The pro-war libertarian quiz

These days I’m more for finishing Iraq favorably than pro-war, but I am strongly against just “declaring victory” or “strategic redeployment” without really changing anything.

Recently, here are my answers

1. Should the National Security Agency or CIA have the ability to monitor domestic phone calls or e-mails without obtaining judicial approval?

   Nope. I think this is an impeachable offense too. The current case (supposedly) only monitored calls that crossed borders, which is legally a different matter, if I’m understanding things correctly.

2. Should the government have the ability to hold an American citizen without charge, indefinitely, without access to a lawyer, if he is believed to be part of a terrorist cell?

   No. If caught on the battlefield I support stripping them of citizenship (by virtue of them being a foreign army and then treating them as one would a foreigner).

3. Can you imagine a situation in which the government would be justified in waterboarding an American citizen?

   Yes. This question doesn’t belong here at all. This should be subject to warrants as well, but there are several situations where this could be the right thing to do.

4. Are there American journalists who should be investigated for possible treason? Should Sedition laws be re-introduced?

   If they committed treason (using the standard definition that is unrelated to journalism) ,then yes. If not, then no. No to sedition laws. FYI – I consider freedom of the press to mean publishing, not protecting confidentiality of sources. They should be able to publish whatever they want, its the cover-ups and withholding information that I don’t consider protected.

5. Should the CIA be able to legally assassinate people in countries with which the U.S. is not at war?

   Yes

6. Should anti-terrorism cops be given every single law-enforcement tool available in non-terrorist cases?

   No. I guess this is really asking is if we should have super-cops or not.

7. Should law enforcement be able to seize the property of a suspected (though not charged) American terrorist, and then sell it?

   No. Absolutely not. Due process of law in all things.

8. Should the U.S. military be tasked with enforcing domestic crime?

   No. With a possible exception of keeping order in case of natural disasters.

9. Should there be a national I.D. card, and should it be made available to law enforcement on demand?

   No.

10. Should a higher percentage of national security-related activities and documents be made classified, and kept from the eyes of the Congress, the courts, and the public?

    No. Anything classified should have an automatic sunset date commensurate to it’s secrecy, but nothing should be indefinite.