The Police State is Closer Than You Think ..... PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS

[RedEarth]

Police states are easier to acquire than Americans appreciate.

The hysterical aftermath of September 11 has put into place the main components of a police state.

Habeas corpus is the greatest protection Americans have against a police state. Habeas corpus ensures that Americans can only be detained by law. They must be charged with offenses, given access to attorneys, and brought to trial. Habeas corpus prevents the despotic practice of picking up a person and holding him indefinitely.

President Bush claims the power to set aside habeas corpus and to dispense with warrants for arrest and with procedures that guarantee court appearance and trial without undue delay. Today in the US, the executive branch claims the power to arrest a citizen on its own initiative and hold the citizen indefinitely. Thus, Americans are no longer protected from arbitrary arrest and indefinite detention.

These new "seize and hold" powers strip the accused of the protective aspects of law and give rein to selectivity and arbitrariness. No warrant is required for arrest, no charges have to be presented before a judge, and no case has to be put before a jury. As the police are unaccountable, whoever is selected for arrest is at the mercy of arbitrariness.

The judiciary has to some extent defended habeas corpus against Bush's attack, but the protection that the principle offers against arbitrary seizure and detention has been breeched. Whether courts can fully restore habeas corpus or whether it continues in weakened form or passes by the wayside remains to be determined.

Americans may be unaware of what it means to be stripped of the protection of habeas corpus, or they may think police authorities would never make a mistake or ever use their unbridled power against the innocent. Americans might think that the police state will only use its powers against terrorists or "enemy combatants".

http://www.counterpunch.org/

[sam sarrha]

1. any citizen that wants a fair vote recount could be an enemy combatant

Fascism is so clever...

[Why Syzygy]

2. Okay

And our "liberation" of Ira*q mean WHAT?

This shall not stand.

[ixion]

3. This is the 'Freedom' and 'Democracy' of which * speaks

the freedom to be held without charges, with no recourse, and an unrepresentative Democracy of Cronies.

Everyday, I weep for our once great republic, now bananacized. :cry:

[liberal N proud]

4. We are already there!

All they have to do now is enact the policies in mass.

[Mandate My Ass]

5. exactamente

I thought I'd use Spanish since we've been a banana republic for a while now.

[Richard D]

6. Nominated

This is a really important article.

[LuCifer]

8. I 4th that!

Com'on! ONE MORE NOMINATION! Com'on! DO IT!

Ok, back to cleaning my guns...

[waiting for hope]

7. Fight Back.....

Check this out http://action.aclu.org/reformthepatriotact/ - I'm a card carrying member and proud of it.:woohoo:

[Daphne08]

9. Paul Craig Roberts has been writing some very

interesting columns lately (and I believe he is still a Conservative).


The following is a classic:

"A Reputation in Tatters"
http://www.lewrockwell.com/roberts/roberts101.html

And this one is a must-read!

"Where Did These Conservatives Come From?
The Brownshirting of America"
http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts10152004.html

[LibertyorDeath]

10. PENTAGON DOMESTIC SPYING PROVISION SNUCK INTO BILL:

http://www.americanprogressaction.org/site/apps/nl/cont...



The Senate may give the Defense Department more information about American citizens, without letting American citizens know. The new provisions -- snuck into the bill with little public attention -- reflect President Bush's desire to give the Pentagon increased powers in civil affairs. The new provisions include allowing the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to "covertly approach and cultivate 'U.S. persons' and even recruit them as informants -- without disclosing they are doing so on behalf of the U.S. government," allowing federal intelligence agencies increased access to government databases on U.S. citizens, and granting the DIA new exemptions to withhold information from public requests. Similar provisions were inserted last year into the same authorization bill, but removed under public objections. ACLU Legislative Council Tim Sparapani objected: "This punches yet another enormous hole through the Privacy Act."

