http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYuVq7d_eVo

My comments to Battim always turn into blog posts.

In recent days I’ve heard too many talking heads saying that what Maj. Hassin did was not Terrorism. Why? Because up to this point there is no proof that he was engaged in a conspiracy prior to the act. No one ‘wound’ him up and sent him on his way. 

Why should there be a conspiratorial component for something to be a terrorist act? I think that what Maj. Hassin did was by definition terrorism.

Obviously, his intent was to kill as many Americans as he could in an effort to send a message of fear to those engaging in activity that he deemed to be offensive to him and his culture. Whether he spoke or planned the act with someone prior to or was instructed to do this thing makes no difference.

I don’t know how the theoretical law works but my gut tells me, that if an individual can be arrested and prosecuted for making “Terroristic” threats, with no proof of conspiracy, then an individual can engage in a solitary act of terrorism. Just because there probably was no-one in his immediate cell, controlling him, doesn’t remove a motive from his act. He may have been self starting but there was plenty of impetus supplied by radical elements.

The media refuses to identify it as terrorism because to acknowledge it is too frightening to bear. Having the first “Terrorist” act in 8 years on American soil under the new administration can open them up to all kinds of criticism and the media resists laying any blame at the feet of the current administration. Also the possibility that there are more American military officers and enlisted personal who harbor the same feelings opens the door to racial profiling. To place added scrutiny on all people in the United States who are Muslim or worse have an Arabic sounding name or just look middle eastern is fraught with peril.

So what do we do? Well I think that there should be added scrutiny placed on anyone who openly advocates violent tactics to gain political advantage, no matter what their motivation. No don’t shut them up but watch them like a hawk. And if they are captured on American soil engaging in terrorist acts under color of authority then they are spies or covert agents. And they should be dealt with accordingly, there are already laws in place to deal with that.

I posted a rant a couple weeks ago about how there should be requirements that manufacturers support refurbishment and recycling of your fancy electronic gadget.

Ask and you shall receive I guess.

Here you will find a link to a bill submitted by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) to attempt to do just that. It doesn't do everything that I have called for but it is a nice start! Give it a read!

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s111-1397

Here is a write-up on the bill from ARS TECHNICA

http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2009/11/legislation-seeks-to-deal-with-growing-piles-of-e-waste.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

Give your representative a yell and show your support for this vital first step.

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