J.R. talks God, Guns and Good Government
Chat live from 8 to 9 a.m. every Wednesday (new time)
Fort Worth, Texas
Columnist J.R. Labbe loves to talk about the Second Amendment, the "religion" clause in the First Amendment and the whole Constitutional thing as it applies to good stewardship of the people's trust.
Post questions at any time.
Most Recently Answered Questions
Questions 21 - 40 of 41 (Page 2 of 3)Submitted by JR Labbe from
Q: Quick correction to the last answer will appear below.
Answered 04/09/08 12:44:19 by J.R. Labbe
A: Craig Kelly is the principal deputy assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere. My apologies to him -- and to the Star-Telegram's Chris Kelly -- for confusing the two. My bad.Submitted by David from North Richland Hills
Q: Hi, J.R. How did the State Department characterize the situation in South America regarding Hugo Chavez? What are they expecting of him?
Answered 04/09/08 12:35:54 by J.R. Labbe
A: David, we heard from Chris Kelly, principal deputy assisant secretary if state for the Western hemisphere on relations in Central and South America. He was more interested in accenting the positives in places like Peru and Chile than discussing the problem spots like Venezeula. Colombia was to of mind for Kelly and Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte.Submitted by Lara from Keller
Q: Was there any discussion about the State Department's abysmal failure to uphold the rule of law in Pakistan. When Dep. Secretary of State Negroponte visited there last week he was diplomatically dressed down in a way that US dignitaries are not used to. (Pakistan was even compared to Hondurus!) I wonder if the point was made clear and the US will, going forward, realize that enforceable rights yield the most security in open societies.
Answered 04/02/08 14:22:43 by J.R. Labbe
A: Lara: Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte didn't mention that episode on his recent travels, but he did talk about the Pakistan political transition. He described the recent election as "relatively free and fair." He emphasized that "we are the ones who encouraged Musharaff to take off the uniform" -- sounding a tad defensive to my ears. He didn't, however, paint a happy face on the situation. He did say that extremist activity has increased in the FATA (federally administered tribal area along Afghan border) and that it "has spread to area outside the FATA to settled areas." Richard Boucher, the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, cautioned that Americans shouldn't believe what they read in the media (thanks, Richard); that the administration worked for 18 months in Pakistan to get peaceful democratic transition.Submitted by Vince Young from Houston
Q: Was there any discussion about whether the State Department is having difficulty staffing the Bagdad embassy?
Answered 04/02/08 13:02:08 by J.R. Labbe
A: Vince, yes there were although Reeker put the best face on it that he could. He admitted his own reluctance when Ambassador Crocker asked him to serve in Baghdad. The department's staffing challenges run deeper than just Baghdad. Thomas, the HR director, told us that 50 percent of foreign service officers have less than seven years experience. The average age is 28. If you're interested in a career in foreign service, you can fill out the application online and you don't need a college degree. And Thomas will be happy to take applications from folks up to age 59.Submitted by Matt from FW
Q: IED's.... the scrourge of the Iraqi war. Surely someone witnesses the prep & burial of these boogers. Has anyone ever offered a meaningful reward to locate the explosive & the perp that planted it ? Sorry if this is a dumb question....
Answered 04/02/08 12:58:45 by J.R. Labbe
A: Matt, as every journalist worth her paycheck will tell you, there is no such thing as a dumb question. Certainly there are Iraqis who know who's building, burying and detonating the IEDs. The challenge for Iraqis who would be willing to snitch for money is that cooperating with the Americans can lead to one's own demise in certain sections of Iraq. That's a thorny dilemma.Submitted by Jim from Fort Worth
Q: I read recently that Crocker will be retiring soon (who can blame him). Was there any discussion about who his replacement might be?
Answered 04/02/08 12:41:45 by J.R. Labbe
A: Jim, not a word about who's next in the crucible mainly because it won't be a decision made by this administration.Submitted by Gary from Fort Worth
Q: Did State Dept. officials foresee any improvement in our relationship with Cuba, or do they see Raul as another Fidel?
Answered 04/02/08 12:40:32 by J.R. Labbe
A: Gary, we heard from Craig Kelly, the principal deputy assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere, who spoke briefly about Cuba. The Bush administration's take on Cuba hasn't waivered since El Jefe stepped aside for his younger brother. Don't expect any loosening of sanctions and embargoes prior to Jan. 22, 2009.Submitted by Wayne from Fort Worth
Q: What is the status of the oil business in Iraq? Any expectations they soon will be able to participate meaningfully in the world ecomomy?
