Follow up on Baca's arrest and my letter to the editor

The Denver Post printed my letter concerning the arrest of Ricardo Baca. You can find it here.

(The letter was originally posted right here on BlueCarp.)

Some of the comments below the letters are interesting. I love the opportunity to discuss libertarian ideas with everyone.

One person asked me several questions. Here they are, with my responses:

"Why do we have laws, if they are not enforced?" 

We, as a society, have to make choices. Ideally, we would enforce every law on the books to the letter and every law would be just. We don't live in an ideal world. The Denver Police had to make a choice about how to handle a warrant. In my opinion, they chose poorly and wasted our tax money on a relatively unimportant issue. I sincerely hope they have better things to do with their limited resources and money.


"Does Mr. Baca deserve special treatment when he breaks our laws? If so, why?"

He deserves no special treatment. In my opinion, the Denver Police could have and should have handled this situation differently, no matter who the person sought was.

"Does Mr. Baca need to turn his life around, and become more of an adult (i.e. accept responsibility)?"

Absolutely. Mr. Baca, whatever he choses to do with his life, is not using my tax dollars. The Denver Police are. To me, that is a HUGE and important distinction.


"Why did the Denver Post waste time and money printing his column?"

I can not answer that. But the Post is a private company spending private money and using private resources. How they utilize their resources is none of my concern. I can voluntarily read their paper or not.

The Denver Police, however, give me no such option. I have no choice but to pay for their services, and I very much appreciate the hard work and great service they generally provide. However, when they waste public money and public resources, it is our duty to call them out on it. That's what I have attempted to do.

Krugman: He and the intellectuals know best. Trust them.

For an example of an elitist writer that couldn't tell a pork rind from a chitlin', read this Paul Krugman column.

That Krugman and his ilk believe the tea parties are somehow "Republican" shows their collective ignorance. Most of us blame the Republicans as much as the Democrats. And at least the Democrats are honest about being statist.

That ignorance will help us defeat them. 

Fight the power.

Let freedom ring.

Fight SB 09-241

Support the Gadsden Society:

Fight the government DNA database of innocent citizens. Do you trust the government with your DNA?

Colorado Senate Bill 09-241, which would mandate the use of government force to take DNA samples from innocent citizens, passed the second reading on the Senate floor Friday afternoon.

This gross expansion of state power is not a partisan issue. Both progressive Democratic Senator Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora) and conservative Republican Bill Cadman (R-Colorado Springs) oppose the bill as an unconstitutional overreaching of state power over the rights of the individual.

Currently, the State collects DNA from everyone convicted of a felony. The bill mandates the collection of DNA samples from everyone merely arrested – not convicted - for a felony. Somewhere along the way, the concept of “innocent until proven guilty” is lost among the bill’s backers.

To many Colorado citizens, however, that fundamental American concept still means something. The Libertarian Party of Colorado, the Colorado ACLU, the Gadsden Society, the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar and the Colorado Public Defenders Office, among others, all oppose this costly Orwellian expansion of government power over innocent citizens.

David K. Williams, Jr., Legislative Director for the Libertarian Party and President of the Gadsden Society is among those against the bill.

“The backers of this bill claim it will help law enforcement. Undoubtedly it would,” Williams said. “So would the repeal of the Fourth Amendment. So would micro chipping newborns so the government knows where they are all at times, from cradle to grave. So would putting video cameras in every house.

“The point is that helping law enforcement is not the only concern Americans should have. Protecting the Constitution and preventing government abuse of power should also be a concern of all Americans.”

According to the latest fiscal note attached to the bill, the DNA collection will cost the State over $2 million in the next fiscal year. There is no reason for this bill to pass, but to incur such an expense when the state is facing a budgetary crisis is madness.

To raise the money to implement this unconstitutional invasion of privacy, the bill imposes a $5 surcharge tacked on top of all traffic infractions. Republican Senator Ted Harvey (R- Highlands Ranch) opposes the bill because of this surcharge. “I do not believe there is a nexus,” he said.

Senator Harvey is correct. There is not.

The bill is set for a final vote in the Senate this week. Contact your Senator and let him know you oppose this Orwellian expansion of state power over innocent citizens.

