As you will see in the attached piece from the "Washington Times", Congressmen and Senators are beginning to sound the same, tired, Gingrich-like rhetoric about the "unregulated" use of the internet by us low-lifes. Why? Because the internet can be used to spread radical Islamic propaganda, and to recruit people to their anti-western cause.

It is valid to say that the net can be, and is being, used to recruit. Of course, in order to recruit people to a cause, one has to have a cause, and much of that hatred for the west is predicated on the jihadist defense of the "holy land" against the infidel invaders, ie, the jihadists are attracted to the cause because of western actions inside the Middle East. One can argue that this is a rationale created by the radical Islamist leaders, who would find any way they could to recruit followers in their quest to take Saudi Arabia, and its oil riches, but that is debatable. Internal communications exposed to western eyes have shown that the radical Islamists use the western presence in the Middle East as the primary recruiting tool, not western culture or western economic status.

When our own politicians look at the threat of Islamic terrorism and warn that the internet is a dangerous device that should be monitored closely, sure, that makes sense, if one is at War and wants to make sure we fight properly. But, of course, the US is not at War, and the Congressional Record shows this. No matter how many times people like Sean Hannity try to deny it, the Congress has not declared War, and hence, its ability to monitor or restrict certain modes of communication is virtually nil.

Here is the link to the "Times" report. Read it and watch for the forbidding references to possible restrictions on internet content that might be down the line if we are not vigilant.
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http://washingtontimes.com/national/20070314-110450-2830r.htm