By Daniel F. Stevens Santa Monica
With the story about the Arab photographers surveying the pier (SMDP, Aug. 11, page 1), your story seemed like a PR spin for the cops so they can justify spending millions more dollars. I do like the idea of the bomb-sniffing dogs as opposed to frisking all Arabs. But spending more money is not the answer.
My real problem however is not about money, dogs and cops. You are doing much, with stories like this, to spread the fear that George W. Bush and company needs to justify their continual rampage of terror around the globe in the name of freedom and so-called liberty. I don’t see our freedom and liberty expanding here at home, I see it shrinking. Stories like yours give the shrink wrapper more heat to do its work.
If such photographers are up to no good, your story may warn them that they are being watched and therefore, they hide.
However, I am one who believes that many such stories of alleged terrorists are planted by people who think like Karl Rove. Some have called me “unpatriotic” for not falling for the lies and PR spin.
I do not consider your story a service to anyone except to the terrorists born and raised right here in the good old United States of America.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 15, 2005. Read the original PDF.