You can find our State Senator by following these steps:

From this link, choose “Which Districts Are You In?”
Click the “Show Map” button.
Click on the “Find/Change Location” link on the right side menu.
A window will pop up. Type your address, city and zip code and hit the “Find” button.
A map showing your location should appear. At the top of the page there will be your House District number and the name of your representative; your state Senate district number and the name of your state Senator; and your U.S. Congressional district number and the name of your U.S. Representative.

Once you get the name of your State Senator, you can find his/her contact information at this link.

The most recent Fiscal note

The Appropriations Committee Report.


OPPOSE THE ORWELLIAN EXPANSION OF GOVERNMENT POWER.

Contact your State Senator now.
Oppose SB 241

Join the Gadsden Society. Support liberty in Colorado.

State Rep. Gwyn Green resigns on House floor

State Representative Gwyn Green (D-Jefferson County) of District 23 announced her resignation as a Representative this morning from the House floor.

She intends to spend more time with her family and to attend to health issues.

The resignation is effective at the end of the current legislative session.

Fact checking the sports secton

The Denver Post has extensive coverage of the Nuggets' loss to the New Orleans Hornets yesterday. 

Included in its coverage is a little box captioned "Five things you might not know about (Hornet guard) Chriss Paul."  One of the things is that "he has become close with North Carolina native Michael Jordan."

Except Jordan is not a native of North Carolina. He was born in Brooklyn, then moved to North Carolina with his family as a toddler.

I'm just sayin'.

Denver Police: Too many cops, too much money.

Ricardo Baca, Pop Music Critic for the Denver Post, was visited by three Denver police officers at 3:00 a.m. recently. He was sound asleep, like most people, at that hour.

He was arrested. Handcuffed. Put in a squad car and taken downtown. He was locked up for seven hours in a series of dirty cells reeking of urine and Lord knows what else. He was eventually released on his own recognizance.

What were the charges? Assault? Robbery? Theft? Something worse? 

No.

He suffered this indignity at the hand of state agents because he missed a court date on a traffic ticket for a burnt out headlight and failure to have proof of insurance. (He had the insurance, just not the card proving it.)

If the Denver Police can afford the resources to roust someone like Baca at 3:00 a.m. , take him downtown and book him, they have too much money.

They have too many cops.

Apparently they have police officers sitting around looking for things to do. What else explains this waste of time and money, not to mention the indignity imposed on a citizen for a traffic matter?

There is no other explanation. 

An officer with an ounce of common sense might have suggested that someone from the police department call him during regular business hours. An unpaid intern could have made the call. Baca could have been informed that there was a warrant out for his arrest for missing a court date, and that he needed to take care of it or eventually he would be picked up. 

That is all the police needed to do. Heck, they didn't even need to do that. The failure to appear for the court date is in the police computer system. Eventually, Baca would have been pulled over for something. Eventually, it would have caught up with him.

But for someone to decide it was a reasonable use of police resources to send three officers to his house at 3:00 a.m. is an absurdity.

Any future calls for additional police resources should fall on deaf ears. They are wasting your money on trivialities.

The ABC's of Virginia Alcohol Law

This year's winner of the Sam Adams Alliance award for Best Video.

A great example of government absurdity.

Good thing we didn't execute this guy

According to the Denver Post:

An El Paso County judge has ordered a new trial for a man convicted of double homicide, saying that DNA and other newly discovered evidence could acquit him.

Tim Kennedy, 52, was convicted in 1997 and sentenced to 50 years for the murders of Jennifer Carpenter, 15, and her boyfriend, Steve Staskiewicz, 37.

Pro-death penalty advocates possess a mind boggling amount of faith in the government's ability to determine life and death. I don't possess that faith. 

Neither does Tim Kennedy.

And it is not just that the government can be wrong. Far worse, it can be, and all too often is, malevolent.

In this case, the judge found that prosecutors failed to turn over potentially exculpatory evidence to the defense. 

That is not cool.

And it is a gross abuse of government power. 

Thank God for criminal defense attorneys. Without them, how many innocent people would be in jail? 

Pucker up

The Washington Post's David Broder wrote a truly amazing column today. 

How he was able to work a keyboard while his lips were planted firmly on Obama's butt the entire time is remarkable. 

The Washington Post version is headlined "A Bravura Opening."

The Denver Post called it "President Obama's brilliant overture."

