Targeted Killings

As a follow-up to yesterday’s post about the upcoming counter-terrorism simulation, my professor for that class, Amos Guiora, was on NPR’s Talk of the Nation radio program yesterday morning. The topic was discussing whether the United State’s use of predator drones to strike inside of Yemen and Pakistan are violations of international law. They also discuss how “assassination” is different from “targeted” or “extrajudicial killings.”

This radio program gives an example of just what our class is like. Lots of complex issues, and having to come up with practical answers for those problems.

Counter-Terrorism Simulation

This semester I am enrolled in a Counter-Terrorism class at my law school. The class teaches us about how various countries respond to terrorist attacks and their policies for dealing with threats.

Each year class members participate in an all day simulation where they respond to a simulated terrorist attack somewhere in the United States. This years simulation will be on March 19th. I along with everyone in my class will have a different role (such as President of the United States, Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, etc.) to make the event as realistic as possible.

I can't tell you what my role is yet, but it will be really cool. All of this will be filmed and broadcasted live on the internet, so you can watch me save the country from the comfort of your own home.

The purpose of this event is to help law enforcement, government and other counter-terrorism policy makers around the country and world better prepare for terrorist attacks and develop effective policies to respond to threats. The goals is to help leaders around the world better protect citizens while avoiding violations of human rights.

I will have more information about this event as March 19th approaches.

It’s really cool to think that I will be helping to influence the global community's future policies toward terrorism.

Feel free to share this with anyone who would be interested.

The Land of Eb

During the last few months of my mission, my mission president sent me and my various other Marshallese companions to remote areas on the outer islands where Marshallese people were being found. Where on O’ahu we had a branch and other units, the outer Hawaiian islands only had a handful of Marshallese members. Most of them were inactive, which made things even more difficult.

Marshallese Elders on the Big Island, Spring 2004: Elders Austin Lowe, Bryan Boaz, Brian Tanner, and Steve Lutz.

My last area was in Kealakekua, on the south western edge of the Big Island (Where Captain Cook was killed). Just before I arrived there, a huge community of Marshallese was discovered in Ocean View, near the southern tip of the island. Ocean View is the world’s largest residential subdivision, located between two lava fields. The land is cheap, and a two hour drive from  civilization in any direction. As missionaries, we would joke that Marshallese elders who were sent there were “banished.” I was never personally “banished” there, but most of my other Marshallese companions were.

 

Map from Coldwell Banker

I recently discovered that some students from the University of Nations are making a film called The Land of Eb about Marshallese living in Ocean View. “Eb” is a Marshallese word for “dance”.


The Land of Eb from Andrew Williamson on Vimeo.


As a side note, the University of Nations is a Christian university in Kona, and is similar to a evangelical version of BYU. Their campus includes a youth ministry training, similar to the MTC, if the MTC was designed for missionaries to tract only Provo and Utah County. These guys caused a lot of headaches for us as missionaries, but I appreciate their efforts to teach the islanders filmmaking skills while making this documentary. This looks like a really interesting film.

Coincidentally, all of those Marshallese Elders who went to the Big Island in 2004 with me were groomsmen at mine and Jennifer's wedding.

Former Hawaiian-Marshallse Elders and convert at the Tanner Wedding, June 2008: Rick Nang, Steve Lutz, Bryan Boaz and Austin Lowe

Interesting Articles in the News

It’s been a few weeks since I last posted. I’ve been extremely interested/disturbed in some news reports recently, especially regarding the Utah State Legislature. Here are some interesting articles I’ve read recently:

• Child Pornography and an Issue of Restitution – A compelling article about a victim of child pornography who is seeking monetary restitution from perverts who are arrested possessing her images. Apparently videos of this woman’s abuse are often found when a child pornography bust is made. She and her lawyer have calculated the total damage of her victimization is about $3.4 million dollar, consisting of her therapeutic and other emotional costs. She is now asking judges to order those convicted of possessing child pornography to pay her money. Child abuse is one of the few things that can really make me upset, so I found this a novel way to fight both pornography and recompense victims.
• Clearfield man, Scott Kirby Paterson goes after victim in court after child sex abuse conviction – in a related story from Bountiful, a man convicted of child sex abuse suddenly jumped into the courtroom gallery to attack his accuser and her family. This is pretty crazy stuff, which I hope prolongs his sentence.
• 2010 Utah Legislative Session – oh man, I never realized just how wild the state legislative process can be until this last week. Call for eliminating the 12th grade to save money?  Eliminating high school bussing altogether? This is wild stuff. Yesterday in one of my classes, my law professor talked about how he wishes the legislative session was only a few hours long to cut down on the amount of damage state lawmakers can do…
• Perhaps the most ridiculous proposal brought to the capitol this year were numerous proposals to repeal the Salt Lake City ordinance protecting LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) from discrimination in housing or employment. A number of state representatives, riding on a wave of anti-LGBT fervor, want to pass discriminatory, state-wide legislation to invalidate the ordinance, even though the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has specifically asked them to leave it alone. The Church was one of the biggest advocates for the ordinance a few months ago because "because it is fair and reasonable and does not do violence to the institution of marriage." I think this ordinance was very much needed, especially after several violent incidences of anti-LGBT bigotry last year.  Ultimately, these lawmakers essentially came to a draw with pro-LGBT representatives to leave the ordinance alone for at least a year. Basically, the representatives don’t want to mess their re-election chances this year by being labeled as the “pro-gay rights” candidate. We already have a state constitutional amendment to not recognize same-sex marriage, but that doesn’t mean we can’t treat people like decent human beings. Thankfully, we don’t have to worry about any messes the size of SB-81 this year.
• SB-81 Like Bill Can Be Challenged in Federal Court in Oklahoma – Two years ago, Utah passed state bill 81 (SB-81) which made life more difficult for illegal immigrants in Utah. This law was based on an Oklahoma law that was almost exactly word for word the same. Part of the law requires police officers to inquire about people’s citizenship statuses when they have probable cause they are dealing with someone who is an illegal immigrant. Traditionally, immigration falls under federal jurisdiction, so the federal “Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers” (ICE) deal with immigration. SB-81 turns state law enforcement officers into pseudo-ICE officers. SB-81 is problematic in its application violates the 14th Amendment to the Constitution’s equal protection clause. Police officers are not asking white folks about their immigration status, but just Hispanics, which shows the law has a disparate impact in its application, and is thereby unconstitutional. Anyway, a law suit challenging the Oklahoma law will finally be brought to federal court to determine its constitutionality. If the Oklahoma law is struck down, then the Utah one will be as well because Utah is in the same judicial district as Oklahoma. Stay tuned….