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John Conyers Confirms That An Attack Against Iran Is Not a “Conspiracy Theory”

Justanothercoverup — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 07:40:41 EDT

On March 31st, we published an article entitled Russian Intelligence Services State US Is Preparing For Attack On Iran. We were not the first to break the story, and in fact, were behind the curve and found the story posted on the Digg Community. The article was well received, however, we noticed that it was being read by an enormous amount of state governmental agencies as well as a “who’s who” of federal entities - many of whom followed every link and spent a substantial amount of time reading, and then making return visits to the same article. It ls unconscionable that our Mainstream News Media hasn’t followed-up on and reported facts that indicate the United States is on a clear path to war with Iran:

On April the 2nd, and again on April the 5th, Russian sources reported the US was gong to strike Iran within two (2) weeks, yet not a word is mentioned on the MSM or in the Halls of Congress:

Russia ‘Alarmed’ As US Readies April Nuclear Attack On Iran

By News Director on April 5th, 2008

Russian Foreign Ministry Officials are reported to be ‘alarmed’ today over a ‘presentation’ made by the United States War Leaders to President Putin at this weeks NATO summit in Romania and which details the Americans plan to begin a nuclear attack against Iran’s atomic facilities in the next two weeks.

Most disturbing of these reports, according to Foreign Ministry Analysts, are the United States ‘offers and threats’ towards Russia to ‘remain neutral’ in this conflict or face the combined weight of the American and EU central banks deliberate collapsing of the Western banking system, and US dollar, and which is estimated will cause the loss of nearly $800 billion of Russian foreign reserves.

To the ‘offers’ presented to President Putin for keeping Russia out of this war, these reports continue, will be NATO’s rejection of Ukraine and Georgia membership into the Western Military Alliance and the ending of the planned US Missile Shield being planned for Poland and the Czech Republic. MUCH MORE

The same information was reported on April 2nd at “War In Iraq”

The story and allegations appeared to be credible, and since the MSM ignored the issue, we made this statement in a follow-up article, If We Go To War With Iran, Who Will You Blame? :

The MSM is concentrating on the upcoming November elections and the economy in the US - essentially using it as cover for failing to warn us of an impending attack against Iran. When we are faced with an issue that affects every American here and abroad, it’s time to bombard the MSM with emails, letters to the various editors, and calls to Congress to demand answers. On an issue this serious, the least the MSM could do is to try and debunk what is stated on the news in other countries - tell us why it’s not a problem, and assure us that our military isn’t readying themselves to attack Iran. If Russia is stating that they have evidence an attack on Iran is imminent, I believe that it is not only newsworthy, but to ignore a threat as dire as an attack that could be a precursor to WW III, if the MSM refuse to uphold their responsibility to warn the people, they are as guilty as those who make the final decision to begin the attack.

I expected an answer, either vague or an outright denial from the MSM or Congress itself, similar to the response Congress made when thousands of Americans jammed-up their phones in regard S 1959; with the substantiation that was offered on this issue, it’s fair to say many Americans were making calls and demanding answers, none which I expected until the pressure began to mount-up - and for the first time, I was actually shocked when exactly the opposite occurred:

Conyers: “If Bush Goes Into Iran, He Should Be Impeached”

By: Jane Hamsher Tuesday March 18, 2008 9:09 am

John Conyers just finished up a panel with John Cole and Christy Hardin Smith at Take Back America with words that were heartening to everyone made just a wee bit uneasy by the recent retirement of Admiral Fallon and the implications it might have for war with Iran:

“If Bush Goes Into Iran, He Should Be Impeached,” said Conyers. (Emphasis added.)

Conyers also said that with regard to FISA, the House was going into conference with the Senate. That the Senate wanted to give retroactive immunity to the telecoms, and that the House is saying “let a judge decide.” But he also made the point that it wasn’t just the Republicans who were the problem: LINK

After reading the above statement, it’s obvious that it isn’t just “conspiracy theorists” who believe Bush/Cheney are readying an attack against Iran. The timing of Mr. Conyer’s statement is remarkable, and while I believe his intentions are good - he, as well as the rest of the country need to wake-up and understand that if we attack Iran - soon thereafter the United States will fall under martial law! How will you impeach Bush when he assumes control of “all aspects of the government?” This is one time that Congress and the American people won’t get a second chance - and it’s up to us to apply the pressure to ensure that each and every member of Congress hears us loud and clear!

Conyers Threatens Impeachment if Iran Attacked

Why do I “assume” that an attack against Iran will be a precursor to Martial Law? Actually, when we look to past news reports and our own assessment of Iran’s “QUDS Force” - it’s an event that anyone in possession of the facts would suspect and expect to occur soon after Iran is attacked by the United States and/or Israel. The QUDS Force, which is Iran’s version of our own Special Forces, is a highly trained group of Iran’s most elite fighters - and some of them are already in the United States!

In 2006, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made this statement, and while he didn’t elaborate, US military analysts have indicated Iran’s QUDS force are capable of inflicting serious attacks on the continental United States. Obviously, to carry out attacks within our own borders would indicate the QUDS force has built-up it’s presence within our country, and unfortunately, there is evidence their efforts to infiltrate the United States have been successful:

AP: Iran threatens U.S. with harm & pain

By GEORGE JAHN, Associated Press Writer Wednesday, March 08, 2006

VIENNA, Austria - Iran threatened the United States with “harm and pain” Wednesday for its role in hauling Tehran before the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear program.

Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, waves to supporters in western of Iran, Wednesday, March. 8, 2006. Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that Iran has made its decision to pursue a peaceful nuclear program and the world has to give in to Iran’s right for uranium enrichment. Ahmadienjad was apparently referring to the United States which has rejected a Russian proposal to allow Iran carry out research-scale uranium enrichment in return for suspension of large-scale enrichment. LINK

Again, I’m citing a report from 2006, and since then, our relationship with Iran has deteriorated dramatically. Ahmadinejad has made several threats against the United States based on Bush and Cheney’s constant rhetoric - threats which several military analysts take seriously. Even worse, there is now substantial evidence that the QUDS force has already successfully entered the United States, and no one is aware of what they brought with them to sabotage our country.

As Immigration Bill Stalls, U.S. Border Invites Terrorists

by Deroy Murdock 06/18/2007

Along with Massachusetts Democrat Ted Kennedy, the Arizona Republican co-sponsored immigration legislation currently stalled in the Senate. McCain should recognize that without a barrier or fence, the U.S./Mexican frontier will keep welcoming Islamic extremists pledged to America’s doom.

This is not hypothetical. (Emphasis added.)

“Members of Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based terrorist organization, have already entered the United States across our southwest border,” declares “A Line in the Sand,” a January report of the House Homeland Security subcommittee on Investigations, then-chaired by Texas Republican Michael McCaul.

The study cites FBI Director Robert Mueller’s March 2005 congressional testimony confirming that, “there are individuals from countries with known al-Qaeda connections who are changing their Islamic surnames to Hispanic-sounding names and obtaining false Hispanic identities, learning to speak Spanish, and pretending to be Hispanic immigrants.” (Emphasis added.)

Zapata County, Texas Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez told House members last July: “If smugglers can bring in tons of marijuana and cocaine at one time and can smuggle 20 to 30 persons at one time, one can just imagine how easy it would be to bring in two or three terrorists or their weapons of mass destruction across the river and not be detected.” MORE

You may ask yourselves what damage a few, or maybe even hundreds of QUDS force operatives in the United could inflict upon our country? Iran is a closed society, and while Bush and Cheney are constantly harping on Iran’s nuclear program, there are also reports that Iran is capable of and may be in possession of sophisticated biological weapons. A report from 1996 stated that Iran would be able to deliver biological agents via their military in approximately 10 years, which has already passed. There isn’t a lot of information available to ascertain whether or not Iran still has a covert biological weapons program, but based on tensions that have been building for years, I believe that if attacked, Iran will not hesitate to attack our nation with a ferocity that may take our war planners off-guard. (Again…)

We already know they are here, and several stories from the border indicate their efforts at infiltrating the US has been successful:

Texas Sheriffs: Terrorists Entering U.S. from Mexico

NewsMax.com Wires
Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2006

This article by Kevin Mooney originally appeared at CNSNews.com.

The chief law enforcement officers of several Texas counties along the southern U.S. border warn that Arabic-speaking individuals are learning Spanish and integrating into Mexican culture before paying smugglers to sneak them into the United States. The Texas Sheriffs’ Border Coalition believes those individuals are likely terrorists and that drug cartels and some members of the Mexican military are helping them get across the border.

Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez of Zapata County, Texas told Cybercast News Service that Iranian currency, military badges in Arabic, jackets and other clothing are among the items that have been discovered along the banks of the Rio Grande River. The sheriff also said there are a substantial number of individuals crossing the southern border into the U.S. who are not Mexican. He described the individuals in question as well-funded and able to pay so-called “coyotes” - human smugglers - large sums of money for help gaining illegal entry into the U.S. MORE

The evidence that the QUDS force and Al Qaeda have successfully entered our nation is undeniable, and even though we have evidence they are using the porous southern border as an entry point, the gaping hole in our national security is still open, an invitation to anyone that has the desires to covertly enter our country. Even worse than conventional methods for entering our country, the southern border offers potential terrorists an entry point that will also accommodate their weapons, and none of us knows what they might be. Below are several links that also indicate our country is being infiltrated by people who’s intention is to inflict as much damage upon the country as they can in the event of war:

51 terror suspects nabbed trying to enter U.S. illegally. ‘If this isn’t a wake-up call to our lax border security, I don’t know what is’

Arab terrorists ‘are getting into the US over Mexican border’

Al-Qaeda’s Illegal Immigration Threat

Terror-Linked Migrants Channeled Into U.S.

Our nation consists of thousands of square miles of terrain and vital infrastructure, any which could be terrorist targets. From simple targets like oil terminals, pipelines, major power-grid switching stations, Dams, you name it, our infrastructure is laid out in a way that attacks could occur where least expected but would still create a lot of confusion, stress, and wondering where a “safe haven” exists, if there is one. If they have biological weapons, the way the bulk of our water supply is configured and other factors, spreading a deadly disease is much easier than you can imagine. We also have to understand the Iranian philosophy and the reputation of the QUDS force They are hand-picked and rival our own special forces in physical prowess and may surpass us in mental conditioning. As a military unit they are a formidable adversary on the battlefield, but left to their own devices in an open society, the havoc they could wreak upon this nation could be monumental. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may be arrogant, speaks when silence would better serve his purpose, and seems intent on not giving an inch - but we must also remember that the Bush administration turned-down Iranian overtures for peace in 2003. Middle-East experts speculate that Bush ignoring previous peaceful initiatives from Iran is largely responsible for their current hard-line stance. While Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is abrasive and seems intent on making the US blink first, I don’t believe that he is stupid either!

He must know that he is treading on thin ice, and while he seems assured the US will not mount a preemptive strike against Iran, analysts believe that he has set in motion a “force” to avenge what he sees as an unprovoked attack against Iran. He has warned us, and I don’t take his threats lightly. It is especially disconcerting when you understand that members of the QUDS force are fiercely loyal and would not hesitate to lay down their lives to avenge America’s attack on their homeland. If we go to war with Iran, we will face a different type of well-organized Guerrilla fighters that by our standards, are fanatics and value no life whatsoever, including their own. Bring yourself back to the Iran/Iraq war and remember when teenage Iranians ran though Iraqi mine fields, sacrificing their lives so the tanks and other support vehicles could get through. That’s the mentality of Iran on a full-blown war footing - and for our troops sake, I hope they are spared from fighting people who resemble barbarians.