The myth of "federal funds"

The Denver Post has a story on a new Colorado law, signed by Governor Bill Ritter on Tuesday, that puts a fee on hospitals in an effort to comply with a federal program that provides matching funds for "Medicaid coverage and other health coverage."

The Post's headline says, "Federal funds will help enroll more people in Medicaid." This is misleading. It implies the federal government has its own money.

It does not.

The federal government takes money from its citizens, almost all of whom live in a state, then doles it back out after making those same citizens, via their elected officials, jump through a series of hoops. After, of course, taking some off the top for their effort.

If we cut out the middle man in this process, we would all be better off.  

"Death penalty dealt blow"

The headline on today's Denver Post was about the state House voting to abolish the death penalty in Colorado. The bill still has to pass the Senate before it becomes law.

Since I don't believe the government can efficiently pick up my garbage, I certainly don't believe it should decide who is worthy of life and death.

The worst it can do with my garbage is make a mess.

Face the State poll on Republican senate race

From Face the State:

WHICH REPUBLICAN SHOULD CHALLENGE U.S. SEN. MICHAEL BENNET IN 2010?

Click the link and vote.

As a registered Libertarian, I believe Ryan Frazier is the clear choice for the Republicans. That is, if they want to beat Bennet. 

Of course, if they want to take a "principled stand" against homosexuals, they can do that and get their asses handed to them again.

I predict social conservatives cannabilize the one guy with a great chance to beat Bennet, then Bennet wins re-election by close to double digits.

I hope I am wrong.

My former U.S. Rep and my alma mater

or Tom Tancredo and the Tar Heels

Tom Tancredo, former United States Congressman from Colorado, was scheduled to speak at the home of the reigning NCAA Division I National Men's Basketball Champion Tar Heels, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, yesterday. (The National Championship has absolutely nothing to do with the event, but I like saying it.)

I currently live in Colorado. I attended the University of North Carolina for seven straight years. (And I'm proud to say I am this close to getting a degree.)

Tancredo had been invited by a Carolina student group to speak. Of course, to those of us that live in Colorado, there is no need to mention the topic. Tancredo has only one: immigration.

Student protesters shouted him down and did not allow him to speak. When campus police moved some of the protesters outside the building, the protest continued outside. Eventually, a window separating the speech from the elements was broken by someone outside.

At that point, Tancredo reasonably concluded that he should call it a night.

The campus newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel, covered the event.

According to the DTH, Tancredo was introduced "amid hissing, booing and shouts of 'racist' and 'white supremacist.'" One expects this level of discourse from kindergartners and Ann Coulter, and, of course, the wacky-lefties. It is good to know some things are so reliable.

Graduate student Jason Bowers said, “I’m here because I represent UNC-Chapel Hill and I don’t support racism or fascism in the institution in which I am an educator." The DTH did not say what Bowers is studying, but it probably is not etymology since he has no idea what either the word "racism" or "fascism" means.

Tancredo has never said he wants to keep all Mexicans out of the country. Only the illegal ones. That is not racist. In fact, he wants to keep out the illegal Swedes, too.

Fascism is "a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition."

The irony is undoubtedly lost on Bowers.

Also according to the DTH:

After Tancredo entered the room, protesters kept him from speaking by shouting insults and holding a sign declaring “no dialogue with hate” in front of his face.

Personally, I try to abide by the "no dialogue with idiots" philosophy, but it severely cramps my dating life. Especially since so many hippy chicks are cute. And, sometimes, more free with their favors than devout Baptists. Or so I have read.

According to the DTH, there were some well-mannered protesters among the punks. And by "punks" I mean the tolerant liberals that are tolerant of everything except dissent.

Sophomore Adrian Lopez, a member of the Carolina Hispanic Organization, attended the speech to protest Tancredo’s view, but said he did not agree with how the protest was handled.

“I feel very embarrassed about how the student body went about doing this,” Lopez said. “It got completely out of control.”

Big props to you, Adrian. I'd love to buy you a beer. (I would have said "tequila" but don't want to be called "racist.")

The anti-Tancredo lefties were last seen boarding a bus that read "Boulder or Bust - Reinstate Ward Churchill." They'll fit right in with the tolerant lefties up there.

What is a "neocon?"

