September 18: Monday
American Government--

McLaughlin Group: Today's focus was on two major topics: Issue 1. Heated debate over the treatment of captured terrorists. McCain, Powell, and other powerful GOP Senators disagree with the Bush Administration over the extent and intent of the Geneva Convention. Bush wants Congress to "clarify" what the rules in the Geneva Convention mean in terms of the CIAs ability to use coercion (i.e. torture)in obtaining information from captured terrorists. Powell, et. al. worry that such a "clarification" could endanger our own troops. In class, I explained the semantics (and implications) of P.O.W. versus "enemy combatant." On McLaughlin, the discussion expanded into essentially a shouting match between the liberals and the conservatives. With Buchanan and Blankley arguing that we are in a different world now, a more dangerous and amoral world. That the Geneva code is outdated, and that it did not anticipate the "suicide bomber" etc... They also argued that this clarification sought by The President would not at all impact the uniformed soldier. E. Clift and the woman from the Financial Times [from London] argued that we are a democracy and that we do not engage in torture no matter the circumstances. That we went into Iraq to save the Iraqi people from a man that was known to torture his people. That we are seen in the world view as hypocrits and that we are losing the moral high ground. McLaughlin commented that we have already lost the moral high ground and that this new "clarification" will only fan the fires of middle eastern fanaticism and terrorism...compelling, but scarey stuff!!!! Several students offered insightful and interesting insights...We also discussed the politics of this issue. Noting that McCain has designs on the Presidency [and maybe Colin Powell also wants to play in the presidential game]. With the elections coming up in November, perhaps the Whitehouse wants to have this public debate now as it may shore up its conservative base. Conservatives, sterotypically value security over widespread freedoms. The notions goes something like this: "We spend more time worrying about protecting the individual rights of the captured terrorists than we do about protecting our borders." The liberal view in contrast believes that it is better to give up absolute security in favor of a more open and free society. of course in the real world, we have to compromise and adjust to what the world throws at us...
Issue 2. The re-emergence of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Apparently the Taliban is still in power in some areas of Afghanistan. In my view, they are a gruesome bunch of thugs they belong back in the days of barbarians, huns, etc...In any event, they are back causing terror in this highly unstable region. We now have a military presence of about 20,000 troops in Afghanistan. The panel were all in agreement that the potential exists for an ever widening problem with the Taliban having the potential for taking back control of the capital city and beyond. The Taliban profits from the sale of opium. Afghanistan is responsible for over 90% of all the heroin in the world market. McLaughlin: "This is a real mess." I agree with him. Tribalism, a culture of violence, coupled with warlords and heroin...not exactly a recipe for Jeffersonian Democracy in my view...

NOTE: TEST on Chapter 1 on Wednesday