Then, we have our own Iranian population in the United Stares to consider; Wikipedia shows that we have a growing Iranian-American population that in 2000 was estimated to be 338,000. In 2004, that figure rose to 691,000; the last figure they show is 900,000, another substantial rise. Based on people that choose not to participate in Census and other governmental agencies, it’s probably safe to conclude that we are close to one million Iranian-Americans. To the best of my knowledge, our Iranian-American members of society have been productive and peaceful. If I have missed something, I’m sure it will be pointed out by the readership. There is violence in every community, but as it pertains to what we hear on the news and even on Blogs, I have not noted violence in the Iranian-American community that would suggest they are different than any other minority. In fact, I have heard so little it suggests to me that as a whole, they may be less prone to violence than several communities I could list.

Iranian immigration to the United States has been continuous since the 1980s. Today, the United States contains the highest number of Iranians in the world outside Iran not including a large and influential Iranian Zohrastrian community in India. The Iranian-American community has produced a sizable number of individuals notable in many fields, including medicine, engineering, and business. The community expanded predominantly in the early 1980s in the wake of the Iranian Revolution and the fall of the former regime. The majority of Iranian refugees are upper-middle class and others are wealthy[citation needed]. They have comparatively liberal political opinions and westernized lifestyles due in part to American acculturation. Iranian-Americans thus tend to practice moderate, less traditional forms of Shi’ism (some were forced into asylum or exile for disagreements over religion with the Islamic Republic of Iran) as well as liberal Judaism.

Many Iranian Americans are also members of the Azeri, Armenian, Kurdish, Assyrian or other ethnic groups, reflecting the diversity of Iran.

The 2000 US Census estimated that 338,000 Iranian-Americans reside in the United States. In 2004, the Iranian-American population was estimated at 691,000 according to Iranian studies group [4] at MIT [5]. Large concentrations of Iranian Americans live in the state of California, more than 500,000 of them live in Southern California particularly around Los Angeles, Orange County, La Jolla (San Diego), and San José. Other Iranian-American communities in California include the Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, Imperial Valley and the Coachella Valley. For this reason, the L.A area with its Iranian American residents is sometimes referred to as “Tehrangeles” or “Irangeles” among Iranian Americans, in allusion to Iran and its capital, Tehran, which is also a sister city of Los Angeles.[6] According to Ethnologue, there are at least 900,000 speakers of the Iranian dialects of the Persian language living in the US.[3] LINK

Of course, I’m speaking of the Iranian-American community as it exists today; tomorrow is too much of a toss-up, and as fast as events are transpiring today, the future remains unknown, uncertain, and unpredictable. Many American Iranian’s have family in Iran, communicate regularly, and certainly care about their families just as much as we care for our own. How much anger and outrage will be generated in America’s Iranian community if we launch an unprovoked first-strike targeting Iran? The Iranian nuclear program covers a lot of ground, and even if we don’t use tactical nuclear bunker-busting bombs, the causalities are likely to be enormous if our mission is to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability. What about the Islamic community within the United States? How large is America’s Muslim community?

Number of Muslims in the U.S.

Nobody knows.

This is a political hot-potato. Some non-Muslims have accused Muslims of exaggerating their numbers in order to obtain more political clout. Some Muslims have accused non-Muslims of releasing false, low numbers in order to “marginalize” Islam. In religion, as in war, truth is often the first casualty.

Estimates of the number of Muslims in North America range from a little over one million adults to seven million adults and children. One cause of the disagreement appears to be related to the percentage of Muslim immigrants:
* Who have abandoned Islam since they arrived in the US, or
* Who still consider themselves to be Muslims, but who do not participate in mosque activities. MORE

Further, if we attack Iran we are virtually certain they will retaliate. After an attack, we can expect huge protests and anger from both of the above communities - and then retribution if we face violent attacks within our own borders from QUDS force operatives that already exist within the country. In this author’s opinion, it’s a recipe for disaster and a subsequent declaration of martial law would be inevitable. Mr. Conyer’s statement was nothing more than symbolic; based on US troop and naval movements, recent preparations by Israel and Saudi Arabia, and Russia clearly stating it was our intention to attack Iran, a threat of impeachment “after the fact” is hollow and meaningless.

It’s about damn time that our Congress on both sides of the isle wake the hell up and take action to protect our nation as well as themselves and their own families. Our own military doesn’t discount threats from Iran of attacks against the US if we start a preemptive attack. and like it or not, our Congress is configured to include representatives from all fifty (50) states. I doubt if their families are bullet-proof, impervious to disease, or radioactive-resistant, however I’m guessing they are human too, and when you risk the rest of the citizenry, you also risk the welfare of your own families. None of us know where terrorists may strike in retaliation, and that “where” could include your own constituency(s).

Where is the Mainstream New Media on this issue? Several Blogs, including my own, have contained all of this information, and just a few days after the information was published, John Conyers issued a statement that Bush would face impeachment hearings if he attacked Iran. Hello??? Was this a coincidence, or was Mr. Conyers verifying that indeed, we are planning on attacking Iran?

PM declares ‘emergency’ in drill

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared a state of emergency Monday following “a barrage of hundreds of missiles from Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip,” as the country’s largest-ever emergency exercise, “Turning Point 2,” continues.

Dozens of Israeli civilians were “killed” on Sunday as Israel went to “war” with Syria, Hizbullah and Hamas on the first day of the exercise.

The five-day drill opened with an announcement by Olmert at the weekly cabinet meeting of an outbreak of hostilities following the firing of Katyusha rockets into northern Israel by Hizbullah in Lebanon. The simulated conflict quickly escalated and by the afternoon - representing the fourth day of the “war” - Israel was also “being hit by Syrian missiles and Hamas-fired Kassams and Katyushas.” MORE

For an investigative reporter, there is an abundance of evidence that suggests the United States is seriously considering, or is in the final planning stages of an attack on Iran. Don’t forget about Syria, because if we strike Iran, Israel will be up to their noses with instantaneous retaliatory strikes from Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria, the latter of whom Israel will likely attack first to gain the tactical advantage. What is being planned is not just an attack on Iran, but igniting the entire Middle-East in another one of Bush and Cheney’s wars; we can take it by remaining silent, or we can raise hell by unmercifully calling our Congressional Representatives with calls and emails, and don’t forget to include your local editors too; if enough of you send letters to the Editor, some are likely to be published, helping to bring awareness to the rest of our nation.

I’m sorry, but the MSM has let us down again. I’m hoping they won’t be forgiven so easily for this latest transgression, but if we act in unison and seek universal condemnation of this upcoming war, it’s possible we can raise the awareness of those who are still asleep at the wheel, including many of our own lawmakers. We did it on S 1959, and if we gain join in solidarity, we can make a difference on this issue too. Remember what Thomas Jefferson stated, and in this writer’s opinion, no truer words have ever been spoken before this great nation and we should ponder upon and take to heart his excellent advice:

“Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.”

“Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.”

Thomas Jefferson

William Cormier

If We Go To War With Iran, Who Will You Blame?

Justanothercoverup — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:52:00 EDT

Who will be blamed if Bush and Cheney suddenly strike Iran, as the Russian Intelligence Services and other sources are are implying? The knee-jerk reaction will be to blame Bush and Cheney, who are to blame, however we must remember that it takes more than two men to start a war! Who is it that is enabling these warmongers to endanger every citizen in the United States? The elements of corporate America and the military that support another war have to be considered, but ultimately, they can only pull-off another attack if the public is largely unaware of their plans. It’s time to be realistic and place the blame squarely where it belongs, on America’s Mainstream News Media!

Why? Americans are experiencing the toughest times that I can remember, and I’m 57 years old. Twenty-eight million people in the USA are on food stamps (usually, head of household has the FS account, so this figure could represent as many as 784 million US families based on an average of 3 family members per household.) and the Independent is calling it USA 2008: The Great Depression. It’s hard to imagine that when you shop at the store, slightly more than one out of every four to five households may be shopping with food stamps! If we’re going hungry now, and I’ll admit that I’m one of those that has to exist with help from the government - how fast will it get much worse and possibly result in severe food shortages in our own country? The American people are tired, worn down by the economic crisis we face - and the majority of the country is dead-set against another war! For those who struggle on a daily basis to keep gas in their cars and food on the tables, how outraged would they be if they knew that another war was possible, perhaps likely, after the April deadline for Iran to submit to UN demands expires, if they even wait that long?

After Vice-President Dick Cheney left Saudi Arabia last week, this news came from Saudi Arabia:

Last Friday, Dick Cheney was in Saudi Arabia for high-level meetings with the Saudi king and his ministers. On Saturday, it was revealed that the Saudi Shura Council — the elite group that implements the decisions of the autocratic inner circle — is preparing “national plans to deal with any sudden nuclear and radioactive hazards that may affect the kingdom following experts’ warnings of possible attacks on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear reactors,” one of the kingdom’s leading newspapers, Okaz, reports. The German-based dpa news service relayed the paper’s story.

Simple prudence — or ominous timing? We noted here last week that an American attack on Iran was far more likely — and more imminent — than most people suspect. We pointed to the mountain of evidence for this case gathered by scholar William R. Polk, one of the top aides to John Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and to other indicators of impending war. The story by Okaz — which would not have appeared in the tightly controlled dictatorship without approval from the top — is yet another, very weighty piece of evidence laid in the scales toward a new, horrendous conflict.

We don’t know what the Saudis told Cheney in private — or even more to the point, what he told them. But the release of this story now, just after his departure, would seem to be a clear indication that the Saudis have good reason to fear a looming attack on Iran’s nuclear sites and are actively preparing for it. MORE

It’s noteworthy to add that the link to the original story from Saudi Arabia no longer is active, demonstrating they must have been pressured to take the story off line - or it was being hit so many times they had to remove it because of a limited traffic capability; if the VP of the Us visits a country, and the country begins to prepare itself for the possibility of nuclear fallout and the possible effects of what they hope will be a “limited” nuclear strike by the US on Iran, isn’t that what most of us would consider to be a major news event? If the South Koreans were preparing themselves for an eminent attack from North Korea, the MSM would have the story on every front page in America - as they did when the north recently threatened South Korea. If we, who find these articles and compile them in a manner that indicates the sum of the whole indicates the US is preparing to attack Iran, we have to believe the MSM has the same, if not more information of a national concern that they refuse to address. I feel sure they will respond when the dastardly deed is finally underway that they couldn’t report upon the issue because they were advised by Washington that it would endanger national security - an argument that is pure poppycock when these stories are traveling around the world on the Internet.

The answer is not that they would endanger national security, but that if they raised the alarm, which is the duty of the MSM, Americans would react on a scale that would shake the foundations of the Washington political system! If we attack Iran, and any type of ground deployments become necessary, as it likely will, where will the US come-up with the military personnel to bolster the ground troops we would need for another prologued war? There’s only one answer, and that would be to re-implement the draft, taking away the breadwinners of many American homes, thereby furthering the economic despair that millions of us experience on a daily basis. How will China and Russia react? What if countries that express their indignation and revulsion of our aggressive policies decide to mount some sort of an embargo against the US? Do we believe that we are so high and mighty that the world will embrace another conflict, especially one that could easily escalate into WW III with the current amount of anti-American sentiment that is demonstrated throughout the world?