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." - Inigo Montoya.

The term "neocon" is thrown around as an insult, like "moron," at anyone who does not agree with a given speaker. This is a specially common epithet in libertarian circles. 

But definitions matter. What does the word really mean?

Whenever I ask what "neocon" means, especially to someone that has just used it, they stumble around like a drunk sorority girl on her first spring break. Thankfully, however, most of them keep on their shirt.

Way back in 2004, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review associate editor Bill Steigerwald had the same question. What did he do? He

rang up four of the biggest names in the punditry business and asked them the same questions. Rich Lowry is editor of National Review. Paul Weyrich is chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation. Paul Gigot is editor of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page. And George Will is the famous syndicated columnist.

The answers are enlightening. Even they can't all agree, and it is the job of these guys to know.

They all pretty much agree on the origin of the term of term. Gigot explains:

the neoconservatives were people who in the 1970s were former liberals, in some cases socialists, who moved right in reaction to the left's shift on cultural mores, personal responsibility and foreign policy. So I think the term "neoconservative" has that narrow meaning of that historical period. I think of them as the Podhoretzes and the Kristols and others.

Of course, people that use it today are not using the term to describe former flower children that realized how wrong they were about social and economic policy. Surely it would be a compliment to recognize that one was wrong and has now seen the light. It worked for Paul (nee Saul).

It seems that most people today use it to describe pro-war hawks that pushed G.W. Bush into invading Iraq on bad intelligence. And they do not mean it as a compliment.

Steigerwald asked, "Is this a neoconservative war in Iraq?"

The responses:

Lowry: "No."

Weyrich: " I don't think that you could make that case."

Gigot: "No."

Will: "It had a neoconservative overlay, to the extent that it was a war -- however mistakenly -- based on the confident belief that there was a growing arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; that was not a distinctly neoconservative rationale."

Only Will gives the common usage any creedence. But he points out that many NON neocons urged the same course of action. Hillary Clinton certainly did.

I can only conclude that the word has no meaningful modern usage. I suggest that instead of using it as a generic insult, people should use more specific words, like "moron," "idiot," or "dumbass." Such usage far more accurately describes the users' intent and is far less pretentious.

Jackyl - The Lumberjack

I have been listening to XM channel 41, "Hair Nation," recently. I graduated high school in 1985 and college in 1989, during the absolute pinnacle of the popularity of "hair bands." It's not my fault I like the music. I am a victim of history.

"Hair Nation" has been playing this song. I had almost forgotten about it. (Yes, probably should have.) But the lead singer, Jesse James Dupree, is playing a REAL LIVE CHAINSAW!

How cool is that!

I steadfastly make no apology for thinking this is cool.

A word from FreedomWorks

Reposted from FreedomWorks.org:

How to deal with left-wing tea party crashers

Many organizers of Tax Day Tea Parties are fretting about the possibility that ACORN or other socialist groups will be crashing the tea parties next Wednesday. As a conservative who has crashed left-wing protests before, I thought I’d offer some advice.

If you encounter any crashers, the first rule is to ignore them. Let them walk about and hold up their pro-Obama signs. If you don’t draw attention to them, they won’t be able to cause the chaos that they seek to create.

If they are getting to be especially annoying, just kill them with kindness. Designate a few people that can go and welcome them, offer them a bottled water and listen to them talk about why they disagree with you. Smile, nod and pretend that you are interested in hearing what they have to say. If done properly, and depending on the crashers, this very well could neutralize them and keep them from disrupting the tea party.

If the crashers bring offensive signs, which reportedly they will try to do, just politely ask them to leave or get rid of their sign. If they refuse, you should just ask your supporters to distance themselves from the crashers. Let them walk together, but don’t let them mingle in the crowd to where they can make it look like they are with you.

If things are really out of hand, and they are trying to disrupt the event, if you have a permit you can ask them to leave, and if they refuse you can ask the police to remove them. This is my least favorite option, since it makes you look like the aggressor, or someone that is trying to stifle speech that you disagree with. I wouldn’t recommend this option unless you tried the other options to no avail.

The bottom line with crashers is that they are looking to incite a response from you, so that you overreact. Don’t let them play you like this. If everyone stays calm and tries to find a way to ignore and marginalize ACORN and the other crashers on tax day, the movement will be able to get its message out without any serious disruptions or scenes.

