Hi, Natalia,

 

The Sam Smith piece does not seem credible. It is so easy to start these kinds of rumors. Sometimes people of good-will but low analytic ability to do so, sometimes trouble-makers (and given the US’s bad behavior there are many who understandably want to cause trouble for the country)...

 

Partly, too, it can be a linguistic problem, having to do with the language and actions of ‘planning.’  For example, we all consider various options. “What if I did this?” What if I did that?” We seek to understand the consequences of various courses of action, or seek to detail out a possible course to assess what it would take to carry it out. This is ‘planning’, and it is far removed from taking a decision to do something or not.  But the term ‘planning’ is often taken to mean that a decision has been taken and that it only waits to put it into effect. “I plan to go to a movie this afternoon.”  Most western governments do a great amount of contingency planning, in order to support, yea or nay, an eventual decision. But when news of such planning leaks, people often hear it as a decision that has been made.  “Planning” gets confused with “deciding”

 

This goes beyond the matter of Sam Smith’s concern, of course. It is a general reality that people might want to keep in mind when they hear that some government is ‘planning’ something.

 

Cheers,

Lawry

 


From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Darryl and Natalia
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 3:22 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Futurework] Martial Law A Mere Formality Now

 

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

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