THE MACHINE, AND HOW IT WORKS

First, a conservative vanity imprint publishes a book by a blowdried nitwit advocating racism as sound anti-terrorism policy, in this case registering and monitoring Muslims.

Then a conservative scholar spins said nitwit's hysteria into something resembling a rational argument for racism as sound anti-terrorism policy, bestowing on it something resembling academic weight.

Then, when most reasonable people reject this idea for the abhorrent bit of fascism which is most certainly is, conservatives point to this as yet more proof of the all-powerful liberal media/academia axis (never, of course, as more proof that their ideas are stupid), and begin writing more books on how liberals hate America.

Rinse and repeat.

It should be obvious to all why registering anyone based solely on their professed faith is a bad idea. First, I highly doubt that any terrorists will be heading down to the post office or wherever to register themselves. The only people who are likely to register are law-abiding citizens (though I suppose "putting the fear in 'em" is an implied component of the plan). Second, how would the U.S. presume to advocate democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in the Muslim world while simultaneously rounding up Muslims in the U.S.? Hearts and minds, indeed.

And, oh yeah, third: it's immoral. But I guess it's all relative, huh? I suppose harassing and degrading millions of people on the basis of their faith is a small price to pay for Michelle Malkin's feeling a little bit safer.

I wonder if Malkin or Pipes would agree that all Christians should be forced to register in anticipation of an abortion clinic bombing? Or if all skinny, creepy, Caucasian loners who'd ever purchased or read the Turner Diaries should have been registered after Oklahoma City? Of course not, because the vast majority of Christians and skinny, creepy, Caucasian loners are mostly real Americans who love their country, whereas Muslims, in Malkin's or Pipes' view, apparently aren't.