 

Brendan Steinhauser

Director, Federal and State Campaigns

FreedomWorks

601 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

North Building, Suite 700

Washington, D.C. 20004-2601

(202) 942-7612 phone

(202) 379-6583 cell

(202) 942-7649 fax

www.FreedomWorks.org

The audacity of theft

Colorado lawmakers are trying to find a way to cover a $700 million state budget shortfall. One day, they might understand that eventually the bill for the all that free stuff comes due. 

They are like the kids that join the Columbia Record Club and get 12 albums for a penny, and then are surprised and mad that they still have to buy 5 more records at "full price" in the next year. 

The bill always comes due. 

Democrats came up with an idea to pay the bill: Seize the assets of a private company! Brilliant! 

It seems that pirates don't only patrol the waters of Somalia. They patrol the capitol, too.

Colorado's Attorney General, John Suthers, has pointed out that such a seizure is illegal. 

Senate Majority Leader Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont, is aghast:

"The timing of this opinion really stinks," Shaffer said. "I think it's suspect. He (Suthers) is trying to influence the legislative branch."

No crap, Brandon. That's what lawyers do. They advise against breaking the law.

Of course, you can lead a legislator to the law, but you can't make him abide by it.

Hooray guns!

From the Denver Post:

Intruder shot to death during attack in home

The more things change...

Colorado State Senate President Peter Groff has been appointed to the Obama administration and will leave the state house. Congratulations. From everything I have heard, Groff is a decent fellow. He's a statist lefty, but a decent fellow.

According to the Denver Post

Arne Duncan, the U.S. secretary of education, announced Groff's appointment as director of the office's Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Center.

I'm confused. When G.W. Bush started this government program as part of his "compassionate conservatism" back in 2001, it was derided by the left, "including Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the American Civil Liberties Union, [because] it violated the Establishment Clause by using tax money to fund religion." (See this Wikipedia entry.)

Instead of killing it like a good lefty, Obama has continued the program.

Why? Government is incapable of contraction. Obama is not going to give back any power. How absurd.

BlueCarp derides Bush for starting the statist program and Obama for continuing it.

There is plenty of derision to go around.

Liberty Loving Coloradoans Tea Party update!

(This message is copied from an email list to which I subscribe. I am abiding by the request in all caps at the top of the email. Also, Lenina Close co-founder and Vice-President of the Gadsden Society, is one of the speakers at the Denver rally. Somehow, so am I. I promise to be brief. Hope to see you there. All of you.)

PLEASE REDISTRIBUTE FOR MAXIMUM DISTRIBUTION

In coordination with a nationwide "Tea Party" movement on April 15th, citizens will descend upon the Colorado Capitol to voice their opposition to continued tax increases. The Denver "Tea Party" rally will be held on the West steps of the state Capitol and is scheduled to take place from 12:00 - 1:30. A "meet-and-greet" with State Legislators will start at 11:00 A.M.

As this rally provides an excellent opportunity to take part in a spontaneous grassroots movement that refuses to be complacent, it is possible that the number of attendees could exceed 2,000. For details on other rallies being held around the state, see http://taxdayteaparty.com/teaparty/colorado/.

On April 15, the Colorado House of Representatives will also be debating next year's budget and call for reductions in spending and the out-of-control growth of government. Throughout the day, members of the Republican Study Committee of Colorado (RSCC) will be attempting to relay Twitter messages directly from the Capitol, granting public access to the debate in a way that might otherwise be impossible. To follow the Republican Study Committee of Colorado on Twitter, create an account on www.twitter.com <http://www.twitter.com/> . (You must provide and confirm an e-mail address.)

After creating an account, search "RSCColorado", and click "follow." After doing so, all updates from the RSCC and RSCC members will be received automatically on your Twitter homepage.

Twitter updates can also be sent to mobile devices. To do so, click "Settings", and then select "Devices." From there, instructions are given as to how to activate cell phones to enable mobile updates.

Other RSCC information is available at www.rscc.us <http://www.rscc.us/> .

RSCC points of contact are: Chairman, Senator Kevin Lundberg, at 970-690-0232.

The more things change....

