USA must retaliate for Pearl murder swiftly, without mercy
Published February 27, 2002 in USA Today

Some concrete and positive actions ought to emerge from the heart-rending sadness brought on by the murder of Daniel Pearl of The Wall Street Journal ("Daniel Pearl's world was about truth, love," Letters, Tuesday; "Reporter confirmed dead," News, Friday).

One suggestion is that the U.S. government pledge to hunt down the barbarians who actually killed him and all those who gave them aid and comfort.

In the awful new world jungle in which we now find ourselves, the time has arrived, I am saddened to say, to formally put the country and this society in a perpetual state of war against all those who would harm our citizens.

As part of that condition, the federal government must frame and openly enunciate clear legal justification for covert, fatal action by both intelligence and military forces that oppose those who wage war against us by unconventional means.

Such deadly actions on our part now take place in the political and legal shadows.

Under a new and more open legal-military strategy, our national leaders can give this message to the killers of innocent Americans surely waiting in the wings:

* When you kill our citizens, anywhere in the world, we will hunt you down with specially trained elite and legal killers of our own, backed by the laws of war and supported by every weapon at our command. There will be no time limit on our pursuit.

* We will seek you everywhere you can possibly hide. This is not the policy of one political party or one leader, but it is declared U.S. policy.

As a longtime civil libertarian and former federal civil-rights official, I am disturbed by my own proposals, but I am more disturbed by the fear that the consuming grief we all feel today over Pearl's death will soon be forgotten. Now, while we are all sad and outraged, is the time for this revolutionary and decisive new commitment.

Arnold S. Trebach, Ph.D.

Professor emeritus

Department of Justice, Law and

Society, The American University

Washington, D.C.

Pearl deserves a medal

Now that Arlington National Cemetery will be substantially expanded, it is time to set aside a special section dedicated to heroic journalists such as Daniel Pearl.

There is no doubt that in our war on terrorism, news reporters are working beyond the military battle lines demonstrating acts of bravery and valor that surpass those of our armed forces.

Journalists are taking the lead in supporting and defending our Constitution's guarantee that there shall be no abridging the freedom of the press.

Posthumously awarding Daniel Pearl the Congressional Medal of Honor and a Purple Heart also would bestow a fitting national recognition that is unquestioned and respected by all military men of honor from throughout our republic's history.

Major Joseph A. Blair

U.S. Army, retired

Columbus, Ga.

Response from Chris Toussaint