"Any perception of U.S. state-sponsored terrorism is intolerable because by that example we are encouraging terrorism elsewhere by other nations and groups."
Honorable Susan Collins
United States Senate
413 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
RE: Urgently needed anti-terrorism legislation
Dear Susan,
In the current world situation and with the rise in terrorism everywhere, it seems clear anti-terrorism legislation written and passed into law in the U.S. can effect both how governments view our country, and how other governments will view their own responsibilities during the War on Terror.
At the same time, the perception of U.S. foreign policy as viewed by those in other countries is coming increasingly into question due to the problems in Iraq, Iran in East Africa and elsewhere.
If the United States is going to play the lead role in the War on Terror, it seems especially crucial at this very moment that we set our own house strictly in order. This is necessary to foster understanding and the best relations possible with others whose interests also include fighting terrorism.
The goal of defeating terrorism should be the interest of every country worldwide. Our goal should be toward leading the world to stability and away from terrorism as a means used to accomplish political ends.
With this in mind, we are in urgent need of anti-terrorism legislation that will place the United States well in front and beyond almost any reproach in the War on Terror.
It is my hope legislation addressing this issue can be quickly agreed upon, and, passed into law. The need is indeed urgent. I have written to you because of your ability and prestige in the Senate on both sides of the isle, as well as in all Congress and the country at large.
It is further my hope that any such legislation will be passed to serve as an international model for all other countries to follow.
Terrorism is indeed an horrible consequence of our modern world.
State-sponsored terrorism is particularly troublesome. And, even the perception of state-sponsored terrorism should be fought vigorously to defeat the appeal of terrorist organizations however large or small.
I sincerely hope legislation can be written in a bipartisan Congressional effort in order to establish better guidelines for the United States government, its groups and its people, as well as it might serve as a better model for all nations worldwide.
It is my suggestion that Congress immediately establish how and when it would be legal for any person to engage in armed hostilities, or to encourage, fund, arm or support any other persons or groups of persons outside the United States with the such an intent.
By "any person" I mean to include any person temporarily or permanently residing in the United States, or any person who is a U.S. citizen, employee or agent living abroad, and especially any employee or agent of our government.
The world is simply past any era when the covert actions of our government fostering, supporting or engaging in armed hostilities outside the U.S. are acceptable, except as they are duly authorized by Congress and so directed by the President in time of war, which is when such armed hostilities unfortunately arise.
Any perception of U.S. state-sponsored terrorism is intolerable because by that example we are encouraging terrorism elsewhere by other nations and groups.
Such an authorizing act of Congress and signed by the President, should be considered a declaration of war, even if it is a declaration upon a group or a single individual. Such authorizations for the sake of perception should be explicit, naming countries, groups and/or individuals. And these acts should be made publicly in order to avoid any possibility of the perception of state-sponsored terrorism. There should a means of legal redress for those named who might contest allegations made against them that resulted in such an horrific act as is a declaration of war.
In light of the focus upon state-sponsored terrorism, a declared state of war supported and specifically endorsed by any government seems the only time armed hostility outside territorial borders cannot be construed by someone as state-sponsored terrorism. If there is an exception here to this categorical rule of perception, I am unaware of it.
By the perception of it armed actions outside our borders are either war, if properly declared, or they are terrorism when armed hostilities arise outside our borders involving Americans, our agents, or those we support in such hostile actions.
In a world concerned with terrorism, such acts that are not expressly authorized as war, will inevitably and unequivocally be equated with the perception of state-sponsored terrorism by someone somewhere.
And, these acts when made by Americans outside a declared war are certain at some point by someone to be construed as state-terrorism. These acts should be strictly proscribed except where authorized by Congress and signed into law by the President. It may fall short of a declaration of war, but if armed conflict is authorized, it amounts to virtually the same thing.
When the United States government intentionally causes the death or injury of anyone in another country, this is a grave or serious act. It is an act of war. And it cannot be taken lightly in a world concerned with terrorism, or we in fact become the terrorists by the perception of others.
Similarly, every private U.S. person, entity, group, or, corporation should also be strictly prohibited from engaging in armed hostilities, and from being allowed to encourage, fund, arm or support any other persons, or, groups of persons outside the United States with the same intent.
