. . . is really the least of the issues here. Yes, it was a total US-VP-as-Homer-Simpson moment, but sartorial disrespect pales in comparison to, say, putting Nazi war criminals on the US payroll. Senator Mike DeWine and Representative Carolyn Maloney are pushing the CIA to comply with the 1998 public disclosure law that requires all documents relating to the Holocaust to be declassified. Documents released so far "show links between US intelligence and Nazi war criminals," including, at minimum hiring Klaus Barbie. At least one inside source says the CIA is not being entirely forthright about their cold war hiring practices, and it seems they will petition to keep remaining documents classified.
Let's all stop a minute and think about the idea of hiring Klaus Barbie.
Would we hire Bin Laden if we could? Put him on the US payroll because he can provide inside intelligence about terrorism?
When the US adopts a "by any means necessary" attitude, scary and unethical things happen. Those on the right who accuse some of us Michael-Moore-lovin' MoveOn members of "hating freedom" are one thing, but the "liberals" I have recently encountered who seem at best willing to roll back the Bill of Rights and at worst enthusiastic about it--these are the folks that really worry me. I mention the McCarthy era a lot here because that is one dark specter that presents itself when we start down this kind of path. But here is another.
When you say to me, yes, you think the "guys in turbans" should be pulled out of line at airports and subject to more rigorous security than you, or when you agree that Cat Stevens shouldn't be allowed in America anymore because he supports terrorism, you're plunging headlong down a slippery slope folks. (And lest you all think I am setting up a straw man here, both of these comments came up during a recent trip east. Both were uttered by "liberal" Democrats.)
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