As another war draws close, who is listening?

                As our Presidential primaries roar “full steam ahead”, and the nation’s attention is pulled in various different directions in order to shape our opinion of the candidate’s qualifications (or lack thereof), the world keep turning.  While paying close attention to which the next republican nomination for President is a very important issue and deserves its due attention, our nation faces the same difficult decisions on a daily, if not hourly, basis.  Another war is brewing in the Middle East and is getting little attention.

                In a March 7^th USAToday editorial, the argument is being made that not only are we not paying attention to the fact that a seemingly inevitable war with Iran is on the horizon, but the nation needs to be paying attention to the fact the decisions both for and against our action against Iran is being seldom debated. 

                “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who meets today with President Obama, warns at every opportunity that the window to destroy Iran's facilities is closing rapidly as they're moved underground.” 

                The author seems to not desire to lay opinion as to which side of the fence he/she falls on in regards to supporting or opposing action, but rather that the debate itself needs to be had… and the debate needs to be had now.  One of the most outstanding quotes of the editorial comes from former Defense secretary Robert Gates;

                "Those who say we shouldn't attack, I think, underestimate the consequences of Iran having a nuclear weapon. And those who say we should underestimate the consequences of going to war."

                The quote, as well as the editorial seems to be asking, if not begging, for everyone to become more familiar with this situation.  I agree with the author of the editorial and their plea for public debate over this issue.  War is divisive; not only in public debate and policy making, but in our relationships with other nations and regions across the globe. 

                The editorial finishes with a wonderful summation on the author’s thoughts about the coming conflict by saying,

                “If a war starts before the public resolves that dilemma, the outcome is not likely to be pretty.”

                Our attention to the Presidential primaries/ races is indeed important and essential, but it does not mean that the business of both domestic and foreign governments waits until the race is decided.  It is time to pay attention to these issues.

 

In a February 27th USA Today article, the often discussed topic of our first amendment rights being challenged is brought to light once again.  The article addresses the circumstances of the United States White House giving 135 million dollars in grant money to New York’s HIDTA program (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program).  However, this program with essentially good intentions of fighting drug gangs and their supply routes, has not received the entirety of that money.  Recently uncovered documents have shown that some of this money has been funneled into an undercover operation by the NYPD to profile Muslims in their neighborhoods, schools, and churches. 

                This article is a very interesting read because of the issues that can potentially arise from racial profiling and religious persecution.   Such profiling seems to come into direct conflict with our first amendment rights and our right to religious freedom and our right to peacefully assemble.  While the article does not address any specific crimes or persons that have been prosecuted, it does show clear intent by the NYPD and the United States government to “bend the rules” in order to maintain safety.  But does that safety come at a cost of our civil liberties?  The article’s relevance to me is because I have, and still do champion the efforts of our fore-fathers and the freedoms and liberties that we have.  Little by little, our liberties that some of us take for granted are being slowly stripped away from us.