This is from a 1934 edition of the Chicago Tribune. Apparently the hirsute fellow on the left making the sign is Leon Trotsky. If you click on the cartoon you'll get a bigger version that's easier to read.

Washington Post Recognition

The Washington Post has listed its "Best State Political Blogs."

In Colorado, the honorees are 

Coloradopols.com
Face the State
Squarestate.net
Peoples Press Collective
Complete Colorado

While BlueCarp did not make the cut, I am proud to say I know the people that put together Face the State and Complete Colorado. I have had the honor of being quoted in Face the State and have made appearances therein. BlueCarp is also part of the Face The State "Blog Wrangler." 

Complete Colorado has linked to at least one of my stories and i am listed on its blogroll.

I am very proud to be one of many contributors to the People's Press Collective.

Let freedom ring.

Meet the new boss...

Same as the old boss.

Ah, my Obama supporting friends. Keith Olberman (yes, KEITH OLBERMAN) points out why Obama and the Democrats are just another group of power hungry thugs. Reject the two party duopoly. Do not be complicit in your own robbery or enslavement. Fight the power. Fight it now.

Slow news day

http://facethestate.com/hottest-politicos/2009/dave-williams

Man detained and harassed at airport for carrying CASH!

I hope this scares the hell out of all of us.

Big props to Larry Pozner and his law firm

In today's edition of the Denver Post, Larry Pozner asks companies to hire someone, even if they don't really need someone.

Pozner's law firm is doing it.

Why is this good? Because it is voluntary action taken by private business, not mandatory action forced on business by the government.

If people would look to the private sector before they looked to the government, we would all be more free.

Iowa, the state, and gay marriage

The Iowa Supreme Court recently ruled that homosexual marriage must be allowed in that state.

A group of gay-rights advocates in Colorado is working to pass a ballot measure that would require the same result in this state.

Supporters of gay marriage rights are well-intentioned, but wrong. The answer is not MORE statism. It is less. The government should be completely OUT of the marriage recognition business.

Marriage is a bond between two people - and, if they have one, their god. 

Where exactly does the government fit in to that relationship? If one seeks government approval of one's private relationship, one invites government input into that relationship.

That is a bad idea.

The state has no business approving any marriage, gay or straight. It is none of the state's business.

If you want your god's sanction, go to church and get married. A stop at the court house should NEVER be required. Of anyone.

Mr. Jefferson -The Mike Church Show Band

I think this explains a lot

New Broncos' head coach Josh McDaniels is actually actor/comedian Seth Rogen.

Here is indisputable visual proof:

Seth Rogen

Josh McDaniels

McDaniels is actually Seth Rogen! It's all a "Borat" type joke!

Clear the Bench Colorado

BlueCarp strongly supports this movement:

Recent rulings by Colorado's Supreme Court – the "most partisan in the nation" – have demonstrated their contempt for the very Constitution they are sworn to uphold.

DID YOU KNOW that you have the right to vote the rascals out?

It's true – even Supreme Court justices in Colorado ARE accountable to the people. In 2010, FOUR of the current Colorado Supreme Court justices NEED YOUR APPROVAL to be retained on the bench.DON'T GIVE IT TO THEM!

Check out Clear the Bench Colorado for more information.

Taliban tortures 17 year old girl in Pakistan

According to this Los Angeles Times article, a 17 year old Pakistani girl was tortured by the Taliban for refusing an arranged marriage.

Of course, this evilness is the fault of the United States. The Islamo-Fascists are only mean because of the U.S. involvement in the Middle East. If we would just stop supporting Israel, then this type of behavior would cease.

Islamo-Fascists only exist in response to American foreign policy. If we would just let them be, the Islamo-Fascists would stop beheading infidels, stop honor killing their own women and girls, and stop strapping bombs on their own children. This evil behavior is not their fault. It is ours.

But for American foreign policy, the Islamo-Fascists would start butterfly farms and hand out lollipops. 

If only the U.S. would leave them alone.

Right?

And this new Afghani law is surely the fault of the United States, too:

Human rights groups and some Afghan lawmakers criticized President Hamid Karzai on Thursday for signing into law legislation that some believe legalizes the rape of a wife by her husband and prevents women from leaving the house without a man's permission.

Since Islam is a religion of peace, this behavior can not be the fault of Islam. It is the fault of the Great Satan: The United States.

Right?