Security Check Blog
February 08, 2010 | Posted by Danielle Belton
What do Rep. Pete Hoekstra, Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader John Boehner and Republican Sen. Kit Bond all have in common? As soon as the would-be Christmas Day underwear bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, was apprehended and under questioning, these Republicans were notified that he was in FBI custody. Did they ask about how the suspect would be handled? Did they object to him being read his Miranda Rights? Did they raise one eyebrow in protest? Not if you ask White House counterterrorism chief John Brennan who said he briefed these men the night of the incident. Yet now they're Obama and the Department of Justice's largest critics. I wonder how that came about? Obviously "weak on terrorism" was polling higher than "follow the rule of law" the next day. Let the games of "political football" begin.
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February 05, 2010 | Posted by Danielle Belton
The right has had a good run dominating the debate on National Security but it's been refreshing watching Democrats in the days after the President's first State of the Union Address as they finally play some good defense (and some pretty nice offense too) on national security. From the President to Attorney General Eric Holder to now the FBI reminding Republicans that their methods of getting information work (not whatever they dreamed up after watching Jack Bauer in a "24" marathon), people are pushing back against those right wing tactics of fear and confusion over terrorism. Read More »
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February 04, 2010 | Posted by Danielle Belton
In an interview that aired on YouTube Feb. 1 President Barack Obama talks about the obstacles he faces in trying to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay. He describes some of the opposition as "pretty rank politics." Which I would argue is a nice way of putting it. Read More »
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February 03, 2010 | Posted by Danielle Belton
It's easy to criticize. It's hard to govern. The Bush Administration didn't leave President Obama with many great options when it came to national security. They left him with a legal nightmare of an off-shore gulag in Guantanamo Bay, two wars and host of other abhorrent policies -- waterboarding, anyone? -- that caused more problems. Yet the President is trying to do the right thing. Trying to close Guantanamo Bay. Trying to try terrorists in court. Trying to return detainees who pose no threat to their home countries. But who's standing there at every turn mucking up the process? The Party of No. Read More »
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February 02, 2010 | Posted by Danielle Belton
You'd think we'd never held a terrorism trial in the United States before? We've only had 195 successful trials and convictions of terrorists since 2001. And no one batted an eyelash when past presidents, including George W. Bush, tried terrorists on American soil. No one was worried that they'd become radioactive, green and be really unlikable when angry. Yet that is the absurd yarn many fear-mongering right wingers are spinning as politicians in New York blink and fall for the politics of fear. Read More »
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January 29, 2010 | Posted by Danielle Belton
You'd think the Democrats would be more aggressive. You'd think they'd go on offense. You'd think they'd stand their ground on national security. But more often than not, you'd be thinking wrong. After eight years of the Bush-Cheney Administration that resulted in terrorist attacks, two poorly planned and thought-out wars, the creation of America's own personal gulag on Guantanamo's, out-of-control defense spending, a lowered standing in the eyes of the rest of the world and numerous other foreign policy debacles YOU'D THINK the Republicans wouldn't dare show their faces, let alone offer criticism about national security. After all, all the did was get it nightmarishly wrong. Yet they have individuals like former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz defining the national security debate. How did politics' losers become the definers? Easy. The Democrats let them. Read More »
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January 28, 2010 | Posted by Danielle Belton
A group of twenty veterans from all over the United States traveled to Capitol Hill January 21, 2010 to talk to members of Congress about why the prison at Guantanamo Bay needs to be closed. They said it puts our soldiers lives at risk. They said we have to be "the good guys." We can't support torture and we can't support the prison at Guantanamo Bay. Watch as they explain their journey in their own words and tell why their first-hand experience in the field has taught them that Gitmo needs to close now. Read More »
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January 28, 2010 | Posted by Danielle Belton
New Security Action Executive Director Tom Andrews visited The Ed Show on MSNBC to talk about President Obama's first State of the Union Address Wednesday. Watch to see what Tom had to say about jobs, infrastructure and what he hoped to hear from the President last night. Read More »
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