Some highlights:

But while not everyone in the US agrees that the drug trade, prostitution, and immigration are something that should be addressed, all Americans want to reduce the number of people or organizations that seek to commit terrorist acts against the US – the demand.

So what can the US do to reduce this demand?

The answer is expeditious withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other Middle Eastern countries, along with cessation of economic and military aid to Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and the rest of the region.

As I said, we cannot abandon Israel.  But we can reduce the demand for terrorism against America.  I always felt the party line on terror, (They hate us because we are free and rich), did not wash.  But I never considered the possibility of intervention as a motive for terrorism until the Cong. Ron Paul-Mayor Rudy Guiliani debate in early 2008.  (Let’s remember that finding motives for crime is not the same thing as excusing it.  Terrorism is still a crime and must be punished severely.)

Miron argues that, “The fact that virtually all terrorist attacks against the US since 9/11 have targeted US forces in the Middle East, rather than targets on US soil, suggests the crucial objective is getting the US to leave.”  He also contends that terrorism against the British Empire ceased when the various nations won independence. 

It sounds like Ron Paul is right again!

The NY Daily News confirms this:

One big problem: Security cameras owned by the Port Authority, but operated and maintained by the TSA, were not recording. That forced TSA investigators to chase down other videotape recorded by Continental Airlines, which occupies most of Terminal C.

So, let’s see…  The private company was diligent but not the government agency.  I think I heard this somewhere before…

Let’s turn back to the Second GOP primary debate, in Columbia, South Carolina, hosted by Fox News on May 15, 2007.  The GOP aspirants, including Congressman Ron Paul, were asked a question by Wendell Goler about what three Federal programs you would cut.  After a non-answer from former Governor Tommy Thompson, Goler turned to Cong. Paul.  Here’s what Paul said courtesy of the Council on Foreign Relations website (look, I wasn’t crazy about it either but it was either them or the NY Times!) 

MR. GOLER: Congressman Paul, can you do better than that, sir?

Even Fox News knew this would be a great answer and Cong. Paul did not disappoint:

REP. PAUL: I’d start with the departments — the Department of Education, the Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security. We’ve started with — we’ve just — the Republicans put in the Department of Homeland — it’s a monstrous type of bureaucracy. It was supposed to be streamlining our security and it’s unmanageable. I mean, just think of the efficiency of FEMA in its efforts to take care of the floods and the hurricanes.

Goler then asked about the wisdom of shutting down DHS during a “war”.  Paul then said these words; it rang like a manifesto throughout the hall:

REP. PAUL: Well, I think we should not go to more bureaucracy. It didn’t work. We were spending $40 billion on security prior to 9/11, and they had all the information they needed there to deal with the threat, and it was inefficiency. So what do we do? We add a gigantic bureaucracy, which they’re still working on trying to put it together, and a tremendous amount of increase in funds.

I was admittedly skeptical about Paul’s assertion in re the DHS.  I totally agree the Department of Education ought to be abolished and probably Energy, too.  No constitutional authority for either one.  Certainly essential parts can be transferred to other departments – the Civil Rights Division can go to Justice.  Most of Energy might be applicable for Commerce.  But DHS?  I was amazed at Cong. Paul’s radicalism (You can find the video at ronpaul2008.com) 

Of course this led to the famous (or infamous depending on your position) exchange between former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Paul about the causes of 9/11.  But that is not where I was going.  I wanted to make the point that now we have had this agency called DHS for eight years or so and now we still cannot connect the dots.  It’s time to recognize that government is not the answer.  There are things government can and must do but usually private concerns (with some appropriate regulation) do best, especially with security.  I won’t hold my breath waiting for the apologies and recognitions to come to for Dr. Paul but he has been instrumental in the cure of a serious national malady:  Apathy.  Millions of people and every time he’s on the MSM, that trend continues.  For examples:  Try this article in the Los Angeles Times and try Paul’s visit to Rachel Maddow’s show.  (Thanks to Campaign for Liberty)  I thought Maddow was respectful and listened to Paul. 

Please Cong. Paul, make me a conflicted libertarian:  Run for President in 2012, and name Governor Gary Johnson as your running mate!

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour is a possible candidate.  He has a good post-Katrina reputation (although predictably Salon disagrees) and also worked on tort reform in MS.  But he is a former lobbyist and head of the RNC.  He spoke in Iowa and is the head of the GOP governor’s association must be respected.

Senator John Thune – South Dakota is a giant killer:  He beat Minority Leader Tom Daschle in his second try for the Senate.  (He may have won the first time, too!  His graciousness in conceding defeat is a lesson for all aspirants.)  Thune is competent, telegenic and charismatic.

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.  Gingrich is also a giant-killer – he ended the Democratic hold on the House of Representatives in 1994.  But the Gingrich Revolution failed or was derailed (Sen. Tom Coburn in his great book, Breach of Faith, says it was derailed by DC as usual).    I admire Gingrich very much.  He is a rare visionary and intellectual who was successful in politics.  He is a fascinating person for politics:  He wrote this review on a book on trilobites, yes that is not a misprint, trilobites, those little prehistoric animals that lived for about 400,000,000 years or so as the scientists count time.  Gingrich was a professor at a small Georgia college before he became Speaker.  He is interested in running for President it seems to me.  However, he has personal and congressional baggage (not all is true but will be used against him) from his years in DC.  Gingrich would be a polarizing choice.  Gingrich and Ron Paul in a debate forum in 2012 would be a nightmare for the other candidates:  No slick solutions allowed!

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani is eyeing another run for the White House but he is also giving serious consideration for Governor of his home state.  I think the governorship of New York is more likely with maybe eye on 2016 or 2020.