Proposal # 1 for Discussion - The Privilege of Passage Plan

[Agnes]

This is taken from author John Errett's new fiction book, "The Owl and
the Hawk". The book is fiction but the plan that is presented at the
end of the book is not. It is a plan that involves no weaponry, would
pay for itself and would be very effective. The book helps bring the
reality of terrorism to the forefront. It is a fact of life too many
of the world faces today. Let's take a look at this plan - discuss
it's merits and throw some support behind it if you like it . This
plan is currently before the State Department ( to check out the
author go to his site : http://www.theowlandthehawk.com ).

Here is what Errett says in the book:

PRIVILEGE OF PASSAGE PLAN


Before writing the last sentence of this book, the author has invoked
his privilege of interjection.

I believe, with all my soul and intellect, that Muslim fanatical
terrorism poses the greatest threat to freedom the world has yet seen
and unless defeated will ultimately conquer us.

Amid the lands of Islam stands an enclave of freedom, a
beacon...Israel. From the moment of my re-baptism in the river Jordan,
and for the last 37 years, I have been deeply concerned with the hopes
and aspirations of all peoples of the middle east. My visits to the
region and my work in the private intelligence sector have enabled me
to set down these words.

I originally intended this book to be a work of non fiction based on
my experiences in the middle east. Yet, the very reason for writing
the book was to convey to as many as possible the peril we face and to
suggest a viable winning strategy. I therefore set out to embody my
thoughts in an entertaining and suspenseful novel well salted with
fact. You, the reader, will judge my success or failure.

I call this winning strategy the Privilege of Passage Plan (POP Plan).
It consists of three powerful elements.

First, we must recognize that the only way to defeat Middle East
terrorism is for American Muslims to take the lead, stand-up, speak
out and even fight if necessary to reclaim their religion. The non-
Islamic world must do all it can to support these brave people.

Second, we must call in the overwhelming power of free enterprise
business which, until now, has been largely idle, instead, relying on
governments or an ineffective United Nations for the protection of
their assets. Business and industry have everything to lose from
terrorism and must become pro-active in support of a sane Islam. Their
tremendous power, ingenuity and economic resources, if applied
collectively, would destroy terrorism now.

Third, the POP Plan is anchored by a revolutionary passport acceptance
program designed to curtail the issuance of passports to those who
might harbor anarchistic or terrorist leanings.

It would work like this. The United States government would assume
financial responsibility for any CRIMINAL acts committed by its
passport holders anywhere in the world, if the victim or legitimate
claimant could not be compensated by the responsible party.

At the same time, the united states government would deny entry to any
foreign national whose government refuses to accept financial
responsibility for its passport holders CRIMINAL activities.

If the POP Plan had been in effect on 9/11, how might the outcome of
that day been changed? Since 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis
carrying Saudi Arabian passports, a nation well known for financing
jihad both inside and outside its borders, the Saudi government would
have had to pay something close to 150 billion dollars to the victims.

Faced with such a potential loss, no government would issue passports
to anyone even suspected of terrorist leanings. In the case of 9/11,
the Saudi authorities knew of the activities and inclinations of some
of the hijackers but they were not at financial risk and therefore
issued the passports.

If the Saudis had refused to accept liability for the hijackers, they
would have been denied entry to our country!

Just think what we would have been spared: the loss of thousands of
lives; the anguish suffered by thousands of families; the massive cost
of the damages to businesses and property; the ongoing medical
problems of survivors and rescuers and the psychological damages to
Americans living in a land they believed secure.

Of course, the implementation of the POP Plan would necessitate
groundwork. The state department would consult with all nations and
jointly develop a workable treaty. A governing body and a body of
adjudication for dispute resolution. Rules and regulations would be
promolgated. And It is absolutely doable and would pay for itself with
minimal entry/departure fees collected by common carriers.

This author is prepared to discuss the POP Plan with any interested
party. In this ever so important election year, 2008, candidates
seeking our highest offices must be strongly urged to study the POP
Plan and look into its merits or plainly tell us why they haven't the
time.