All Terrorist Cases Belong in Federal Court by Jacob G. Hornberger November 1, 2007 As I have argued ever since 9/11, there was absolutely no reason to let the Pentagon hijack America’s criminal-justice system in the area of terrorism. Terrorism is a federal criminal offense, not an act of war. That’s, in fact, why many, but certainly not all, terrorism cases are still prosecuted in federal district court. The ...
Federal Blackmail, Privacy, and Conformity by Jacob G. Hornberger October 31, 2007 In today’s FFF Email Update, I have an article about the federal war on telephone privacy, the government program in which certain telephone companies allegedly turned over people’s private telephone records to the feds. A common bromide among some Americans is: “I don’t care what information about my telephone calls the feds get because I’m not a criminal. As far ...
The Free Market as Redistributor of Wealth by Jacob G. Hornberger October 30, 2007 Liberals and conservatives argue that the income-tax, welfare-state way of life is necessary to redistribute wealth so that people will be more “equal.” The free market, they have long suggested, results in enormous concentrations of power in which the rich get richer and poor get poorer. They might want to ask Stan O’Neal, who “retired” as ...
A Roll of the Dice Against Iran by Jacob G. Hornberger October 29, 2007 As most everyone knows, President Bush has now placed that dreadful label — “Terrorist!” — on the government of Iran — well, actually on a piece of the government. That’s the magic word that enables the U.S. government to attack, kill, torture, incarcerate, or destroy the recipient of the label. Unfortunately, it’s also the word ...
The Fraud of the War on Terror by Jacob G. Hornberger October 26, 2007 Immediately after he denounced Fidel Castro for being a dictator, President Bush unilaterally decreed new sanctions against Iran, moving the United States closer to war against Iran. Would someone please tell me how it is that Bush exercises such omnipotent power, without even a peep from both Congress and the mainstream press? How is ...
Havana and Guantanamo Bay by Jacob G. Hornberger October 25, 2007 Give President Bush credit for chutzpah. Yesterday, he delivered a speech decrying tyranny and economic oppression by Fidel Castro while continuing his gulag at Guantanamo Bay and his brutal embargo against the Cuban people. First of all, let’s not forget why Bush and the Pentagon established their prison camp in Cuba — because they didn’t want ...
The Arrogance and Hypocrisy of Empire by Jacob G. Hornberger October 24, 2007 Every day brings more proof as to why the American people need to reject the federal government’s pro-empire, pro-interventionist foreign policy in favor of a pro-freedom, limited-government republic envisioned by the Founding Fathers. U.S. Empire officials are warning the Iraqi government to take action to stop Kurdish attacks on Turkish troops operating in Turkey, which ...
Trial by Jury Wins in Dallas by Jacob G. Hornberger October 23, 2007 The value of the right of trial by jury once again became apparent yesterday. A jury in Dallas, Texas, acquitted defendants of most charges in a war-on-terrorism federal criminal prosecution and deadlocked on a few remaining charges. The feds were prosecuting the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development along with several people involved in the ...
Mukasey’s Support of Tyranny by Jacob G. Hornberger October 22, 2007 Conservatives are all aglow over President Bush’s selection of Michael B. Mukasey to replace Alberto Gonzalez as U.S. attorney general. The conservative love-fest for Mukasey comes as no surprise, especially given his positions: 1. Mukasey says he’s against torture. Yawn. So is President Bush. So are the CIA and the Pentagon. That’s not the point. The ...
Sanctions and Embargoes Are Immoral and Counterproductive by Jacob G. Hornberger October 19, 2007 In an unusual moment of candor, President Bush revealed why so many people around the world hate and resent the U.S. government for its foreign policy. In his news conference this week, Bush pointed out how he is hoping that the U.S. sanctions against Iran encourage the Iranian people to oust their rulers from power. ...
Revving Up the Engine for Iran by Jacob G. Hornberger October 18, 2007 Since President Bush seems to be revving up his military engine and preparing Americans for another war of aggression, this time against Iran, it might be wise to revisit this famous quote by German Herman Goering: “Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That ...
Gen. Sanchez Still Doesn’t Get It by Jacob G. Hornberger October 17, 2007 The former commander of coalition forces in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, has joined the growing list of generals and admirals who are coming out against the Iraq occupation. You’ll recall that he was the U.S. general in charge of Iraq when the torture and sex abuse at Abu Ghraib prison took place. Lt. Sanchez ...
