Zell zings traitor, 'nitpickers'

Georgias junior U.S. senator, Zell Miller, D-Ga., has made quite a reputation in Washington and here at home for not only being outspoken, but for his knack at voicing blunt thoughts that zero in on the views of his conservative Georgia constituents.

Zell has been so outspoken that the major media appear to have grown tired of passing along his comments. Thats a shame - especially considering Millers views on a couple of recent events:

On the capture of John Walker: John Walker came out of that fortress in northern Afghanistan right along with Taliban soldiers. He claims he is an American citizen. I say he gave up that privilege the minute he chose to fight against his own country.

In fact, I think anyone who fights for a country against ones own should lose his citizenship. Remember, John Walker was fighting against our soldiers at a place where an American was killed.

I hope John Walker is tried. And I hope he gets a true jury of his peers. You know who should make up that jury? Those 19- and 20-year-old Marines dug in that desert dirt and those 19- and 20-year-old Americans on those ships off the coast.

They are his age group. They are his peers. Let them decide his fate.

On critics, especially fellow Democrats, attacking Attorney General John Ashcrofts anti-terrorism initiatives and President Bushs decision to use military tribunals to try terrorists: They need to get off his back and let Attorney General Ashcroft do his job. These nit-pickers need to find another nit to pick. They need to stop protecting the rights of terrorists.

This is about national security. This is about life and death.

You go, Zell!

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