Are We in Kansas?

_________________

Seldom do we see logic and clarity when the concept of state secrets and the need for uber security arises. In the interest of sharing such a find, the below New York Times letter is reprinted, in toto:

Published: October 4, 2009

To the Editor:

Re “An Incomplete State Secrets Fix” (editorial, Sept. 29):

Please add this to the list of reasons we need legislation to check government use of the state secrets doctrine, which has been asserted by the Bush and Obama administrations to thwart court claims by victims of torture and other illegal government conduct:

The United States is party to the Torture Convention and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Both treaties require member states to provide enforceable remedies for human rights violations. If the United States is to regain its reputation as a credible champion for human rights — indeed, if the United States wants other countries to take seriously the very concept of an international legal order — it must be seen to walk the walk of respect for its own international legal obligations.

Gabor Rona
International Legal Director
Human Rights First
New York, Sept. 29, 2009

Splinter Groups

He was spurred on by the conviction
that the world needed his immediate presence
--Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes
_______________

The most commonly mouthed platitude regarding the Phony War on Terror (PWOT ©) is that it, and hence George Bush, has warded off any further 9-11 type attack on the U.S. However, few have addressed the old but valid concept of the splinter group -- more specifically, terrorist splinter groups. If a splinter group executed the 9-11 operation, that fact would further de-legitimize the Iraq invasion.

In the past, all terror groups had splinter groups or elements. These split off factions conducted the violent, nasty operations that even the Terrorist groups eschewed (at least on paper.) For example, the assaults on school houses (Ma'alot-type) and unannounced department store bombings (amidst shoppers in Harrods.)

Splinter groups offered plausible denial to the main terrorist group if public opinion turned against the splinter elements. The key point is, splinter elements are operational and separate in most terrorist groups.

There have been no 9-11 level attacks versus The Homeland ™ because it is probable that the al Qaeda main elements were not responsible for the 9-11 attacks. These attacks were possibly conducted by an offshoot/splinter group, and this group expended its operational assets, to include operatives, in this major attack scenario.

Ranger posits that al Qaeda is focused on other issues, such as Middle East hegemony, recruitment and financing for the mission of achieving these goals and group survival.

However, with secret prisons, secret courts, public wiretapping and everything else about this phony war being steeped in secrecy, there is no way to realistically assess the situation. Why is all of the information about al Qaeda such a secret? America has the right to know the realities of this group. Secrecy only amplifies the fears of the general public.

Why?