One way to alienate moderate Muslims: deport Cat | csmonitor.com

One way to alienate moderate Muslims: deport Cat | csmonitor.com: "Yusuf Islam is a beacon of light and hope in a sea of fear, chaos, and uncertainty that was extinguished this week out of fear and paranoia that seemingly have no end. If Mr. Ashcroft is willing to take Yusuf Islam off that plane, then next time he'd better be willing to take me off as well.
It is time to take back America's civil rights from those who would abuse it for their own narrow political agendas.

Mansoor Ijaz jointly authored the cease-fire plan in Kashmir in 2000 and, as a private US citizen, negotiated Sudan's offer of counterterrorism assistance to the Clinton administration in 1997. He is chairman of Crescent Investment Management in New York."

Records Counter a Critic of Kerry

Records Counter a Critic of Kerry
Fellow Skipper's Citation Refers To Enemy Fire :
Newly obtained military records of one of Sen. John F. Kerry's most vocal critics, who has accused the Democratic presidential candidate of lying about his wartime record to win medals, contradict his own version of events.

But Thurlow's military records, portions of which were released yesterday to The Washington Post under the Freedom of Information Act, contain several references to 'enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire' directed at 'all units' of the five-boat flotilla. Thurlow won his own Bronze Star that day, and the citation praises him for providing assistance to a damaged Swift boat 'despite enemy bullets flying about him.'

"I never heard a shot," Thurlow said in his affidavit, which was released by Swift Boats Veterans for Truth. The group claims the backing of more than 250 Vietnam veterans, including a majority of Kerry's fellow boat commanders.
"It's like a Hollywood presentation here, which wasn't the case," Thurlow said last night after being read the full text of his Bronze Star citation. "My personal feeling was always that I got the award for coming to the rescue of the boat that was mined. This casts doubt on anybody's awards. It is sickening and disgusting."

Kerry and Medals

Note: Investigate history of John Kerry pitching Vietnam medals over White House Fence.

Pity the poor guy who has to reach back 35 years to show America just how great he is. And he does so very selectively: There's no mention of all his medal ribbons tossed with contempt over the White House fence for the same war he now fondly remembers. He brought a cast of sailors out with him on the convention podium and keeps a contingent with him at all times while campaigning, either to show Americans just how patriotic he is or to remind us incessantly that he served a grueling four months in Vietnam. For whatever reason, it's pathetic. The peaceniks know all about his antiwar theatrics; he needn't highlight those attributes. He's now going after the swing voter who respects America military strength and may have or have had family members in the service. In Kerry's world, you really can be all things to all people.

In general, I think it is in poor taste to question the service record of someone who has earned a sliver or bronze star. The legitimacy of a medal is decided in a military setting, and I have little regard for someone who hasn't served in the military to question the value of the service of someone with a record like John Kerry. The following argument may be the exception that prooves the rule, however.

Rhetorical question: Should you give deferrence to a combat veteran who discards his combat medals to score political points (which is apparently what John Kerry did when he made such a display at a political rally)? Arguably, by showing such disdain and contempt for the military, and for his service in the military, he surrendered all rights to wrap himself in medals at a later time. The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth are unconstrained (by virtue of their service) in their ability to offer some criticism of his record, and seem to have some valid grievances. However, before I give John Kerry deferrence due to whatever medals he received in Vietnam, I want a full accounting of where those medals are, and why he may be unable to produce them.