20051129
Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States...
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/11/20051128-9.html
"And the biggest problem we got is we're still at war. I wish I could report to you we weren't at war, but there's an enemy that still lurks that wants to do harm to the United States of America. And they want to do us harm because we stand squarely for freedom and democracy and we're not going to change. You see, they can't stand the fact -- (applause) -- they can't stand the fact that we allow people to worship freely, or to speak their mind in the public square, or to print articles the way they want to print them in America. They have a different view of the world. They've got this vision of darkness that stifles dissent and stifles the freedoms that many of us take for granted...The enemy has made Iraq a central front in this war on terror, so we must take it seriously...Jon Kyl understands that in this war on terror it's important to have members of the United States Senate who understand mixed messages...You know, I just recently came off a trip to the Far East...And it struck me that I was in a region of the world where there -- where wars had started."
The Iraq war is a perfect opportunity for the American people to take action which will result in all war profiteering being treated as treason--and the people involved put to death in public.
Here's a primer on the "unique threats" that have faced this country in the past.
1. In 1776 we rebelled against the most powerful nation on earth. Our forefathers didn't see the threat posed by Britain sufficient to justify the abandonment of human rights. Just the opposite, they used their experience to justify the bill of rights.
Now, more "unique threats" from the past.
2. War of 1812. Britain invades and burns Washington DC.
3. Civil War. Nation's survival at stake in the War between the States.
4. 1870's to 1890's. Labor unrest due to exploitation of industrial workers reaches such crisis proportions, that the national government fears a revolution. Armories are built in cities throughout the nation to be used to put down revolts if necessary.
5. World War I erupts. Pax Britannica is broken with the war to end all wars. The US faces the most powerful nations on earth in a struggle for life and death.
6. The Great Depression. Again threats of revolution by a destitute population.
7. World War II. The United States goes to war against the two most powerful military nations on earth.
8. The Cold War. Russia develops the capacity to vaporize American cities with hydrogen bombs.
And so on.
Now, let's take a look at the current "terrorist" threat. According to the FBI, in 2001 there were 100 Al-Queda members world wide. There's probably a lot more now but their power is nothing compared to the threat posed by the former Soviet Union.
The point I am making is this. There has never been a time in American history when some "unique threat" could not be used as an excuse to trample on civil rights or violate international law.
Never.
Until now, America has generally been able to resist the call of those who supported "gutter tactics" in the fight to preserve this nation.
Of course, that was before George Bush came along. ¶ 29.11.05