[Patiod]

22. Like the Denver police monitoring the Quakers as pot'l terrorists

Disgusting. I have no faith that those in power won't misuse it, and this is a prime example. Anyone who supports peace is a potential terrorist.

Jeez.

[autorank]

11. This guy is great. He'd fit right in at DU. He's our Emile Zola

And he has absolutely no sense of humor. He just pounds Bush without any mercy and the Neocons might as well move out of town if he becomes Sheriff.

[LibertyorDeath]

12. THE PENTAGON’S NEW ARMIES OF THE NIGHT

THE PENTAGON’S NEW ARMIES OF THE NIGHT


WASHINGTON DC - Life sometimes imitates art. One of my all-time favorite films is the gripping drama, `Seven Days In May.’ Made in 1964 and starring Burt Lancaster, the film depicts an attempted coup by far rightists in Washington using a top secret, Pentagon anti-terrorist unit called `Ecomcon.’

Last week, the respected former military intelligence analyst William Arkin revealed a hitherto unknown government directive, with the Orwellian sobriquet `JCS Conplan 0300-97,’ authorizing the Pentagon to employ special, ultra secret `anti-terrorist’ military units on American soil for what the author says are `extra legal missions.’ In other words, using US soldiers to arrest or kill citizens at home, acts that have been illegal since the US Civil War and are a grave violation of the constitution and tradition.

The above frightening news comes as Washington is gripped by retro-Cold War fever - `Muslims Under Our Matresses’ having replaced the 1950’s scare, `Red’s Under Our Bed’s’ - galloping paranoia, feverish threats of war against Iran from the real president, Dick Cheney, and a titanic bureaucratic battle just won by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Instead of being fired for the gigantic military-political-financial fiasco in Iraq and the shameful torture scandals that are still coming to light , Rumsfeld has just managed to create a new, spy/special ops organization under the Pentagon, blandly named `Strategic Support Branch,’ that will replace or duplicate many of CIA’s tasks.

CIA is being punished big-time. Too many CIA veterans criticized or contradicted Bush and Cheney’s phony claims over Iraq and terrorism. The agency failed to back up Cheney’s grotesque claims about Iraq’s alleged nuclear weapons and links to al-Qaida. So Bush and Cheney imposed a new, yes-man director on the agency, Porter Goss, slashed budgets, conducted massive purges of veteran offciers, and downgraded CIA to third class status.

http://www.ericmargolis.com/archives/2005/02/the_pentagonas.php

[LibertyorDeath]

13. Something Wicked This Way Comes

They lie to get what they want and stop at nothing to achieve their goals. They are masters of propaganda and mass programming. They want us to believe in external enemies; barbarians at the gate. Meanwhile, the enemy within raids the treasury, disembowels the Constitution, weakens the nation and marginalizes the people.

When you look at a program like REX-84 you realize quickly what the elites are afraid to death of: Freedom and Democracy. It's a free people that scare the Neo-cons to death.

And that's why America is in such danger. That is why they will do anything to stay in power, even destroy the very thing they claim sacrosanct: the United States of America.

I am always amused when the 911 conspiracy buffs make their claims of "inside job." I am not amused by the conspiratorialists; but by those who dismiss them on the grounds that no matter how corrupt, deceitful and evil `they' may be; it is inconceivable that Americans would do harm to Americans.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/10/6/181125/576

[LibertyorDeath]

14. Cops In Louisiana Can Now Search Homes Without Warrants

The ruiling stems from a lawsuit filed in Denham Springs in 2000.

NEW ORLEANS -- It's a groundbreaking court decision that legal experts say will affect everyone: Police officers in Louisiana no longer need a search or arrest warrant to conduct a brief search of your home or business.

Leaders in law enforcement say it will provide safety to officers, but others argue it's a privilege that could be abused.

