Wikileaks Scandal A Question Of Can Versus Should

Wikileaks on Sunday made public more than 250,000 cables between the US State Department, Pentagon and other agencies to foreign diplomats around the world.  Wikileaks came about these latest set of documents by an Army private named Bradley Manning.  Manning is being held in solitary confinement and will be court martialed in 2011.  That all makes sense.  This individual STOLE materials from the US Government that were clearly marked for specific eyes only and gave them to a whistleblowing organization.  Yes, he should be tried and executed for espionage.  What he has done has put the lives of men and women of the United States all over the world at risk and compromised America's upper hand in many diplomatic discussions.  Furthermore, if sources continue to be named the US will lose many allies on the ground in the campaign against evil in this world.

The bigger question is what is the overall fall-out for the rest of us.  Attorney General Holder said today that they will investigate and Congressman Peter King (the incoming DOHS) says that these individuals (Wikileaks) should be treated as terrorists.  So, what does that mean for you and I? Let me share a possible scenario:
The US government uses this incident to fast forward two major pieces of legislation called The Net Neutrality Act and The Fairness Doctrine. Neither law would have or will prevent this sort of thing from happening, but it is just the type of "crisis" that Obama aids have said cannot be wasted.
I am distressed by the leaking of these documents.  I am in favor of prosecuting ANYONE who broke a law in this particular case.  However, we must be very cautious not to get too jumpy and too protective that we yield control and give up freedoms for the sake of safety.  This is a very sticky issue and should be handled with great care. 

How do you stop a group like Wikileaks from releasing this type of damaging information (that they did not steal or pay for) while affirming the media's ability to challenge the government and expose corruption?

There are fringe people out there even suggesting that the Obama administration itself is behind the leaks.  The argument is how can an Army private for 8 months download top secret information and take it home.  If that is how it happened, then we may have to re-think the whole super-power thing. 

Profiling Must Be Part Of Airport Secuirty

To be very honest, I am not one of the millions up in arms about the new security measures at America's airports.  Now, that may be because I have flown a grand total of twice in the last 15 years and don't intend to fly anytime soon.  However, it may also be because I believe that flying in American air space is a privilege and not a right. 

I actually feel like the scanners are a bad idea and the pat downs are perfectly legal and reasonable.  If I do get on an airplane I would feel much safer knowing that all of my fellow passengers are aboard without materials that are prohibited.  That having been said, when I flew from Tampa to DC last November I went through metal detectors and then had a meal in the terminal.  I ordered steak and was presented with...wait for it.....A REAL KNIFE.  I did not go through another detector before getting on the plane.  Boy, did I feel safe.

What this situation calls for is common sense.  I see images of young American children being frisked, patted, molested--whatever you want to call it.  It's ridiculous!  Only Islamic terrorists would use their own young children to commit acts of terror.  So, this is where profiling comes in.  Let's simply look to those who are a risk.  Look at ALL of the terrorists of 9-11--ALL MIDDLE EASTERN MALES.  Let's look at the underwear bomber of last holiday season---on a watch list, part of Al Qaeda and we knew it.

Stop harassing grandma and Tiny Tim and profile at airports and let the ACLU fight it in the courts. 

Westboro Gets A Taste Of Their Own Medicine

The infamous Westboro Baptist church from Topeka, KS, which protests military funerals with signs of “God hates America,” faced a bit of irony over the weekend after clashing with about 1,000 counter protesters in McAlester, Oklahoma.

“Shortly after finishing their protest at the funeral of Army Sgt. Jason James McCluskey of McAlester, a half-dozen protesters from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., headed to their minivan,” Tulsa World reports, “only to discover that its front and rear passenger-side tires had been slashed.”

While I don't condone illegal activities, I am thrilled that people finally have come out in numbers to protest this evil.  This group of so-called Christians has violated one of the most fundamental biblical concepts: teach the truth IN LOVE.  Contrary to their website- God does not hate fags, God loves the homosexuals while abhorring their sin. 

If the goal of the Christian community is the Great Commission and bringing people to Jesus- how does this fit into the accomplishing of that goal.  These people are so offensive and destructive to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Christians all over America should show up IN FORCE wherever this group goes.  We should have the aim of saying that we respect your sons and daughters and the sacrifice that they have made--and God loves you and every other person in this world--"while they were yet sinners".