The MSM is concentrating on the upcoming November elections and the economy in the US - essentially using it as cover for failing to warn us of an impending attack against Iran. When we are faced with an issue that affects every American here and abroad, it’s time to bombard the MSM with emails, letters to the various editors, and calls to Congress to demand answers. On an issue this serious, the least the MSM could do is to try and debunk what is stated on the news in other countries - tell us why it’s not a problem, and assure us that our military isn’t readying themselves to attack Iran. If Russia is stating that they have evidence an attack on Iran is imminent, I believe that it is not only newsworthy, but to ignore a threat as dire as an attack that could be a precursor to WW III, if the MSM refuse to uphold their responsibility to warn the people, they are as guilty as those who make the final decision to begin the attack.

There is strength in numbers, but if the only people who know that disaster is in the making are those who receive their news via alternative news sources - there will never be enough outrage and fear to stop this attack before it starts, and to place our future in the hands of a MSM that has repeatedly sided with the Bush administration is a guarantee that Bush and his cronies will succeed. Once again, those that demand peace over war are being marginalized, much as they did with potential Presidential candidates - but that was an election, and this time, the issue we face may ultimately be one that affects our ability to guarantee that there will be a 2008 election - and hoping that Bush and Cheney don’t set the Middle-East on fire before they slink out of office. We can stop it, but only if we come together in solidarity instead of refusing to heed the writing on the wall that is now being chiseled in stone.

William Cormier

The biofuel hoax is causing a world food crisis!

Way To Go Dems; Listen To The MSM And Hand The Election To The GOP!

Justanothercoverup — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:41:33 EDT

For the past seven (7) years, the Mainstream News Media has favored the Bush administration and has refused to publish facts and report upon issues that are critical to the survival of Democracy in America. Their bias and downright refusal to honestly report the facts rather than spin and propaganda has been well documented - yet because it’s election time, in spite of a track record that indicates the MSM is as much to blame for our downward spiral into fascism as the President himself - Democrats on both sides of the isle are buying into the havoc the MSM is creating within the Democratic party itself, which is evidenced by John McCain’s rise in the polls which indicates he is polling ahead of Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama. It’s obvious I don’t understand the politics of Presidential elections as I watch the GOP pull ahead on matters the public has already condemned LINK, however, as long as we give credence to a MSM that has actively hid the truth from the American people for seven long years and are hell bent on distracting the public from the real issues this nation faces while they create havoc within the Democratic Party - I see the ultimate consequence of our infighting resulting in another loss to the warmongers that are intent on destroying America. Have we forgotten the damage the MSM has wrought upon America? The Enablers Of Fascism, The Mainstream News Media

Firedoglake published an Op-Ed that reveals the MSM’s influence on the Presidential campaign as it pertains to the Obama/Clinton debacle - and when we realize that much of the indignation and hyperbole of this controversy has been created and fanned by the MSM, we should also understand that it’s not by accident, but meant to influence the election and help to place another GOP candidate in the White House!

The Media’s Race Problem

By: David Neiwert Thursday March 20, 2008 6:00 pm

Probably the most remarkable aspect of the recent feeding frenzy about Barack Obama’s so-called “pastor problem” — besides the agility and smarts that Obama has displayed in handling it — is not as much what it reveals about the state of race in America as what it reveals about the state of the American media.

The Washington Post’s report on Obama’s speech observed that this was a controversy that “threatens to engulf his presidential candidacy.” Yet as far as anyone can tell, it was having only a marginal effect on the polls in the race before it blew up on the networks, and it was not generated by either of Obama’s political opponents, or by any particular interest groups.

No, this is a controversy cooked up almost entirely within the media realm. Once they sank their fangs into it, the whole zombielike corps of pundits, cable talking heads, and radio talk-show hosts couldn’t let go of it. And equally remarkable was the bias that was on display in discussing it: News anchors and talking heads flatly referred to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s videotaped remarks as “anti-American,” “hate-filled,” “vicious,” “offensive,” and so on and on.

It’s telling that none of them also observed that, for the most part, Wright’s remarks (aside from his conspiracist comments about AIDS, which were indeed inexcusable, but which received little or no play before Obama’s speech) were factually accurate, and deeply reflective of a reality that most African Americans live with — and which most white Americans do their best to ignore, deny, and forget. The remarks that were broadcast all over YouTube and replayed endlessly on the cable talk shows were, no doubt, were impolitic, but they were also largely true.

Hacktackular Howie Kurtz, the Post’s “media critic,” in his column today — while notably failing to critique the media for its performance — essentially admitted that this was a media-driven frenzy:

[I]t wasn’t until last week, when Fox News and ABC News bought DVDs of Wright’s sermons from the church, that the simmering controversy reached full boil. The recordings have long been sold by the church, but journalists did not seek them until now.

Kurtz’s description also encapsulates the blinkered bias that was at play in not just the discussion leading up to Obama’s speech, but in the general response to it:

To their credit, the network newscasts ran four or five sound bites to evoke Obama’s broader argument that while the anger of older blacks like Wright, 66, is understandable, the country needs to move beyond the racial wounds of the past. But Obama, 46, is trying to win the Democratic nomination, so the anchors kept returning to one core question.

“Is it enough to reassure white voters?” ABC’s Charlie Gibson asked.

“Does it make too many white voters uncomfortable?” asked CBS’s Katie Couric.

Their entire preoccupation, indeed, was with how Wright’s remarks might discomfit whites — while never examining the deeper questions of whether white complacence about race might be something worth challenging, as well as their own roles in failing to make that challenge. MUST READ ARTICLE!

It was only a few months ago that Progressives and Liberals across the country reacted in utter disgust as the MSM marginalized Dennis Kucinich, John Edwards, and Ron Paul - and whether we like it or not, it was the MSM that decided, not the American people, which candidates were acceptable to participate in the Presidential elections. Have we forgotten so fast that the MSM has been the leading purveyor of propaganda in the United States? When we examine and condemn their past behavior, why then are Americans now giving so much credibility to their obvious meddling in the election process by doing their best to promote and exacerbate the fractures that are rising within with the Democratic Party? Who ultimately benefits from the MSM “stirring the pot” and promoting an air of indecisiveness and confusion within the Democratic Party?

The answers to the above questions are obvious, and while we have to watch the news to collect some details, Liberals, Progressives, Independents, and especially Democrats need to take whatever the MSM has to offer as it pertains to Democratic candidates with a grain of salt and remember it’s been the MSM that has supported this illegal and corrupt Presidency from the beginning - and I believe they are up to their old tricks, and unfortunately, many in the electorate are buying their manipulations of the news hook, line, and sinker - without remembering who they are and what their ultimate goals are - and that’s to install another GOP President in the White House! From what I’ve been witnessing, their campaign to create unrest and disenfranchisement among Democrats is working as planned, and it’s up to the American people to wake-up and realize the MSM isn’t our “friend” - but represents the GOP by and through their corporate masters!

William Cormier

If We Survive The Bush Administration, We Must Insure It Never Happens Again

Justanothercoverup — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:42:42 EDT

Yesterday, I finally chose a candidate and have decided to support Barack Obama. Neither Obama nor Clinton are perfect and each has questions that need to be answered, however, Mr. Obama has demonstrated that he can galvanize the country and possibly unite us in a positive manner we haven’t witnessed in years - and we’re long overdue to come-together and solve our problems and issues in a concerted spirit of healing the country. I do have some questions in regard experience, however, a good President is advised by a Cabinet that is hand-picked and “supposed” to be representative of the foremost experts in their fields. Presidents are sometimes made by the expertise of their advisor’s, as there are too many issues for one man to review in-depth himself. I believe the Obama Cabinet will adhere to those standards rather then partisan appointments such as we witnessed in the Bush administration, and now that we have seen first-hand the damage of unbridled partisanship and how it distorts a President’s world-view and perception of important events, I believe Obama will choose a cabinet that will represent some of the best talent America has to offer.

We need a President with charisma who can address the nation and the global audience and be taken seriously - who will inspire other nations to believe that America is making a turn toward the right course - to be accomplished in a responsible manner, but we also need a President that will form a strong diplomatic corp that will work to undue and attempt to mitigate the damage of the Bush administration. The GOP is already beginning to employ the politics of fear, and it’s time to end this primary with dignity and a belief that Mr. Obama will indeed be a true “uniter” that can help to lead America though times that have become extremely troubled and fraught with danger. I have hopes that uniting behind a Senator that has proven to be the most Liberal Senator on record during his short tenure will continue with those beliefs with his Presidency, but that he will also remain strong on national defense and work to create a multi-national task-force on terrorism where we involve the world in fighting and winning a bitter match that threatens much of Europe and other allies abroad instead of attempting to lead the fight, expending our recourses on no-bid contracts and billions of dollars that appear to have disappeared into thin air on a war that was started based on deceit and lies! Our wars that breed even more terrorism need to stop, and we need to concentrate on regions that harbor and encourage attacking American and allied targets.

But, even with the hope of electing a President that’s prepared to unite the country, we cannot forget the past Seven (7) long and disastrous years we’ve been through, and the financial ramifications are barely beginning to fully manifest themselves, and there’s rough sailing ahead for the entire country. Repairing this mess won’t be easy, however, the election of Barack Obama is likely to raise the value of the dollar and confidence in the United States, all key components of our economy as a whole. That won’t solve the problem, but it does go a long way to enhancing our recovery efforts.

Nevertheless, even though I maintain a strong belief in our Constitution and Bill of Rights, both have failed to protect the principles that established our nation this past seven years; the Justice Department has been stacked and has a distinctive conservative leaning, although that’s not representative of the US attitude and beliefs as a whole; the President himself stands in contempt of the American people and our Congress, yet a Congress voted-in to protect the people and uphold their basic function of protecting our constitution, the rule of law, and stand as guardians of our democratic process have failed miserably in their duty, leaving the people to suffer under the oppression of the Bush administration as we have watched in horror as our industry is outsourced and or economy has become as fragile as our ecology. LINK

No Matter Whether It’s Hillary or Obama elected as President - WE MUST INSURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN!

I am one person with one idea, however, there must be hundreds, if not thousands of ideas on how we can legally protect ourselves from allowing this to happen to our nation again. In the interests of getting some of our more talented political writers and political strategists interested in taking off a few minutes of their time and editorializing on “how” we can prevent a catastrophe of this nature from happening again in our foreseeable future, Justanothercoverup is proposing a series of Op-Ed and articles, submitted by anyone that chooses, to expand upon and provide concepts and ideas that can be forwarded to our Congress and both Presidential Candidates.. The ugly head of fascism has risen across this great nation, and it appears that our only real defense, when it comes down to the nitty-gritty is the voice of the people themselves - and we need to insure that when it’s needed, the people will be heard!

We propose to offer a prize pool for articles and essays that address this issue and present viable solutions that could be presented to members of Congress for their perusal and consideration. I feel so strongly about this matter and wish to open a dialog between some of our best-known, and also the unknown writers that post exceptional material on the Internet in bursts of pure inspiration. To “sweeten the pot”, the writer who receives the most votes will receive a grand prize of $100.00; the second-place winner will receive $50.00 and third-place will receive $25.00 If we begin to receive some exceptional ideas that begin to garner support among the readership and the traffic increases appreciably, we will request donations to sweeten the pot even more and attempt to draw-in writers that otherwise may not have participated.

