Ashcroft’s Camps and Citizens’ Rights

Re “Camps for Citizens: Ashcroft’s Hellish Vision,” Commentary, Aug. 14: The column by Jonathan Turley sends chills up and down my spine. If I understand this correctly, any U.S. citizen whom Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft deems to be an enemy combatant or enemy of the state could be sent to one of his proposed camps for detention. These “combatants” or “enemies” would be held without recourse to legal counsel. This is precisely the way Adolf Hitler started.

Meanwhile, Ashcroft has done nothing meaningful to stop the flow of illegal aliens streaming into our country, primarily because of our president’s fear of alienating Mexico and Canada. There are undoubtedly many more potential terrorists in the illegal alien category than in the U.S. citizen category. Ashcroft is one dangerous dude.

Dan Fidelman

Los Angeles

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The attorney general has been hard at work dismantling the Bill of Rights, and now he appears ready to shred the Constitution altogether. Many of us knew the Senate was making a serious mistake when senators confirmed Ashcroft. It’s time for them to abide by their oath to defend the Constitution and correct their error.

Robert Anderson

Studio City

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Commentators like Turley who trumpet “constitutional rights” when a particular issue suits them are disingenuous. I haven’t read any discussion by Turley about the violation of our Constitution, our sovereignty and our security by invading foreign nationals from everywhere. Article IV Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution obligates the federal government to protect the states against invasion.

Be not troubled by the word “invasion.” At the founding of our nation, foreign armies, pirates and other uncontrolled aliens who attempted to inhabit without license any colony, plantation or jurisdiction were designated as invaders. Royal charters clearly rejected inhabitants of New Spain, New France and Russian America, and did not include them or their children as citizens. Present invaders--foreign nationals who attempt to inhabit without license--are a “constitutional menace”--Turley’s words. Though I am not destined for Ashcroft’s hellish vision, I want my constitutional rights and protections. Our elected representatives should support and abide by the Constitution--all of it--as they pledged in their oath of office.

Evelyn Miller

Irvine

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Turley’s commentary vilifying Ashcroft is absurd. If this is the mentality of college professors (and I am afraid it is), God help us.

Myron D. Oakes

San Marino