From the start, President Bush has been handling this crisis in America's history with aplomb, dignity and care. I've been pretty impressed with his international overtures, and the way in which he's emphasized that this is not a war on Islam, but a war on terrorism.

Sure, Bush made some minor PR blunders early on, like calling this a "crusade": he's never been a great public speaker when you catch him on the fly. But every time he's been quick to yank his foot out of his mouth and recoup. And after a few false starts - which could be blamed on the Northern Alliance dragging its feet - the action in Afghanistan's been pretty darn good. So, from an international standpoint, I can't say I've had too much to complain about.

But when it comes to running things on the homefront, the Bush Administration is really tripping all over its shoes. It's starting to remind me of W's father's term: great success abroad but little to show for it at home. And this time around, what we're getting's a whole lot scarier.

Bush's recent Executive Orders - which bypass our traditional justice system for "foreign enemy belligerents" - are striking a sour note with a lot of people. When folks from all over the political spectrum are looking at an issue and going "uh... hold up," chances are there's something fishy going on; These new rules are starting to smell like day-old haddock heads in the trashcan.

I can see why the orders make sense from the administration's point of view. It is true that, as one talking head put it, "If (the belligerents are) hiding and planning acts of violence they are in violation of the laws of war. The U.S. Constitution doesn't protect them." And I suppose you have to consider that they'd have a hell of a time finding an unbiased jury for a civilian court.

Now, I suspect there's not many people who'd feel sorry for members of Al-Qaeda who get hoisted in front of a military court. I'm certainly not one of them; I'd pay to be in the audience. And I also suspect there are very few who'll shed tears when Al-Qaeda members are fed to Old Sparky. Life is sometimes like Metallica CDs: for people who'd planned further acts of terror against America, today's album is "Kill 'em All."

But as much as my inner Cartman (pictured, right) is in the mood to see some harsh justice meted out, I'm getting a bit worried.

I'm worried about where the bar's going to be set. Right now, this step's for folks we're certain are members of Al-Qaeda, or who were knowingly harboring them. But are all of those folks who've been in double-secret lockdown since after September 11th really Al-Qaeda members?

If not, who are they with, and what's to be done with them? Are we just hanging onto them for amusement's sake, or are we going to sling every last one of them into a military court to see how many books we can throw at them? Remember that the burden of proof isn't on the prosecution, anymore; You could just breathe in their face and ask them the wartime equivalent of "have you stopped beating your wife?" until they confess, and I don't think many defense attorneys will want to make a fuss. This isn't "A Few Good Men"; They're not our people, after all - just foreigners who are accused of meaning us harm.

I'm also worried about how this is going to make us look to the rest of the world. Yes, the opinion polls at the UN shouldn't be the barometer by which we set our national and foreign policy, but how long have we been waggling our fingers at other countries for... say... trying suspected "terrorists" in secret, military tribunals? Taking said convicted "terrorists" out to be shot without a word to their families? Does all that sound strangely familiar?

You can say "well that's them, but this is us," but the only real difference between "us" and "them" is a few miles of bad road. You can also say "well, times are tough," but when have they never been so? A certain oft-quoted philosopher - whose name I can never spell right the first time - warned against becoming dragons while fighting them. I think John Ashcroft's starting to grow himself a tail...

But maybe you just don't care. Maybe you're one of those people who just can't be bothered to seriously consider any viewpoint outside of your own. Given that we're in a state of national emergency, I can't say I'd blame you. Who gives a damn about higher principles or ideals at a time like this? He who hesitates is lost.

But before you rub your hands in glee at the thought of seeing Lady Liberty growing some testicles under her green, copper skirt, consider that there's also another worry with taking the current route. And it's this worry that's probably sparking a good deal of in-country criticism of the Bush Administration's actions: how long before these measures are applied to American citizens?

After all, this is war, and some people have a very loose idea of what "giving aid and comfort to the enemy" means. I consider that to mean aiding and/or housing someone you know to be a spy, saboteur, enemy soldier or - in this war - terrorist. I think that's what was meant, too.

But there's people who think that charge could be applied to some of the more vitriolic anti-war protesters. Others might consider that to apply to all of them. And still others will say that anyone - even a member of the American government - who stands on principle and asks annoying questions is engaged in some weird, treacherous conspiracy. If you're not with us, you're against us: isn't that the standard line?

Again, you can say "well, that's them - that'll never be me." And, again, the only difference between "them" and "you" is a no-knock raid in the middle of the night. As Pastor Martin Niemöller once pointed out, if it can happen to someone else, it can happen to you, too.

Think about that for a minute...

How do you stop a rhino from charging? Don't let it out of its cage. But this rhino's already on the loose - courtesy of an Executive Order from the commander in chief - and on a collision course with its intended. It remains to be seen how many man-shaped smears will need to be cleaned up once it's back in the box.

And that's if it ever goes back at all. If it works "well" now, why stop? Wasn't Income Tax supposed to be a temporary measure too?

In his questioning of Bush's orders, Rep. Robert L. Barr Jr. (R-Ga.) put it best: "I'm not sure we can ever satisfy the federal government's insatiable appetite for more power." That'll be something to keep in mind as the War on Terror continues, and more Executive Orders float down from on high.

You've been hanging 'round - With an enemy of the state - Come with me - To the building - That no one - Stops to watch.

Bleed for Me - Dead Kennedys