With enough work we could formulate viable and bipartisan solutions that one day soon may lead to legislation to Protect America from anyone that refuses to honor their sworn duty to uphold and protect the Constitution of The United States. We request that these suggestions be well laid-out and based on sound legal principles or new ones that are “res nova.” but have a firm basis in international law. The “prima facie” case for change to protect the people has already been made as witnessed by the past seven (7) years of incompetence, mismanagement, and downright cronyism that has cost the American taxpayers billions of dollars. We must first survive the initial onslaught of consequences that will result from President Bush’s poor management of our country, but it’s also imperative to enact legal measures to prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future as well.

I propose that the entry period be anytime from this Friday to the middle of May. (The entry date could be extended until the last minute of the contest, although it would take a flurry of voting to catch-up with a popular, earlier submission - but it could happen.) The official start date will begin on April 1st, 2008, and will end on midnight, the 1st day of May 2008. Entries will be voted on by the readership, and will be posted in an adjacent forum for discussion and voting after appearing on Justanothercoverup. Authors will be at liberty to post their material in other places as well; we’re not attempting to take traffic away from anyone, but create a “simmering pot” exclusively for this idea alone. The forum will entertain debate and suggestions as the readership dictates, but will be limited to the subject at hand. The popularity of the individual articles will be displayed by their position on the forum and the views each of them receive. The winner will be decided by individual votes, all made by the public which will be shown in real-time as the articles are read and rated by interested viewers. The only subject this forum will entertain are the suggestions and articles that are posted to prevent this type of tragedy from happening in the future, I have no interest in forming a full-time discussion forum, don’t have the time, and if this endeavor becomes successful, I may appeal to some of the better-known forums for help in part-time moderation of the forum. Good moderators are hard to come by, and I value the people who diligently supervise some of our best known political forums.

My suggestion to this debacle and preventing it in the future is a constitutional amendment that gives the American people the power to recall an errant President via a referendum process. (This was an example, as I will not be participating in the contest myself to alleviate any suspicion of bias or improprity.)

All of my life I have been opposed to amending the constitution, however, when we find that the rest of our sacred safeguards have broken down, then it’s time to implement new ones that will give the final say where it actually belongs - firmly by and through the voice of the people of the United States! Obama says “Yes we can” and I say we can also prevent a situation such as this from arising again without the people themselves standing on the sideline, helpless to do anything meaningful other than feel the utter despair as we watch our great nation being torn-down economically and becoming a society that we normally would envision to exist in Russia or China.

As a nation, we stand perilously close to tyranny and oppression of a magnitude yet to be understood, but in Obama, baring any interference from the GOP or Bush’s Neo-ons, we actually stand a chance of reclaiming this country and when we do so, it’s imperative that we the people take measures to insure that it can’t happen again. If the response is good and we wind-up with three (3) proposals that make sense and appeal to the general public, it’s our intention to send each member of Congress a professionally bound copy of the top three essays/Op-Eds with any relevant comments that resulted from discussion of that particular submission from the discussion forum. We also intend to send each Presidential contender, Democrat and GOP, those same three articles.

Further, with the permission of a major news aggregator, we will highlight those three winning submissions and create an action page so they can readily be submitted via email to your appropriate Congressmen and or newspaper. Justanothercoverup is being submitted as a non-profit organization, and to date, all of our advertising income has gone back into enhancements for the site. Justanothercoverup is now hosted on an ultra high-sped server to handle increased traffic and graphics without noticeably slowing-down during high-traffic periods, and tomorrow an SEO organization will begin optimizing the site, creating Meta-Tags, and increasing our exposure to search engines we traditionally receive poor results from. In short, those authors who do enter this contest are likely to receive high exposure of their Op-Eds/Articles and ideas.

If you are interested in participating in this contest to discuss and attempt to raise a solution that will help to protect us from this ever happening again, please address an email to wjcormier@bellsouth.net . As soon as the total reaches 25 early entrants, I will open the contest and create the appropriate forum to host the entries in addition to them being posted initially on Justanothercoverup. Rules governing the contest will be sent out to each competing writer. All writers entering the contest will also have an account created with posting rights, but in order to reduce the incidence of Spam, all entries will have to be moderated before they can be published. (Only to check to make sure they fit-in with the theme we’re attempting to promote. Under no circumstances would an entry be posted that had been edited without express permission of the author - and unless it’s to add %$#*& where a foul word was used, there will be no editing of material. I request no foul language, as this site is constantly accessed by schools and colleges pursuing the many subjects that are written about herein.

William Cormier

Spychief Plan To Police Internet Is Likely Tied To S 1959, Thought Crime Prevention Bill

Justanothercoverup — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 11:16:20 EST

Would Americans be outraged if the government decided to read every piece of our personal mail? Think about it, letters and notes which are sent to a lover, things we all say in anger, regret later, and never follow-through on? What about confidential financial information, plans to trump your competitor with a new product or service, and a host of personal issues that are too numerous to mention? People in the United States have become accustomed to their privacy and believe it is one of those “unalienable constitutional rights” which are guaranteed to all American citizens that most of us take for granted. Our constitution and Bill of Rights demand it, yet here we are, one year before Bush leaves office, and the government is planning on doing almost exactly what I described. The only difference is that instead of snail-mail (which can also be opened), the government’s proposed directive covers any and all computer communications and correspondence that everyday citizens send and receive on their computer systems. This includes any all financial information as well as personal matters of anyone in your home;the communications of your teenagers will be monitored as well, and issues that are normally kept within the family unit(s) will suddenly become part of your governmental profile.

Now that our society is firmly entrenched in the digital world, a multitude of personal activity is carried out on the Internet. Millions of people use dating services, communicate with prospective “dates” and often bare their souls. We know this occurs on a regular basis by the huge amount of people that are finding successful relationships and oftentimes marriage through the internet. People often find it easier to discuss extremely personal matters on the Internet because the embarrassment and shy nature of many of the people who use these services tend to become more honest and speak of matters they never would have in person - all because of the unique privacy the internet has offered those who are seeking friends, lovers, and permanent relationships. How will these services perform when the subscribers know that every word they write is monitored and read, possibly ending-up in a file on that individual with the FBI or other law enforcement office, most likely Homeland Security?

Don’t forget the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007, also known as “The Thought Crime Prevention Bill.” S-1959 is the vehicle Homeland Security will use to judge and imprison those who they deem are guilty, but it is this directive that will help to compile what they will classify as “thought crimes”, and suddenly, like those who lived in fear while attempting to keep themselves alive in other societies that traded personal privacy for “security”, Americans will be fearful when they use any means of communication, worried that words said in anger or while being particularly emotional could be used against them and given credibility when none actually exists. In similar situations and throughout history, families were broken-up, the people as a whole lived in misery and fear, always afraid they would be picked-up by the Gestapo or other governmental storm troopers merely because they had communicated with someone the government blieved to be a “dissident”.

Many of those that were caught-up in the government’s witch-hunt were enlisted to spy on their neighbors to keep from being arrested themselves, and in the era of Stalin, Hitler, Mao’s China, and the old Soviet Union, these tactics were used to turn entire populations into informants and spies; as more and more people were arrested, those who were attempting to save themselves would often make-up stories about innocents they believed the “authorities” wanted to hear, others were turned-in and eventually the stench of mistrust was felt throughout the respective countries; even family members had to be careful, ever watchful that someone from within had been compromised and was attempting to escape their own death or incarceration by implicating another family member. Anyone that was identified as a dissident or radical was arrested, executed or sent off to a concentration camp. What was left behind was a terrified, subservient populace, easy to manage through fear and intimidation, and cowed into submission because they watched members of their own family and friends being arrested, even executed in front of them for crimes that never existed. (The implementation of similar programs in the United States could very well result in similar situations as were experienced with other societies that were morphed into “police states.” This is surely a matter where we can look upon our past in order to know what to expect from our future. One constant is that history always repeats itself. )

For reasons none of us fully understand, our Congress is powerless to stop Bush and Cheney from doing as they damn well please, and even though they have broken laws and committed war crimes, lied and stand in utter defiance of Congress and the people, neither is touchable and act with impunity, safe in the knowledge that Congress is too cowed to impeach. To allow these tyrants to gain the power to read any email or computer communication they desire is unconstitutional on its face, and now that the Supreme Court is stacked, a directive such as this is likely to succeed in court if legislation isn’t passed to prohibit any such intrusion(s) into the privacy of innocent Americans. This is what the government is proposing:

January 13, 2008, 12:00 am

Dancing Spychief Wants to Tap Into Cyberspace

Siobhan Gorman reports on the U.S. spychief.

Spychief Mike McConnell is drafting a plan to protect America’s cyberspace that will raise privacy issues and make the current debate over surveillance law look like “a walk in the park,” McConnell tells The New Yorker in the issue set to hit newsstands Monday. “This is going to be a goat rope on the Hill. My prediction is that we’re going to screw around with this until something horrendous happens.”

At issue, McConnell acknowledges, is that in order to accomplish his plan, the government must have the ability to read all the information crossing the Internet in the United States in order to protect it from abuse. Congressional aides tell The Journal that they, too, are also anticipating a fight over civil liberties that will rival the battles over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Part of the lawmakers’ ire, they have said, is the paltry information the administration has provided. The cyberspace security initiative was first reported in September by The Baltimore Sun, and some congressional aides say that lawmakers have still learned more from the media than they did from the few Top Secret briefings they have received hours before the administration requested money in November to jump start the program. Please note that the funds to “jump start” this program were requested in November. If I were to hazard a guess, this program is already running somewhere in tests, or for all we know, may already been implemented. This administration hasn’t exactly been truthful with the people or Congress. MORE

Scholars and Rogues posted an insight into this situation that makes perfect sense, and I agree with them, there are no coincidences!

All your Internets are belong to ATT & the NSA

Two seemingly coincidental bits of news crossed my desk yesterday morning. First, the Wall Street Journal contains excerpts of an interview with Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell in which he outlines a vast new initiative to police Internet traffic “for abuse.”

Meanwhile, AT&T announced that it plans to extend its initiative to examine packets of information on its network for illegally traded content, becoming, in effect, the Internet’s traffic cop.

Let’s see…the world’s largest telecom company states it’s in negotiations with major entertainment conglomerate to police the Internet on their behalf, on the same day the DNI announces the government wants more eyes on Internet traffic?

Mike McConnell is an old friend to the major telecom companies, having most recently stumped on their behalf to grant them retroactive immunity from prosecution in the NSA’s illegal surveillance program. He’s also a big fan of privatizing national security functions, favoring everything from outsourcing background checks to enlisting credit bureaus to handle the work of verifying identities. I find it not at all unfeasible that even as AT&T is offering its services to Big Content, Big Government is waiting expectantly in the visitors’ room for its turn at the till.

There are no coincidences.LINK

Make no mistake, this is the directive that will give S 1959 its teeth. If they make it retroactive, think about the many emails we have written, sometimes blowing-off steam, all the time critical of those attempting to steal our most basic liberties. How much can you say on the Internet or in private communication with family or friends until you’re branded as a dissident and find yourself guilty of a “thought crime?” Why is the government becoming so aloof from the people that they trample on our most basic rights of privacy, evidently attempting to sneak it through as quietly as possible.