Again, these acts are certain to be considered at some point by someone as terrorism. The perception that a country is involved in state-sponsored terrorism will have the same negative effect whether or not the individuals consider what they are doing as terrorism.
Hostile actions must be legally sanctioned as a declared war, or the perception of them will lead others to conclude these are acts of U.S. state-sponsored terrorism.
This is the point of this proposed legislation, to remove the perception that any act by the United States government, or any group, organization, or individual citizen of the United States is an act of legal, or otherwise, state sanctioned terrorism.
Violation of this act would equate to a terrorist act and should be severely punishable, as severely punishable as any other act of terrorism.
In the troubled situation the world finds itself in today, fighting terrorism seems paramount. Well more than half the battle will be won by setting an example for the conduct of nations, groups and individuals worldwide.
It simply is no longer, and in fact it never was sufficient to brand any given act as terrorism, or any given group as a terrorist organization.
It is the conduct alone that kills and maims when acts of terrorism occur.
It is not the fact that a group, organization or country has been branded as "terrorist" that kills anyone. It is not the branding of an act as "terrorism," that kills anyone either.
This distinction is obvious, and we have every duty to convey it as a national and worldwide standard when proscribing, judging and reacting to acts of terrorism.
Currently in the press I am reading about terrorist bombs going off in Iran. Allegations are certainly going arise, that the U.S. is behind these terrorist attacks.
Any denial of same by the State Department is going to ring hollow in the ears of those who disagree with U.S. foreign policy. Our country is engaged in an open, ongoing and far less than diplomatic conflict with Iran. These bombings will unfortunately be attributed to the covert actions of our government, and, they will be equated with U.S. state-sponsored terrorism by those seeking to spread terrorism.
We cannot defeat terrorism as long as such a perception is possible. We in fact are encouraging terrorism every moment such a perception lingers in the minds of those who disagree with American policies.
In fact, if it might have been the CIA that somehow made these terrorist attacks occur in Iran, there is no means to prosecute anyone. It could not even be classified as a crime under existing law, which is the problem. The absence of clarity and such a law invites the perception of U.S. state-sponsored terrorism.
As long as there is no law prohibiting such acts of terrorism from being instigated and perpetrated by either the United States government, or, any individual or group based within the United States, there will be suspicions that will lead to an imaginary license for other groups around the world to commit terrorist acts in a manner like that perceived.
I know you as an honest, tough and cogent person. So, I am not going to be reticent here.
As long as any U.S. President claims as his right, the right to conduct armed and hostile covert operations outside the public review and war authorization role of the Congress, these acts will be perceived as state-sponsored terrorism. The more covert these acts are, the greater the chance of the logical perception that these are terrorist acts committed by the United States government.
The perception that the U.S. is conducting state-sponsored terrorism, is the absolutely worst possible event in the War on Terror.
Again, if covert acts involve engaging in armed hostilities, or, these acts encourage, fund, arm or support any other persons, or, groups of persons outside the United States with the same intent, merely the perception of the possibility that these acts arose in this manner is tantamount to giving license to similar acts of terrorism by other countries, groups and even individuals irate at what they may only perceive as acts of terrorism committed by the United States government.
Susan, this is the 21st Century. We simply must immediately address this problem, or we cannot consider our country at all serious about terrorism.
This is an era when even small groups can wreak immense havoc upon the lives of large numbers of individuals anywhere in the world. My country cannot be responsible for licensing terrorists by the perception we could be responsible for terrorist acts ourselves.
Time and civilization has caught up with any President's idea he has a license to kill any enemy and as many innocent civilians who get in his way anywhere in the world. This is simply too loose an interpretation of the Constitution. Specific authorization by a declaration of a state of war by Congress seems requisite to keep any such act from being equated to state-sponsored terrorism.
Now is the time to address this problem. It is time to address this problem now because it is absolutely necessary to address this problem to win the War on Terror.
As this is again a public letter addressed to you, as a registered Republican I want to encourage all my readers to visit your Senatorial web site, and to see how my Senator conducts herself.
Thank you for your work in the Senate, Senator Susan Collins, and for your time considering what is urgently needed anti-terrorism legislation.
My warmest regards,
Don Robertson
Limestone, Maine
cc: Senator Susan Collins
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