Answered 04/02/08 12:36:56 by J.R. Labbe
A: Wayne, according to Reeker (Ambassador's Crocker's counselor) and Feltman (the man with the long title who focuses on the Near East), Iraq's economy has improved greatly, Last year core inflation was 32 percent; this year it's 12 percent. The economic growth is pegged for 7 percent his year (a number the United States looks on with envy given our country's current economic woes). Oil plays a big part in that. The country's capacity to use oil revenues to rebuild are key. But there are still tremendous infrastructure problems -- refineries and pipelines are favored targets of militants -- and there isn't a plan for sharing oil revenues at this point. "Soon" is not a word that should be used in Iraq.Submitted by Mae from Fort Worth, TX
Q: JR, What was the Dept of State's take on the recent shootings in Jerusalem and retaliation shortly after in Bethlehem?
Answered 04/02/08 12:31:26 by J.R. Labbe
A: Mae, given that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was still in the region as the editorial writers met with her staff, everyone with expertise in this arena was very cautious about on-the-record statements about Israel and Palestine. The department's deputy spokesman Tom Casey said that the Middle East is the No. 1 focus of Rice's attention, and that the U.S. is taking a three-pronged approach to reaching the goal of achieving a political agreement among all parties to establish an outline of what a Palestinian state would look like. The administration aims to have the agreement in place before Bush leaves office. Jeff Feltman, pricipal deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs (how's THAT for a title?) said that the April 7 bilateral meeting between the Israelis and the Palestinians will be a pivot point. Rice will focus on the issues of security on both sides; movement, access and economic opportunities for the Palestinians; amd improvement of conditions on the grounds. Feltman said they hope to advance permanent status talks for a solution by year's end.Submitted by Jim from Fort Worth
Q: Given the recent turmoil among Iraq's Shia factions, does the State Department truly believe that there can be a political reconciliation between Shia, Sunni and Kurd?
Answered 04/02/08 12:21:00 by J.R. Labbe
A: Jim: As the old saying goes, hope springs eternal, especially in the State Department. There was very little discussion about the factional problems beyond the recent violence in Basra and al Maliki's decision to go in there without US assistance to quell the problem. Reeker (Ambassador Crocker's counselor) indicated that al Sadr is less of a problem than the militias that aren't aligned with him, although he conceded that al Sadr's call for dialogue shouldn't be mistaken for a change in heart. He still views the United States as a force of darkness. But it is a positive that he wants to negotiate with Maliki.Submitted by Gary from Fort Worth
Q: JR- This isn't foreign policy, but a State Department question nonetheless. In your briefings, were any more details given about the contract employees who went snooping in candidate's records? Was it just normal nosiness, or something more sinister?
Answered 04/02/08 12:08:34 by J.R. Labbe
A: Gary, that question was asked and deflected faster than a Texas Ranger attempt to steal home. Harry Thomas Jr., the director general for foreign service and the director of human resources, was quick to say that his office doesn't oversee discipline for the department in charge of passport issuance.Submitted by Wayne from Fort Worth
Q: What is the latest from the State Department regarding other nations' responses to the recent developments in Iraq? Are any other countries becoming more inclined to provide resources to help?
Answered 04/02/08 12:05:48 by J.R. Labbe
A: Wayne: It was interesting that more focus during this year's briefing for editorial writers was on the allied help needed in Afghanistan rather than in Iraq. It was very clear, at least to me, that the administration is expecting the Iraqis to "step up" in providing for their own security needs, and Phil Reeker, counselor to Ambassador Ryan Crocker, spoke mostly of the gains made in Iraq since the surge (despite some very bad days since Easter). There wasn't much conversation about allied military or training assistance in Iraq -- but Crocker and Gen. Petraeus will likely have something to say on that when they testify on the Hill next week.Submitted by Matt from FW
Q: J.R., In our mere 232 years of democratic government rule of law anchored to the Constitution, I credit a good portion of our "success" to the separation of church & state. Do you believe the re-developing countries of the middle east, where religion based governments have been around for thousands of years, can EVER adopt western democracy style government and have any success at it ?
