Little Mr Mahatma

In which the middle-aged Peacenik mouths off about War Drones--and all the other things that make him cranky.

Mr Mahatma--who is a Mr in real life--lives in the valleys of Southern California with his wife, a herd of Dears, and an impressive collection of books. Pnorny!
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Little Mr Mahatma

Tuesday, June 10, 2003

Attorney General John Ashcroft
If that name doesn't cause your anal region to convulsively pucker then you haven't been following the news. Herr Himmler, I mean, Ashcroft is seeking more power for the Department of Justice (DOJ). Ashcroft wants to be able to hold suspected terrorists indefinitely, and without bail, before trial. Plus he wants expanded abilities to prosecute those who support or work with terrorist groups. Finally he wants to be able to call for life imprisonment or the death penalty for terrorist acts.

He claims that these expanded powers are needed to close loopholes in the Patriot Act. They are more, in fact, like tightening the noose around every American and around what remains of our dear American Constitution. Civil and Personal Liberties will join the dinosaurs.

What is a terrorist? Since Ashcroft never quite defines the term and the penalties are so severe for being one I thought it helpful to provide you, dear reader, a list of the signs that you may be a terrorist. Apologies to Jeff Foxworthy.

Signs that you might be a terrorist:

You come from the Middle East, France, Germany, Russia, or any country other than the U.S.

You haven't contributed to Bush's Re-election Campaign.

You're not a Republican.

You disagree with any of the Administration's policies.

You're younger than 40.

You write a blog, use the Internet, or play console games.

Pretty scary isn't it? And what's worse you could get into trouble not for being a terrorist but just being in contact with one. We should have all terrorists wear an identifying symbol - like a graphic of explosives - on their clothing or we could tattoo a big 'T' on their foreheads. That way, if you see one of these bad people you can escape before the Ashcroft Gestapo nab you for being an accomplice.

And if they do nab you - here's the beautiful part - they want to be able to hold you indefinitely before trial, without bail. They could literally grab you off the street and throw you in a "holding" prison without telling you anything other than you're suspicious of terrorist activities.

Focus on that key word - indefinitely. They could hold you effectively for life. You could lose your job, your family, friends, your whole flipping life because the government thinks you might be a terrorist. This is the same government that invaded Iraq over Weapons that Weren't and because Hussein supported Al Qaeda despite all evidence to the contrary.

And on the off chance you get released do you think you'll get any recompense? Hell, no, because we're at war! You'll be lucky if you don't get an STD or a permanent tattoo courtesy of Bubba, Ethel, and the Dropped Soap Shower Gang.

If the purpose of terrorism is to create fear and panic in the general population then Ashcroft is quickly falling into the terrorist category. Yes, he's not calling for suicide bombers but terrorism isn't about suicide or bombs. It's about fear. Ashcroft's call for more power goes against that which was the cornerstone of America, namely "Innocent until proven guilty" and rights to a jury trial and an attorney. He wants the DOJ to have the power to act as judge, jury, and executioner. He wants to go beyond law. Does this sound familiar? It should. The U.S. Military has the same capabilities: hold someone indefinitely as am "unlawful combatant", trot them up before a military court, try and convict them - possibly even execute them. And what exactly is an "unlawful combatant" - pretty much the same list as a terrorist.

All because of 9/11 and the War on Terrorism - a war, by the way, much like the War on Drugs. A War with no end but with plenty of opportunities for a government to take what isn't theirs, to pass laws that suppress civil liberties, to undermine that which once made our country great.

The U.S. has devolved into some Third World dictatorship. How long before people disappear for "political" reasons, as our Government creates and supports our own form of terrorist organizations: the DOJ and the Military?

9:19 AM

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