We already live in a society where the FBI or other law enforcement agencies (sic) can break into your home while you’re away, search your home, and then plant surveillance devices as they leave. If their search and subsequent surveillance draw a blank, the “suspect” is never told of the incident. The governments request to have access to all of our computer communications is an intrusion into the very essence of privacy. We believe that our home is our castle, that mail used to be private, and now the privacy of the Internet is being assaulted and the average American is being treated as a suspect, guilty until proven innocent, and no one knows exactly what will be the deciding factor in declaring whether an individual is a “dissident.”

If the government has complete control of the Internet and could access all communications, think of the Congress, attorneys, investigative (sic) reporters, groups that actively protest the government, opposition parties, whether they be Democrat, Republican, or Independent, and the many entities “Big Brother” would like to peek into and search for anything they can claim is anti-government. How will Americans communicate on a mass scale as we do now attempting to fight elements that seek to steal our freedoms, knowing that when we do, everything we write is cataloged and filed to be used against us at a later date? As it stands now, the legality of the current program is in question, therefore, unless it’s terrorism related, is information that has been gathered illegally. We know they are reading and watching now, but this “vast new initiative”, if implemented, would then make that information legally obtained (IMO), thereby circumventing almost all of the criminal law we have on the books in regard illegal search and seizure, the right against self-incrimination would disappear, and Miranda would become meaningless. The very nature of the program is one of surveillance and intimidation, followed by an eventual removal of dissidents who were posing a “credible threat” against the government (sic).

This “vast new initiative to police Internet traffic” is presented in such broad terms that it defies common sense and logic. The imposition of a program this draconian has the potential to turn neighbor against neighbor. We were suspicious and contacted Congress and the media by the thousands or hundreds of thousands demanding an answer as to why HR1955 and S 1959 were needed and written in such broad language, a list of other questions, and why we needed this law when it is obvious we have an abundance of laws currently in force that effectively address violent behavior or any such conspiracy to plan or attempt to destabilize our country . As the Bill is written, it could be interpreted any way they choose, and in circumstances like that, it’s always the people who lose. To the best of my knowledge and belief, There’s A Press Blackout on S 1959, the Thought Crime Prevention Bill; Why? Even though HR1955 and S 1959 are of great concern to the public, all we received for our efforts was a statement issued by the House of Representatives that was double-speak and avoided the primary issues as if they were the Black Plague.

Senate Bill S 1959 is still in committee, and now this “vast new initiative to police Internet traffic” is introduced out of thin air, and to anyone looking closely, this “initiative” is an intricate piece of the heart and soul of the “Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007.” The “Thought Crime Prevention Bill” is the framework to implement and create the program, and this directive is obviously one of many tools to monitor and sort through the nations email and other communications. None of us are exactly sure “what” it is they will be searching for, however, it’s obvious that Bush and Cheney are violating the last vestiges of privacy we have, effectively treating our entire population as suspects instead of respecting our most fundamental rights of privacy and due process of the law.

This directive, initiative, or whatever it is must not be allowed to go into effect, or remain in effect if it’s currently in operation. This wanton invasion of privacy is hurled at us with absolutely no probable cause, and the number of constitutional amendments and criminals laws, state and federal, which it violates is staggering. With a directive in place that allows the government unfettered access to all of our personal computer transmissions, it would be an incredible stretch to keep labeling the United States as a democracy. Once we are stripped of those rights that afford us privacy and the expectation that our lives will be free from invasive and illegal searches, when Habeas Corpus is suspended for anyone that is designated as an “enemy combatant, the very essence of democracy disappears!

This directive, which could already be in operation, exemplifies our initial fears in regard the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. Whereas S 1959 loosely defines the concept of “Thought Crimes” and potential threats against the government, this is an enabling act that will provide the detailed information which Homeland Security would likely rely upon to determine who it was that were actually guilty of these (sic) crimes. From past experience, we know the FBI has investigated peaceful protest groups and a host of others whose only “crime” was belonging to, or having ties to organizations that vigorously oppose our loss of liberty and the failure of the Bush administration to comply with the rule of law; thousands have been added to “terrorist watch lists” by virtue of their peaceful disagreement with the government:

President Bush called upon every agency of government to provide his administration with the names of every so-called person of concern contained in their millions of files. Those records included not just potential terrorists, but also deadbeat dads, people wanted by the federal Marshal, and Drug Enforcement Administration suspects, among others. But they all found themselves on what has come to be called the “terrorist watch list.” By June 2004, that list had swelled to 158,000 names. In May of this year, it clocked in at 755,000. Today, only five months later, it’s at 860,000 and counting, according to the Government Accountability Office. LINK

The above figures were posted on November 1, 2007. Based on how fast this list has been growing I believe we can safely project the total is well over a million and still growing. How does a “dead-beat Dad” qualify in anyone’s reality of having committed a crime or act so horrendous that it merits inclusion on the “terrorist watch list? ” It also states “Drug Enforcement Administration suspects“. If they are only suspects and included on this list, when the round-up occurs there’s little-doubt that “suspect” will equate to being guilty. We need a better break-down of what type of individuals are on this list. When you note people as innocuous as “dead-beat Dads” being added to this list, we have to question if this “terrorist Watch List” is nothing more than a list of undesirables this administration would like to - or has plans to purge from our society.

For those who have diligently been participating in the fight against HR1955/S 1959, a companion measure has shown its ugly head that provides the real teeth for S 1959; it’s important to note that many parts of this program are being kept secret from members of Congress, and that doesn’t bode well for the American people:

Part of the lawmakers’ ire, they have said, is the paltry information the administration has provided. The cyberspace security initiative was first reported in September by The Baltimore Sun, and some congressional aides say that lawmakers have still learned more from the media than they did from the few Top Secret briefings they have received hours before the administration requested money in November to jump start the program.

Americans are again being saddled by an illegal wiretapping program, however this one is exceptionally bold, violates countless issues of privacy, due process, and essentially makes everyone in America a “suspect.” No information that we process through the Internet will be “private” or exempt from the governments prying eyes. This is an unconscionable attack against the basic privacy that every American is guaranteed under our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Monitoring America’s email and private computer communications is the epitome of a “police state”; the “National ID Card” was just approved, all of which are tools to track, monitor, and catalog us for whatever awaits those who are on the “Terrorist Watch List” or other lists that DHS has or will be compiling in the future. Based on the scant information that has been released, there doesn’t appear to be any “exemptions” and at first glance, it looks like our children’s communications will be monitored as well!

Is this program already operational? In the below press release, it states:

The cyberspace security initiative was first reported in September by The Baltimore Sun, and some congressional aides say that lawmakers have still learned more from the media than they did from the few Top Secret briefings they have received hours before the administration requested money in November to jump start the program.

Was the money to “jump start” this illegal surveillance program approved when it was requested - and if so, is it already operational in selected areas to test its capability - or is the entire program already functional? These are questions that must be answered immediately; even though Mike McConnell didn’t state this program is in any way associated with S 1959 and the “Thought Crime Prevention Bill”, anyone of average intelligence that examines the intent of the program can easily make the connection and understand that McConnell’s plans for “policing the Internet” is the actual mechanism the government will use to identify and subsequently begin cataloging all of those who are guilty of “thought crimes” and supposedly pose a threat to our national security.

As citizens that refuse to give-up our freedom(s) and privacy without a fight, this is a segment of the program that must be fought-out in the courts, our legislature, and in the court of public opinion. Matters as serious as these must be injected into the Presidential debates, and above all, we as patriotic Americans must force this issue out in the open and somehow, break the “press blackout” that has been imposed on all aspects of the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. Once again, we are faced with an urgent call to action, and this time, we need to re-double our efforts and drown Congress and the White House with emails and calls demanding that this program and its successors be suspended pending further legislative and judicial review.

As we first predicted when HR 1955 was passed in the House, this Bill threatens the very essence of freedom and democracy in the United States. There is no matter that is more serious than protecting our basic rights of privacy, freedom, due process of law, equality, and the inherent right that every American possesses in regard self-incrimination; this latest “request” by the government to obtain unfettered access to our most private information and documents very clearly demonstrates that President Bush and the intelligence community have now departed from any semblance of democracy and are now running this country as if it were a dictatorship, and if we don’t rise-up and make ourselves heard, much louder than before, saving our country from tyranny may prove to be impossible.

For your convenience, the below link reveals a huge amount of phone numbers and extensions that will facilitate making phone calls as we again call to demand that our government honors our own laws and constitution. Try to make at least two calls per day, and as we did last time, keep making those calls on a daily basis, and invite your friends to do the same. Pay special attention to the Presidential candidates, and if they refuse to address this matter, then why even consider voting for them in 2008? Tell them so in no uncertain terms that they will not receive your vote unless these issues are brought out in the open.

Send copies of your email and letters to the local editors of your newspapers, and cross-post this information on every discussion and political forum you can find. Last time, the House of Representatives responded with a statement that was double-speak; if we can keep up the pressure again, this time we shouldn’t stop until we break the press blackout and the issue is brought forth so that the entire population will know about its existence rather than being confined to those of us who receive our news from the Internet. It’s hard to believe that the situation has actually become worse, but as you read SpyChief Mike McConnell’s request and understand that every last bit of privacy we possess is being threatened, the real possibility exists that if we don’t join together in solidarity on a massive scale, this concept that we call freedom could very well disappear forever, and as patriotic Americans, none of us can stand idly by while Bush and Cheney are attempting to destroy the very foundations of democracy and freedom.

WHITEHOUSE TELEPHONE DIRECTORY

William Cormier

The Photos CNN Didn’t Publish On Drought In Georgia And Lake Lanier

Justanothercoverup — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:05:53 EST

CNN and the Associated Press have consistently published the drama unfolding in Georgia through several articles and news casts, however, the impact of the photos that could have accompanied their article(s) would have allowed the reader/viewer to truly appreciate the extent and actual impact of the drought, not necessarily on power plants downriver, nor muscles that could be endangered in Florida, or even old foundations and debris that are popping-up - but how this event is impacting the residents that actually live close to Lake Lanier. The CNN article is informative and also has an interactive page attached, so I’m choosing their most recent publication to demonstrate that indeed, a picture is worth a thousands words - and the drought in Georgia is actually worse than CNN’s photos indicate:

Now We Know Why There’s A Press Blackout On S 1959 - It’s Called “ENDGAME” By DHS

Justanothercoverup — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:47:52 EST

Today I received a tip by a fellow writer that KBR (Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc.), a subsidiary of Halliburton, was behind the creation of Senate Bill S 1959, otherwise known as the “Thought Crime Prevention Bill”, or by its legal designation, the “Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007.” I wasn’t able to make a solid connection that indicated KBR was actually behind the introduction of S 1959, but what I did find demonstrates we are likely approaching the final days when Homeland Security (sic) implements their “final solution” which DHS has labeled as “EndGame.”

This is what I found, researched it thoroughly - and unfortunately, unless “the people” react in the millions, life in these United States is about to change forever, and apparently, it could also end for thousands, if not millions of Americans:

Halliburton Confirms Concentration Camps Already Constructed

On February 17, 2006, in a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld spoke of the harm being done to the country’s security, not just by the enemy, but also by what he called “news informers” who needed to be combated in “a contest of wills.”

In 2002 Attorney General John Ashcroft announced his desire to see camps for U.S. citizens deemed to be “enemy combatants.”