Answered 03/26/08 15:31:22 by J.R. Labbe
A: Matt: No, neither should anyone expect them to, especially if the only template for democracy is the one used here in the U.S. But I do believe it is possible for them to move away from theocracies -- let's face it, Saddam Hussein was a secular leader in Iraq. And monarchies with parliaments aren't necessarily theocracies.Submitted by Herb from Fort Worth
Q: OK, So you're not a Jericho fan. NO problem. I went to a gun store this morning looking for a particular carry gun. The sales clerk told me that they were out of a lot of guns due to what he termed "pre-election insanity". Since it would take X number of months for the liberals to enact any new gun laws due you feel this "insanity" is more in fear of what would happen should McCain win the election, or fear of what would happen if Hillary were to wrest the nomination from Obama?
Answered 03/26/08 13:11:48 by J.R. Labbe
A: Herb, the fear among a segment of gun rights advocates is that either Democrat will end up in the White House with a Democratic controlled Congress. The wild card, of course, isn't the election but what the Supreme Court might decide in the Heller vs. DC case. IMHO, the presidential candidates would all be happier if guns weren't an issue in this election. That horse, sad for them, is out of the barn.Submitted by Paul from Fort Worth
Q: How do you think the DOD award of the aerial refueling tankers to a what is primarily a French and European group will play out?
Answered 03/26/08 12:49:48 by J.R. Labbe
A: Hard to imagine given the blowback that's occurring from virtually all corners. We've got a guest OpEd running in tomorrow's Star-Telegram from a retired rear admiral that takes the paint off the finish of the Pentagon. (Be sure to check out the OpEd page on March 28.) While I'm no great fan of strict Buy America provisions that make some programs even more expensive than they already are, this decision seems totally out of whack.Submitted by Herb from Fort Worth
Q: I know it's just a TV show, but did anyone see Jericho last night? Texas saves the US, not an unreasonable assumption.
Answered 03/26/08 12:46:09 by J.R. Labbe
A: Herb, I have to confess I missed Jericho last night -- and every other night that it was on. But I'm thinking that, as much as we Texans find that a plausible story line, there are quite a few Americans beyond the borders of this great state who might find that assumption totally unreasonable.Submitted by Steve from Fort Worth, Texas
Q: Do you think Texas will ever become an open carry state? What is your opinion of open carry?
Answered 03/19/08 12:38:30 by J.R. Labbe
A: As I'm sure you know, Steve, Texas is an open carry state for long guns. By law, they must be visible. As far as open carry for handguns, I don't see us going the way of Arizona or Virginia any time soon -- particularly not if the Democrats continue to chip away at the Republicans' balance of power in the Legislature.Submitted by Navelle from Keller,
Q: If the Supremes were to decide that the Second Amendment is a collective right rather than an individual one, wouldn't that set a nasty precendent for the other amendments that deal with individual rights and freedoms?
Answered 03/19/08 12:36:21 by J.R. Labbe
A: That is the argument that individual gun rights advocates have presented. The difference that collective rights advocates argue is the "well regulated militia" phrase in the Second Amendment. Those words or anything similar to them are missing in the First, Fourth, Ninth and Tenth amendments that include "the people." Me, I'm of the school that the Second Amendment refers to an individual right. We'll have to wait until June to find out what a majority of the justices think.Submitted by JOHN from COMANCHE
Q: NO NEW GUN LAWS IN USA REPEAL THE BACK GROUND CHECKS
Answered 03/19/08 12:07:19 by J.R. Labbe
A: John, I'm with you on holding off on new gun laws. And I'm all for enforcing the ones on the books. But I'd be hard pressed to argue against the background checks. If we expect law enforcement to enforce the laws, they have to have a way to do that. The background check is a tool for identifying those people who are, by law, prohibited from purchasing a gun.Submitted by J.RON TALLEY from 3021 ECHO DR. GP TX
Q: WHILE THE CASTLE CLAUSE HAS SOME GREY AREAS, DON'T YOU AGREE A HOMEOWNER HAS THE RIGHT TO DEFEND HIS PROPERTY AND HIS FAMILY FROM THE EVER PRESENT CRIMINAL ELEMENT?
Answered 03/19/08 12:04:20 by J.R. Labbe
A: Yes, Ron, I do agree. The Texas Legislature likely will take another look at the provisions of the castle doctrine when it reconvenes in January, but the fundamental premise -- that a man's home (and I would argue, a woman's as well!) is his castle and he has a right to protect and defend it by all legal means -- shouldn't be tinkered with. And it is my hope that, regardless of what the Supremes decide in Heller vs. D.C., Texas will remain a state that respects that fundamental right.