Arabs in U.S. could be held, official warns

[Giancarlo]

Frogger, I gotta agree... that comment on interest rates made by Ned was pretty stupid.

[KrazyHorse]

I'm planning to borrow a trillion dollars as soon as the government drops the bank rates below zero. I'll even return it the next day...

[Shadowstrike]

The question is however, should we set a precedent for this kind of thing to happen? Today it may be the Arabs, tomorrow, it could by the Italians. Or the Chinese. Or the Mexicans. Frankly, locking up people of one ethnic group just because they may harm you is both wasteful of resources and undermiens the principles of democracy and freedom on which America was built on.

[Giancarlo]

I don't locking up an ethnic group will occur... and it does not help the situation...

[Dr Strangelove]

Originally posted by moominparatrooper
In Sweden, we're much more civilized. It's just Kurd males who get punishments without trials here.

Why Kurds? Stockholm is a long way from northern Iraq. Has Sweden entered into an alliance with Iraq? Joining the "axis of evil" are we? Did we just get too bored or something?

[KrazyHorse]

The Swedes are tired of everybody ignoring them. It's what comes of not having fought in a war in 150 years...

[KrazyHorse]

That's why we should all keep our eyes on Switzerland...

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Then what are you arguing for?

I guess I'm trying to discuss the possibility of people being detained on a large scale for actions that would not be considered criminal under normal, peace time conditions.

If it is the act of support, or harbouring, or otherwise aiding the 'bad' guys, then the issue is no longer one of ethnicity. Many non Arabs may very well be sympathetic to some nut bar at a local mosque. Maybe not a lot, but I'm sure there are more Mr. Walkers around.

These are things we should think about. As the person in the article was quoted to say, if there is another large scale attack on the United States, then very likely there will be loud demands to address the problem of the 'enemies within'. Those demands might not be limited to the US. It might be better if people are prepared for it and have considered what would be resonable in advance.

[Lord Merciless]

The sooner we defeat the fundamentalist movement, the lower the risk of this happening. I would rather be a little more ruthless now than having to build concentration camps for Arabs.

[Kramerman]

Originally posted by Lord Merciless
The sooner we defeat the fundamentalist movement, the lower the risk of this happening. I would rather be a little more ruthless now than having to build concentration camps for Arabs.

We need to be totally ruthless. If i could, i would put the movement down like a rabid dog. But I cant.. And the US cant because, as it is, the whole world gets madder than hell (and understandablely so) over 'collaterla damage'. Thank you very much telecommunications.....sheesh.

After all the greatest causers of crime are white males.

They are the most prevelant group of males in the US. Black males (nothing against african-americans. Ive played may a game of basketball and i rever their natrual talents - its not a stereotype - theyare athletic) are the highest crime committers per capita.

[Ned]

Originally posted by Frogger
I'm planning to borrow a trillion dollars as soon as the government drops the bank rates below zero. I'll even return it the next day...

What you fail to take into consideration is that we are in a deflationary environment. If money is defined to inlude stocks, they we are in a wopping deflationary environment.

Interest rates are relative. If the money supply is deflating at -5% and you borrow money at -1%, your effective interest is 4%.

Japan has had ten years with interest rates held at 0%. These rates still are high because they have strong deflationion going on there primarily caused by bad bank loans sucured by a falling real estate market. When last I was there, economist were pointing out that the effective rate, even a 0% was still to high. The also said that one simply could not loan money at negative interest. However, why not?

Recently, car loans in the US were at 0%. The could also have been at less than 0. You still have to pay back the loan. But the money you pay it back with is more valuable than the money you borrowed.

[Ned]

We saw no sabatoge from the Japanese. I also note they were locked up. Whether being locked up was the only reason for there being no sabatoge is left to speculation and revisionist history.

Does anyone know whether the Supreme Court ever ruled on the legality of the Japanese detention in WWII?

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Ned
Does anyone know whether the Supreme Court ever ruled on the legality of the Japanese detention in WWII?

The SCOTUS took up the issue in Korematsu v US.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Would it be resonable to detain people who contributed to a known terrorist sponsoring organization?

Does that include the US government? Consider that there is the Contras, and paramilitary groups in Columbia.

Originally posted by notyoueither
Would it be resonable to detain the known associates of someone who is known to be involved with a terrorist group?

Does that include the US government? At the very least, the CIA is as much a terrorist organisation as a lot of Muslim militant groups.

Originally posted by notyoueither
Are there other circumstances where someone might be resonably detained prior to an overt hostile act?

So would the same thing apply to US citizens in the Muslim world?

[Ned]

OK, What did they say?