President Bush called the citizens patrolling the border "vigilantes," even though they merely function as an extended neighborhood watch operation, notifying authorities of what they observe. Here is a thought experiment:

Imagine that 500 Iraqis showed up at the Iraq—Syria border to keep Baathist infiltrators from entering. Wouldn't the Administration have its spokemen all over the place touting this as a promising development?

But when it happens here they warn of vigilante justice and the dangers of citizens taking the law into their own hands. Go figure.

Thomas Lifson   4 6 05