowledge that our nation’s terrorist woes are rooted in U.S. foreign policy? Why not simply acknowledge the obvious rather than come up with cockamamie explanations for the terrorist strikes, such as “They hate us because we’re Americans and free” or ...
Terrorism Is a Cost of Empire by Jacob G. Hornberger December 28, 2009 To justify the federal government’s massive post-9/11 infringements on civil liberties, the proponents of Big Government have sometimes said, “There hasn’t been another major terrorist attack on the United States since 9/11. ” I have responded with the following: “But if there had been another major terrorist attack, you Big Government advocates would be using ...
Pakistan and the Fable of the Hornets by Jacob G. Hornberger December 21, 2009 In December 2001 — three months after the 9/11 attacks — I wrote an article entitled “A Foreign-Policy Primer for Children: The Fable of the Hornets.” The article provides a good description of what is now taking place in Pakistan, in response to the CIA’s drone assassinations in that country. In the fable, Oscar the policeman provoked a crisis ...
Government Welfare vs. Private Charity by Jacob G. Hornberger December 18, 2009 With Christmas approaching, perhaps this would be a good time to remind ourselves of the moral difference between government welfare and private charity. Government welfare is based on the force of government. The IRS forces people to send in a portion of their income. If they refuse, the IRS goes after them. It files liens ...