A Defense Department document, entitled the “Strategy for Homeland Defense and Civil Support,” has set out a military strategy against terrorism that envisions an “active, layered defense” both inside and outside U.S. territory. In the document, the Pentagon pledges to “transform U.S. military forces to execute homeland defense missions in the . . . U.S. homeland.” The strategy calls for increased military reconnaissance and surveillance

The Washington Post reported on February 15, 2006 that the National Counterterrorism Center’s (NCTC) central repository holds the names of 325,000 terrorist suspects, a fourfold increase since fall of 2003. A Pentagon official said the Counterintelligence Field Activity’s TALON program has amassed files on antiwar protesters.

Shortly after Bush orchestrated 9/11, he issued “Military Order Number One”, which empowered him to detain any noncitizen as an international terrorist or enemy combatant. Today that order extends to U.S. citizens as well.

Halliburton subsidiary “KBR has been awarded a contract announced by the Department of Homeland Security’s United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) component. The Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contingency contract is to support ICE facilities and has a maximum total value of $385 million over a five year term. The contract provides for establishing temporary detention and processing capabilities in the event of an emergency influx of immigrants into the United States, or to support the rapid development of new programs”. See Source Document on Halliburton Site or page 1, & 5 below

HOUSTON, Texas – Halliburton (NYSE:HAL) announced that income from continuing operations for the full year of 2005 was $2.4 billion. Consolidated revenue in the fourth quarter of 2005 was $5.8 billion. Consolidated operating income was $779 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. This increase was largely attributable to higher activity in the Energy Services Group (ESG), partially offset by lower revenue in KBR primarily on government services projects in the Middle East. Annual operating income more than tripled to $2.7 billion in 2005.

Why exactly are prisons being built for “the rapid development of new programs”. Halliburton’s company site confirms that the government is engaged in a massive construction and preparation exercise to build concentration camps and prisoner processing facilities in the United States. This is particularity astonishing and disturbing considering that the U.S. already incarcerates more orders of magnitude more people than any other nation, about on-par with U.S.S.R. at the height of Stalin’s era.

The contract of the Halliburton subsidiary KBR to build immigrant detention facilities is part of a longer-term Homeland Security plan titled
ENDGAME

, which sets as its goal the removal of “all removable aliens” and “potential terrorists.” In the 1980s Richard Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld discussed similar emergency detention powers as part of a super-secret program of planning for what was euphemistically called “Continuity of Government” (COG). These men planned for suspension of the Constitution, not just after nuclear attack, but for any “national security emergency,” which they vaguely defined in Executive Order 12656 of 1988.

Over 800 concentration camps are reported throughout the United States, all fully operational and ready to receive U.S. Prisoners who disagree with the government. The concentration camps are all staffed and manned by full-time guards, however, they are all empty. These camps are to be operated by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) when Martial Law is implemented in the United States (at the stroke of a Presidential pen and the Attorney General’s signature on a warrant).

The camps have railroad facilities as well as roads leading to and from the detention facilities, many have airports. Like Auschwitz, some of the camps have airtight buildings and furnaces. The majority of the camps can each house a population of 20,000 prisoners. Currently, the largest of these facilities is just outside of Fairbanks, Alaska. The Alaskan facility is a massive “mental health” facility and can hold approximately 2 million people.

Following the Halliburton subsidiary KBR (formerly Kellogg Brown and Root) announcement on Jan. 24 that it had been awarded a $385 million contingency contract by the Department of Homeland Security to build detention camps, two weeks later, on Feb. 6, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced that the Fiscal Year 2007 federal budget would allocate over $400 million to add 6,700 additional detention beds (an increase of 32 percent over 2006. What is interesting in the Homeland Security plan is that each concrete prison bed costs $60,000 per bed! Observing these concentration camps and general jail and prison facilities throughout the U.S., the Homeland Security plan is clearly buffered to build significantly more than 6,700 additional beds.

The Homeland Security $400 million allocation is more than a four-fold increase over the FY 2006 budget, which provided $90 million for the same purpose. Both the contract and the budget allocation are in partial fulfillment of an ambitious 10-year Homeland Security strategic plan, code-named ENDGAME, authorized in 2003. According to a 49-page Homeland Security document on the plan, ENDGAME expands “a mission first articulated in the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798.” Its goal is the capability to “remove all removable aliens,” including “illegal economic migrants, aliens who have committed criminal acts, asylum-seekers (required to be retained by law) or potential terrorists.” The government’s definition of an enemy combatant covers almost any individual who promotes the rudimentary rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

Readiness Exercise 1984 - Rex 84

Rex 84 is a United States federal government program to test their ability to detain large numbers of American citizens. Exercises similar to Rex 84 happen periodically. From 1967 to 1971 the FBI kept a list of persons to be rounded up as subversive, dubbed the “ADEX” list.

Texas Congressman Henry Gonzales revealed many years ago plans of Rex 84 which former colonel Ollie North helped design. The late Representative Jack Brooks also of Texas brought this concentration camp and internment program as well as the Continuity of Government Program to light during the Iran Contra hearing. The chairman refused to let North even talk about them in open hearings under “National Security.” Mr. Gonzales stated these camps and plans were for the detention of AMERICANS, especially those who refused to surrender their weapons.

The Rex-84 Alpha Explan (Readiness Exercise 1984, Exercise Plan), indicates that FEMA in association with 34 other federal civil departments and agencies conducted a civil readiness exercise during April 5-13, 1984. It was conducted in coordination and simultaneously with a Joint Chiefs exercise, Night Train 84, a worldwide military command post exercise (including Continental U.S. Forces or CONUS) based on multi-emergency scenarios operating both abroad and at home. In the combined exercise, Rex-84 Bravo, FEMA and DOD led the other federal agencies and departments, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Secret Service, the Treasury, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Veterans Administration through a gaming exercise to test military assistance in civil defense.
a
Apparently all nature contingencies are being taken care of. Photographers snapped pictures of an estimated half a million plastic coffins:

These plans are similar in many ways to Hitler and Stalin’s plans who all have generally the same financial backers.

Clearly Presidential Executive Orders primarily from FDR and Bush Jr., which are blatantly treasonous in form, have been laying the groundwork for this Fascist Socialist takeover: Executive Order Treason - - MUCH MORE

I stated that I believed we are in the final stages of this plan based on the success of “Operation Falcon” and being aware the final readiness test is due soon in the western United States; further, just today, I noted that DHS is finalizing plans to use spy satellites on the American public:

DHS finalizing plans for domestic spy satellite program

Congress has not been updated since civil liberties concerns delayed satellite spying

A plan to dramatically widen US law enforcement agencies’ access to data from powerful spy satellites is moving toward implementation, as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff expects to finalize a charter for the program this week, according to a new report.

Chertoff insists the scheme to turn spy satellites — that were originally designed for foreign surveillance — on Americans is legal, although a House committee that would approve the program has not been updated on the program for three months.

“We still haven’t seen the legal framework we requested or the standard operation procedures on how the NAO will actually be run,” House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson tells the Wall Street Journal. Thompson was referring to the National Applications Office — a new DHS subset that would coordinate access to spy-satellite data for non-military domestic agencies, including law enforcement.

Civil liberties concerns delayed the program after lawmakers and outside activists wondered how the program would be structured to protect Americans from unconstitutional surveillance from the powerful satellites, which can see through cloud cover, trees and even concrete buildings. MORE

I don’t have a lot of commentary to offer on this issue, but it’s obvious that KBR and Halliburton would make hundreds of millions of dollars, if not billions operating these so-called “detention facilities if they were filled to capacity by the plethora of services they would have to offer, i.e., meals, medical attention (if that’s included), extra security guards, and a host of cottage industries that would spring-up to supplement the imprisonment of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of American citizens whose only crime was to demand that Bush and Cheney adhere to our constitution and the rule of law.

If you think your voice and participation isn’t needed to fight S 1959, think again, and please visit the site where I found this information. This is not a “conspiracy Theory” but is based on factual evidence, and there’s a lot more when you visit the “Liberty For Life Association.”

It’s your life and our country - and now it looks like it’s time to pour on the pressure, and we must join together in solidarity to fight what may be the end of freedom in America. As was stated on the page where I found this information:

This is for real! - Wake Up America!

William Cormier

NOTE: If you think this article should be read and disseminated as widely as possible, please give it a “Reddit” vote, as I’ve noticed a huge amount of people all of a sudden coming online and attempting to vote it down. This is information the government doesn’t want to be widely read or become public knowledge, and their propaganda arm is working hard to kill it - and we know they have infiltrated social networking sites from recent articles and they were busted by the “Digg Community.”

This comment was made on “Reddit” - and I believe I have a responsibility to answer it. This comments is in regard some of the top stories of today.

Reddit Question:

These are serious allegations made by the authour.

Can anyone add links to support or discredit this story?

My Answer:

If you follow the many links on the site I’m quoting from, there’s substantiation on every issue. Do a Google search for concentration camps in America and you’ll be surprised to see when they were first being noticed and photographed, and the many other issues dealing with the subject. No one has really been putting two and two together. Look at the popular articles today.

27,000,000 + FISA Sessions
Chertoff States Satellite Spying on Americans doesn’t violate our constitutional rights.

There hasn’t been a week we haven’t lost more rights, police brutality is rapidly escalating, and people are getting nervous. Why do we need more laws to protect us that in the end always diminish our rights?

Look at the top 75 stories and then you can begin to see the pattern. Attempt to look at the issue as a whole and then everything starts to make sense, and Bush and Cheney chopping-away at the constitution begins to become transparent, although at a time when we may be nearing the end of their plans. Look at the irony of it; we on the Internet that speak for constitutional values and a return to the rule of law, and we seem to be a vast majority - of us will be among the first to fall, and it was paid for by our taxes. Go figure.

There’s A Press Blackout on S 1959, the Thought Crime Prevention Bill; Why?

Justanothercoverup — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:26:51 EST

As odd as it sounds, it’s true. The Mainstream News Media appears to be in a total news blackout in regard S 1959. At first, I believed it was merely the reluctance of the MSM to discuss this Bill, however, the answer may be much more sinister than that! Below is a reply I found on Ron Paul’s Campaign site which references this Bill, and I double and triple checked for ANY Mainstream News Coverage on this issue - and so far, it appears to almost be non-existent!

The Greatest Obstacle

On December 4th, 2007 hemingway811 says:

is that the MSM has had a total blackout on the House’s passage of HR 1955 on Oct. 23rd. Do a search at any major newspaper & the major television stations, including cable. I have found a few comments in Blogs at a couple of television sites, but that’s about it.

For example, at the Washington Post you get:

“No Results Found”

LATIMES.COM ARTICLES
No matches found on search for: hr 1955

No matches found on search for: violent radicalization

404 members of the House voted for this “thought crime” Bill. The ACLU is working with members of the Senate to amend the language. They specifically refer to the regulation of thoughts. I don’t expect the ACLU to make much headway with the Senate. We have been bombarded with so much fear-mongering 24/7 for so long, members of Congress are too afraid of being labeled unpatriotic if they don’t vote for legislation like this.

RP did not cast a vote on HR 1955.

http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/32886prs20071128.html

It is time to flood Keith Olbermann, Lou Dobbs, Jack Cafferty, and anyone else speaking out of the real issues the rest of the MSM ignores, with e-mails urging them to speak out about this Legislation. I already have.

