Modes Ponens

For some reason, all this news about the executive branch declaring a freedom to spy on whoever they pleased brought back memories from college. Specifically, a concept we learned in Logic 101. Modes ponens. It's just deductive reasoning:

"War on Terror" is open-ended
"The Program" is "War on Terror"
Therefore, "The Program" is open-ended

With all the recent debate about the Constitution and the powers given to the executive branch during wartime, it's important to make the distinction between a real war and a catchphrase used to describe what our government has been trying to do for decades: protect it's citizens. I'm not sure the founding fathers envisioned a situation where a commander-in-chief declared a war that was, by definition, unwinnable. A war declared on, well, no one in particular. Or maybe, everyone?

Is the "War on Terror" a real war? It's a good question. By most people's use of the word, I don't think it is. In this 'war', we're fighting an enemy that has no defined country, size, or point of surrender. No clear definition of "terror" or "terrorist". No measureable standard for victory. Unless you take the word out of the dictionary, there will always be "terror".

To grant a president wartime powers that clearly violate the 4th Amendment would only make sense if the war was inherently temporary. In the case of this "war", it is far from temporary. So when the Bush defenders go on and say they'll take security over liberty, I would remind them that they're not going to get those liberties back anytime soon, and to be prepared to lose some more along the way. In fact, if Bush really believes he is justified to do this, we may as well start drafting the amendment to the sacred document right now.

While I argue that this "war" cannot be won, I'm starting to think we've already lost. The actions of these 19 guys did more damage than lives, money, and buildings alone. When a country that proudly trumpets the chorus of democracy to the world begins to practice torture, secret imprisonment, invasion, and spying on it's own citizens.....well, lets just say I bet Osama popped the cork a long time ago.

Posted by ChenZhen at December 23, 2005 12:00 AM