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Upon the eve of Americans honouring the spirit of Martin Luther
King's democratic ideals, a harsh reminder that the people's will to
uphold these values has somehow devolved into almost utter apathy. If war
is to be the only social, cultural, environmental and economic condition of a
nation, it is innevitable that its commander-in-chief try
to grab his crown.
I can just hear the ripple of shock as the poor, "deceived" citizens try to
fathom how this could have happened.
Having a mostly neo-con owned media is one thing. Not being accurately
informed is certainly misleading. But being apathetic and largely oblivious to
what is obvious, particularly on the part of Congress, makes mockery
of the basic responsibility to ensure that any elected
official, especially potential dictators like Bush, not be
given opportunity to have sole authority in any matter. Perhaps
the proverbial slap in the head must after all come from the very one who would
oppress.
Best of luck, America. If you don't fight this one, Bush may become
the sole interpreter of US morality, and even the self-sabotaging
economy will not be allowed to cry out for a champion to restore the common
sense of a once freedom-inspired people.
Natalia Kuzmyn
This from Sam Smith's Review, Jan. 17:
DOUG THOMPSON: BUSH READY TO DECLARE MARTIAL LAW
DOUG THOMPSON, CAPITOL HILL BLUE - President George W. Bush has signed executive orders giving him sole authority to impose martial law, suspend habeas corpus and ignore the Posse Comitatus Act that prohibits deployment of U.S. troops on American streets. This would give him absolute dictatorial power over the government with no checks and balances. Bush discussed imposing martial law on American streets in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks by activating "national security initiatives" put in place by Ronald Reagan during the 1980s. These "national security initiatives," hatched in 1982 by controversial Marine Colonel Oliver North, later one of the key players in the Iran-Contra Scandal, charged the Federal Emergency Management Agency with administering executive orders that allowed suspension of the Constitution, implementation of martial law, establishment of internment camps, and the turning the government over to the President. John Brinkerhoff, deputy director of FEMA, developed the martial law implementation plan, following a template originally developed by former FEMA director Louis Guiffrida to battle a "national uprising of black militants." Gifuffrida's implementation of martial law called for jailing at least 21 million African Americans in "relocation camps." Brinkerhoff later admitted in an interview with the Miami Herald that President Reagan signed off on the initiatives and they remained in place, dormant, until George W. Bush took office. Brinkerhoff moved on the Anser Institute for Homeland Security and, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, provided the Bush White House and the Pentagon with talking points supporting revised "national security initiatives" that would could allow imposition of martial law and suspension of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, the law that is supposed to forbid use of troops for domestic law enforcement. Brinkerhoff wrote that intentions of Posse Comitatus are "misunderstood and misapplied" and that the U.S. has in times of national emergency the "full and absolute authority" to send troops into American streets to "enforce order and maintain the peace." Bush used parts of the plan to send troops into the streets of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. In addition, FEMA hired former special forces personnel from the mercenary firm Blackwater USA to "enforce security.". . . http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_7986.shtml All mail scanned by NAV |
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