The decision was made by the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Two dissenting judges called it the "road to Hell."

http://www.rense.com/general50/cops.htm

[LibertyorDeath]

15. The Police State Act: A Report

by Rep. Ron Paul, MD


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Congress passed legislation last week that reauthorizes the Patriot Act for another 10 years, although the bill faced far more opposition than the original Act four years ago. I’m heartened that more members of Congress are listening to their constituents, who remain deeply skeptical about the Patriot Act and expansions of federal police power in general. They rightfully wonder why Congress is so focused on American citizens, while bin Laden and other terrorist leaders still have not been captured.

The tired arguments we’re hearing today are that same ones we heard in 2001 when the Patriot Act was passed in the emotional aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks. If the Patriot Act is constitutional and badly needed, as its proponents swear, why were sunset provisions included at all? If it’s unconstitutional and pernicious, why not abolish it immediately? All of this nonsense about sunsets and reauthorizations merely distracts us from the real issue, which is personal liberty. America was not founded on a promise of security, it was founded on a promise of personal liberty to pursue happiness.

snip

Unfortunately, some of my congressional colleagues referenced the recent London bombings during the debate, insinuating that opponents of the Patriot Act somehow would be responsible for a similar act here at home. I won’t even dignify that slur with the response it deserves. Let’s remember that London is the most heavily monitored city in the world, with surveillance cameras recording virtually all public activity in the city center. British police officials are not hampered by our 4th amendment nor our numerous due process requirements. In other words, they can act without any constitutional restrictions, just as supporters of the Patriot Act want our own police to act. Despite this they were not able to prevent the bombings, proving that even a wholesale surveillance society cannot be made completely safe against determined terrorists. Congress misses the irony entirely. The London bombings don’t prove the need for the Patriot Act, they prove the folly of it.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul265.html

[LibertyorDeath]

16. Abandoning Liberty; Gaining Insecurity

By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS

Should Americans have to give up the Bill of Rights in order to be "safe" from terrorists? Actually, it doesn't matter what Americans think. The trade has already been made--and without any input from the people. The "democracy" that America is exporting is in fact a Homeland Security State with more surveillance powers than Saddam Hussein.

Americans no longer have any privacy from government. You may not be able to find out about your daughter's abortion or your son's college grades, but neither you nor your children have any secret whatsoever from your government. Banks, airlines, libraries, credit card companies, medical doctors and health care organizations, employers, Internet providers, any and everyone must turn over your private information at government demand.

Government demand no longer means a court approved warrant. A myriad of intelligence, security, military, and police agencies can on their own volition mine your personal data and feed it into data banks. Your democratic government does not have to tell you. Your bank, library, etc., are forbidden to tell you.

The government can monitor you as you use your computer, noting the web sites that you visit and reading the emails that you send and receive. Americans have privacy rights only against intrusions by private individuals and private organizations.
http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts02012005.html

[MountainLaurel]

17. And let's not forget

That the Real ID Act gives the Dept. of Homeland Security the leeway to do anything they want, with no judicial or congressional oversight. Even after an event has taken place.

[AuntiBush]

18. Nominated

While I sadly weep for my long-lost, stolen Democratic country...

[Nothing Without Hope]

19. Related - other aspects of the police state/martial law in this thread:

Important articles on FEMA executive orders (utterly dictatorial powers) and much more posted not only in the OP but in the replies in this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4790112
thread title: Missing A KEY POINT in *'s speech: POWER GRAB FOR POTUS AND MILITARY

The "seize and hold" powers discussed in this current thread are another important piece.

[Nothing Without Hope]

20. *** Here is the PERMALINK for this story***

http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts10102005.html

The link given in the opening post is to the Counterpunch home page; this story is there now but won't be next week.

[Neil Lisst]

21. Five years ago, Alex Jones sounded like a mad man. Now...

Now, not so much. I am very worried about our future as a country, our liberties, which Bush can't wait to trample under again. It's my Thursday topic for my comic, Bush and his desire to trash the constitution. He hates freedom.

-----------------------
today I shout out to DU mods and posters
http://www.webcomicsnation.com/neillisst/