KOlbermann@msnbc.com

Lou Dobbs:

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?9

Jack Cafferty

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5t.html LINK

Unfortunately, writing Lou Dobbs or Jack Cafferty is futile, as CNN refuses to publish any information in regard this assault on our Constitution, and that’s after they have received hundreds, maybe even thousands of requests to editorialize on the subject. Has the government issued “signing letters” or other orders that prevent ALL of America’s Mainstream News Media from reporting on this vital issue? Jack Cafferty is attempting to promote his so-called “Blog” on CNN, however, if you even mention S 1959 in your comment, it probably won’t be published. CNN is stonewalling their viewer-ship, and on an issue where the public is demanding that this Bill be discussed in a public forum; CNN, along with the rest of the MSM, have turned their backs on America and have shown, despite increasing public outrage that they don’t give a damn about public opinion!

If you fine-tune your Internet searches, and Google S 1959, there are pages and pages of results, almost all of them Blogs and Discussion forums in the US who are discussing this matter and urging their subscribers to call, email, and write to Congress to defeat this Bill, yet it appears we are screaming into a void - and no one in the MSM has the courage to bring this odious Bill to the publics attention. In fact, there is little or nothing mentioned in the foreign press as well, and in this writer’s opinion, we must break the silence of the Mainstream News Media to bring about enough awareness where the people can protest in enough numbers to kill this Bill before free speech in America is nothing more than a fleeting memory.

To anyone that is aware of Naomi Wolf’s writing, the Guardian Unlimited published her recent essay, Fascist America, in 10 easy steps. One chilling part of that essay is published below, and we all need to take note that a Fascist America appears to be on our doorstep, and only by making the MSM report upon this attempt to silence free speech in America will we have any chance of stopping the steady march toward total fascism and dictatorship in America:

8. Control the press

Italy in the 1920s, Germany in the 30s, East Germany in the 50s, Czechoslovakia in the 60s, the Latin American dictatorships in the 70s, China in the 80s and 90s - all dictatorships and would-be dictators target newspapers and journalists. They threaten and harass them in more open societies that they are seeking to close, and they arrest them and worse in societies that have been closed already.

The Committee to Protect Journalists says arrests of US journalists are at an all-time high: Josh Wolf (no relation), a blogger in San Francisco, has been put in jail for a year for refusing to turn over video of an anti-war demonstration; Homeland Security brought a criminal complaint against reporter Greg Palast, claiming he threatened “critical infrastructure” when he and a TV producer were filming victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana. Palast had written a bestseller critical of the Bush administration.

Other reporters and writers have been punished in other ways. Joseph C Wilson accused Bush, in a New York Times op-ed, of leading the country to war on the basis of a false charge that Saddam Hussein had acquired yellowcake uranium in Niger. His wife, Valerie Plame, was outed as a CIA spy - a form of retaliation that ended her career.

Prosecution and job loss are nothing, though, compared with how the US is treating journalists seeking to cover the conflict in Iraq in an unbiased way. The Committee to Protect Journalists has documented multiple accounts of the US military in Iraq firing upon or threatening to fire upon unembedded (meaning independent) reporters and camera operators from organisations ranging from al-Jazeera to the BBC. While westerners may question the accounts by al-Jazeera, they should pay attention to the accounts of reporters such as the BBC’s Kate Adie. In some cases reporters have been wounded or killed, including ITN’s Terry Lloyd in 2003. Both CBS and the Associated Press in Iraq had staff members seized by the US military and taken to violent prisons; the news organisations were unable to see the evidence against their staffers.

Over time in closing societies, real news is supplanted by fake news and false documents. Pinochet showed Chilean citizens falsified documents to back up his claim that terrorists had been about to attack the nation. The yellowcake charge, too, was based on forged papers.

You won’t have a shutdown of news in modern America - it is not possible. But you can have, as Frank Rich and Sidney Blumenthal have pointed out, a steady stream of lies polluting the news well. What you already have is a White House directing a stream of false information that is so relentless that it is increasingly hard to sort out truth from untruth. In a fascist system, it’s not the lies that count but the muddying. When citizens can’t tell real news from fake, they give up their demands for accountability bit by bit.

9. Dissent equals treason

Cast dissent as “treason” and criticism as “espionage’. Every closing society does this, just as it elaborates laws that increasingly criminalize certain kinds of speech and expand the definition of “spy” and “traitor”. When Bill Keller, the publisher of the New York Times, ran the Lichtblau/Risen stories, Bush called the Times’ leaking of classified information “disgraceful”, while Republicans in Congress called for Keller to be charged with treason, and rightwing commentators and news outlets kept up the “treason” drumbeat. Some commentators, as Conason noted, reminded readers smugly that one penalty for violating the Espionage Act is execution.MORE

Based on all of the Blogs which are standing in solidarity against this issue, I’d bet my last dollar (If I had one to spare…) the Congress has received hundreds of thousands of phone calls and emails, yet they still remain mute and refuse to offer the public anything at all - not even an assurance they will look into our concern and outrage; instead, it appears The United States Congress is betraying their constituents, this time in an assault that could change the face of America! Based on the refusal of the MSM to publicize the issue, and Congress remaining deaf and dumb in the performance of their duties, we can only ascertain that Congress is attempting to pass this Bill while the bulk of the population isn’t even aware of its existence, and to me, that speaks of treason!

We have only one chance of defeating this Bill before it gets out of Committee, and that’s to make enough calls and send enough emails to effectively jam-up the phone systems in Congress, and only by acting in unison will we be able to save free speech in America. As an alternative, I’m calling upon the foreign press to publicize this matter, especially those in England, Germany, France, and all of the countries that America gave so many lives in World War I and II to help them throw off the yolk of oppression. America was there for them when Nazi Germany was attempting to enslave all of Europe, and I believe they have a debt of honor to repay -to stand tall and write about this critical issue that affects all of America. We were there for them, and now it seems that we need their help, if it’s nothing more than embarrassing the American Mainstream News Media into covering an issue that affects each and every American alive, here and abroad, and to lend their assistance in helping to insure that the United States will remain a free and democratic nation.

William Cormier

FootNote: This morning, I noted that NBC is quietly refunding money to advertisers because their ratings have been so low. LINK NBC, if you want to jump-start your ratings and be a top network again, maybe you might try reporting the news - all of it, and if you would break this press blackout and show some courage, I’m guessing, based on the interest of the public in regard S 1959, your ratings would soar and rather than giving refunds for poor ratings, you’d see your viewer-ship increase dramatically.

reddit_url='[URL]'

First, It Was War On Crime, Then Drugs, Next Terror, Now It’s War On Americans

Justanothercoverup — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:10:37 EST

Going back through history, I remember when the “War on Crime” began, and that was almost thirty (30) years ago. Then came the “War on Drugs,” and now approximately 1 in every 31 adults in the United States is behind bars or under court supervision. Why are we so cruel to our own people? LINK Now that the “War on Terror” is being expanded, and the Senate is getting ready to pass S 1959, its apparent the government is now starting a new “War” - and this one is aimed squarely at anyone and everyone that doesn’t agree with a government that dances to the tune of corporations and special interest groups rather than the people themselves. Now that Congress has ample evidence to successfully impeach George. W. Bush and Vice-President Dick (Darth) Cheney, and they still refuse to uphold the Constitution and protect the people they pledged to serve in their oaths of office, the people know that Congress is complicit in the destruction of democracy, instead opting for the money and/or acting in cowardice and fear as fascism is rapidly taking-over the governance of the United States.

The facts that have been released to the mainstream news media these last few days have been damning for the Bush administration, and even more evidence of criminality is available on the Internet for all to see; however, you in Congress must take note that President Bush has lied to a nation, and now we know that the recent NIE was only released because several senior intelligence analysts were willing to go to jail in order to insure that the people of America and the world community were apprised of the truth, not what Bush and Cheney were attempting to coerce them to say. LINK

When the President and Vice-President have flagrantly broken our laws and commit “high crimes and misdemeanors”, it is the duty of the Congress, not whether you “decide” to impeach or not. The constitution is very clear on that matter, and when an administration is flagrantly guilty of several crimes, the Congress in compelled to impeach, not decide beforehand whether they feel it will win or lose. The Congress would do well to understand the meaning of “high crimes and misdemeanors,” and the argument of whether those herein cited are applicable under the actual definition of this phrase in our constitution is necessary for all to know and understand; most of the public believe “High Crimes” are felonies and crimes of such magnitude that Congress has to have an iron-clad case to bring the matter to the House of Representatives for arguments and evidence; Nothing could be further from the truth! To hear arguments that Bush hasn’t committed a crime that falls into this category is patently false and those who use such frivolous arguments against impeachment would do well to understand exactly what it entails:

The Constitution says a President can be impeached for “high crimes and misdemeanors,” but it doesn’t define the term. Who decides what that means? Columbus, Ohio - 5/3/00

The Congress decides the definition: by majority vote in the House for impeachment, and by 2/3 vote in the Senate for conviction. The Framers of the Constitution deliberately put impeachment into the hands of the legislative branch rather than the judicial branch, thus transforming it from strictly a matter of legal definition to a matter of political judgment. Then Representative Gerald Ford put it into practical perspective in 1970, when he said an impeachable offense is “whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history.”

“High crimes and misdemeanors” entered the text of the Constitution due to George Mason and James Madison. Mason had argued that the reasons given for impeachment — treason and bribery — were not enough. He worried that other “great and dangerous offenses” might not be covered, and suggested adding the word “maladministration.” Madison argued that term was too vague, so Mason then proposed “high crimes and misdemeanors,” a phrase well-known in English common law. In 18th century language, a “misdemeanor” meant “mis-demeanor,”or bad behavior (neglect of duty and corruption were given as examples), while “high crimes” was roughly equivalent to “great offenses.” MUCH MORE

This passage I found on AfterdowningStreet.Org mirrors my feelings, and countless millions of other patriotic Americas that feel the same way. What the general public doesn’t know is that internment camps, concentration camps, or expanded prison capability designed to hold more than a million detainees are being built or renovated in almost every state in the union. LINK LINK LINK For the Mainstream News Media to have knowledge of these camps and not ask pertinent questions necessary to awaken the public and warn them of this danger is unconscionable, and they choose to remain silent, pleased that soon their critics may disappear while a public lulled into complacency is enslaved by the people they believed would be their saviors.

“With the recent NIE report on Iran, it is ever clearer that the administration’s deceptions have only grown in scope. If after this Congress still does not take up the call for impeachment, it is itself open to charges of collusion in high crimes against the Republic,” said Niranjan Ramakrishnan, a political analyst.

Ramakrishnan criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for pledging ‘to keep impeachment off the table’ in an October interview, describing the pledge as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘criminal’.

“To leave unchallenged the deliberate misleading of the country to war, (and the effort to do the same a second time), makes her party a knowing accessory to the same misdeeds,” he said. LINK

This is a quote from a publication that was written in 2006, and all of you know that several more crimes have manifested themselves after the publication of these words:

The Military Commission Act retroactively approved the use of torture to the beginning of the 9/11 Wars.
Congress’s reaction to the ACLU report in October of 2005 was to pass legislation banning further use of the
Freedom of Information Act to request documents on current military operations.
We are in a time of extremism, permanent war, and the unilateral manifestation of ethnocentrism and power by
an openly public cabal of people in the U.S. government. Those in power are set on the U.S. military domination
of the world. They seem willing to defy the foundational values of the American people to achieve their ends. We
have no choice but to declare openly our belief in universal human rights and demand the immediate
impeachment of George W. Bush and Richard Cheney and a full accounting of those in their administration.
Peter Phillips is a professor of sociology at Sonoma State University and director of Project Censored. He is
co-editor with Dennis Loo of the new book “Impeach the President: the Case Against Bush and Cheney,”
available at: http://www.projectcensored.org/impeach.htm LINK

To reiterate the many crimes of the Bush administration would be a waste of time, as all of you in Congress know they are guilty; several books have been written on the subject, and now, placing all technicalities to the side, even the class dunce would conclude, based on the mountains of evidence and the necessity to save our country from further war and violence, the immediate necessity to impeach George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.

To those Republicans and “Blue-Dog Democrats,” and Independent Joe Lieberman, please be advised that the public, whom are awakening at a remarkable rate, are watching those of you whom still defiantly support this President, and to all of you, I say that your continued support of an administration that has been proven to be liars and have spat on our Constitution and Rule of Law is causing the people to wonder if you too are guilty of, or have actively enabled their crimes. It is time for all of you to awaken to the reality that as a majority, the people of the United States want George Bush and Dick Cheney impeached, and we demand, not ask, that you fulfill your constitutionally mandated duty to impeach these tyrants before they can inflict more damage and embarrassment on the people of America and the world at large.

In regard Nancy Pelosi, we have just learned that in September of 2002, Nancy Pelosi was one of the “Gang of Four”, along with Representative Jane Harmon, who was briefed on the type(s) of torture the CIA were using to interrogate high value detainees, and none of those four objected at that time. Ms. Pelosi, knowing that the CIA was actively conducting torture, which is against our own laws as well as the Geneva Convention, failed to object and even though she was apprised the United States was actively breaking US and international law - she chose to remain silent instead of attempting to do everything in her power to rectify the situation. It is this writer’s opinion that she abdicated her duty, and in spite of Ms. Harmon’s recent statement that she couldn’t talk about it because:

“When you serve on intelligence committee you sign a second oath — one of secrecy,” she said. “I was briefed, but the information was closely held to just the Gang of Four. I was not free to disclose anything.” LINK

The above argument is inappropriate when both Democratic Representatives learned that the United States was actively committing crimes. If they had learned we were covertly executing some of those detainees, would they have spoken out then? A crime is a crime, especially when those crimes place our own soldiers in jeopardy of being tortured themselves because of our flagrant violation of international law. Based on Speaker Pelosi’s inability to muster the courage necessary to defy a President that was actively breaking our own laws, I believe this act alone disqualifies her from ascending to the Presidency when Bush and Cheney are impeached, hence the triple-impeachment to assure the people that those who enabled the Bush administration are denied access to further power and authority.

An urgent matter the Congress also must take up is the unconscionable behavior of the Mainstream News Media. They are large corporate owned media conglomerates that somehow believe they have the right to distort the news and continue the lies and propaganda of the Bush administration, and as a private citizen, I believe that it is within my constitutional rights to demand that they be truthful and fair. We as a nation are not children, and to allow the news media to lie and distort the truth is a slap in the face to the people at large, and we’re tired of it. To read how bad this issue is, please read this brief synopsis. LINK If you doubt that impeachment could be a successful endeavor, it’s because of a complicit MSM, and your speeches and Press Conferences can alert the rest of the people of the necessity to impeach this Presidency and begin the healing process that may take decades to accomplish based on the national debt and the horrible loss of credibility that we as a nation have suffered under the leadership of the Bush administration. Congress may believe the MSM is protecting them, but the word is rapidly spreading that the opposite is true, and slowly but surely, the MSM is losing the battle to hide the truth from the American public.

To label a show as “news” and refuse to tell the truth, distort the truth, or blatantly lie have as some of the networks have done borders on fraud, and lying to the public disguising it as “news” is not a fair representation of free speech, especially as it concerns those who are charged with keeping the nation informed of important news. For the Congress to allow this to continue unabated is a sign that the entire Congress is complicit with the Bush administration. And if that is the case, each and every one of you will be losing your seats in Congress, because the people are watching this Congress as they never have before, and a host of people are taking notes and chronicling those who refuse to stand-up for the people.

The last, but not unimportant issue, is that the Mainstream News Media, once again is attempting to interfere with a federal election, and it’s my belief that their poor coverage of Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul smacks of attempting to influence an election by not fairly representing all of the candidates that are running for election. Dennis Kucinich, who last month won the most votes in a survey conducted by Democracy for America, has now come out on top of an on-line poll of members of Progressive Democrats for America, has not been represented fairly. I am also hearing that the Ron Paul campaign in gaining steam, and even though I’m personally a Kucinich supporter, it is as important to hear the message of Ron Paul too so the nation is able to make a fair and informed opinion of the candidates, not those the MSM are cramming down our collective throats. The aforementioned candidates appear to have a huge movement developing in their favor, and to allow the MSM to keep them without equal news coverage is an attempt at dumbing-down America, and to those of you who believe it’s working, I assure you, it’s not, and more and more Americans are awakening to the corruption that grips Washington, and we as a nation want change, and we demand the Congress of the United States represent the people, and now, while you still can.

The challenges Congress face is real, but we as citizens must remember that it’s us paying these absurd gas, milk, and soaring food costs while our wages remain stagnant, and it is our Congress that are paid well and keep increasing their pay while ours goes down, many of whom are millionaires in their own accord. It is almost impossible for them to identify with what is occurring across this great nation - and it’s high time they understand that the people ARE awakening and we demand change, now, not tomorrow or the next day, but for Congress to take-up these important issues immediately and represent the people; this may be their last chance before the upcoming passage of S 1959 in the Senate, and we are also watching on that Bill. We know there have been thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of emails and phone calls made to Congress on this issue, and yet not a word has been mentioned by the MSM or any other source. Why? This is another matter the Congress of the United States needs to pay heed to the people, not their corporate sponsors or pressure from the Bush administration. This Bill represents the most egregious assault on our constitution since this country was incepted, and the people will not allow this Bill to pass. Again, if this Bill does pass the Senate, it will be another slap in the face of the people, this time it would be a vicious slap that would eventually effect Free Speech, and no one in this nation will forgive Congress if this odious Bill is allowed to pass.

Just yesterday, I learned that several groups in FACEBOOK have also joined-in to send emails and call the Congress LINK, and they are spreading the word as fast as they can, yet a complicit MSM refuses to report upon the massive amount of emails and phone calls of those who are protesting against this unconstitutional Bill! Citizens from all fifty states are emailing and calling Congress on this issue, yet the MSM remains mute, as does our Congress. The protest is far from over, and Congress should acknowledge the concerns of the people instead of ignoring what is a legitimate outpouring of Americans concerned that the very foundation of freedom and democracy could be stripped away from us - and when freedom of speech dies, so does our country and what used to be “The American Way of Life.”

President Bush stated we were either “for him or against him” in similar words, and as we watch a Congress that refuses to perform their duties, it’s time for them to decide that same question. Are they for the American people, or are they against us? The answer to that question is how this Congress will act now that Bush and company have been caught red-handed attempting to “cook” the intelligence to fit their ambitions to bomb Iran, even though the military and the country at large are against starting another war. I speak as an individual, however base this opinion on the many comments made to CNN in their Blog, the many Internet sites and discussion forums that actively post their concern and fear of this Presidency, and the mood and demeanor of the Average American when asked about this Presidency. I believe that my view is shared by countless millions of Americans, and we are all waiting and watching; will Congress allow our country to descend into total fascism and dictatorship, or will they stand tall and fight for our Constitution, Bill of Rights and The Rule of Law?The “answer will manifest itself in the next couple of months, but if the Senate passes S 1959, and Congress still refuses to perform their duty, we can all say good-bye to a free and democratic America.

William Cormier

Today Is Critical, And We Must Join-in To Kill S 1959

Justanothercoverup — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:30:19 EST

To state that today is critical would be a gross understatement; the Internet is buzzing about the upcoming passage of the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007, yet through all of the talk and articles, we still haven’t joined-in with enough numbers to stop this Bill dead in its tracks - and if we don’t, as all of the author’s seem to agree, Free Speech in American could effectively become a memory, and those who have constantly fought for our freedom(s) will likely be muzzled and may be hauled-off to internment camps, which we now know exist and when S 1959 is passed into law, it’s inevitable that they will soon be used. LINK Yes, they are real, and were built by FEMA and KBR, a Halliburton subsidiary. Do your own Internet search and you will find pictures and documentation of these camps, yet the Mainstream New Media hasn’t uttered a word to the public about these camps, which demonstrates the MSM has been totally compromised as a reliable news source.

Positive Universe Abstracts has an entire page devoted to the plethora of Op-Eds and articles on this subject you can find at this LINK. Two more informative and frightening articles were published last night or this morning, and both offer the reality we may face if this Bill, the worst assault on the Constitution in this nations history, is allowed to pass:

Senate Bill 1959 to Criminalize Patriotism

Urgent call to Action: Facts about S1959, Action Alerts

There is factual evidence supplied in all of the above articles, but the piece which is missing is how to stop this bill dead in its tracks, and although I commend all on taking this odious Bill to task - the time for action is now, before the Bill is passed and then, nothing will save this nation from tyranny. We must join-in in solidarity to halt this egregious assault on our Constitutional rights, and several sites are openly re-printing how we can do it.

Please read How To Make A Grassroots Movement Successful and then take matters into your own hands and urge others to do the same. There is a solution, but simply writing about the problem won’t make it go away, and only your participation will - so please, don’t think that it couldn’t happen to us as the Jews did in Germany, even as they were in the railroad cars on their voyage to death and imprisonment. We may face similar fates ourselves if we don’t band-together and speak-out in unison and there is very little time left. The Bill is being fast-tracked, so its passage could occur at any time.

Help to save yourselves and the beloved country we grew-up in, and make a statement, not tomorrow or the day after, but today, and each and every day thereafter until this Bill is declared dead. To do otherwise is to allow you to find yourselves in one of those camps in the not too distant future, and only by speaking-out today will we be able to circumvent the horror of tomorrow if this Bill is allowed to pass.

William Cormier

How To Make A Grassroots Movement Successful

Justanothercoverup — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 05:19:55 EST

Early this morning, a comment was posted on Op-Ed News asking me how others can contribute and make a Grassroots effort by the people really become successful and actually be a decisive force in stopping the Senate from passing the the insidious “Thought Crime Prevention Bill”, otherwise known as the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007.

I originally started writing on this subject with the purpose of laying-out the basis for the movement, and thought it was necessary to receive endorsements by other more well-known activists; I have since changed my mind, especially when I noted early this morning that three (3) other sites had joined-in and were reproducing this series and/or linking to my site. This is such a heinous assault against our Constitution that once people actually read what it entails, without endorsements from anyone, they are joining-in and making it happen themselves - and now, I believe it’s time to turn up the heat! Also, I found an excellent analysis of said bill that far surpasses anything I’ve read, and a link to that Op-Ed will be posted at the end of the brief article.

To make this protest a success, if people actually join-in as they have been, making it a success is actually simply. Anything I write is available to reproduce without requesting my approval, and those of you that post on other sites - all you have to do is reproduce this article, the one I list at the bottom of the page, and ask others to do the same. Link to it, try and get it published on large sites like the Democratic Underground, a site which I’m a member, but haven’t engaged in enough discussions to have the privilege of posting a new thread myself. Post it in every discussion forum you can think of, and email it to every friend you have. When you email it to friend, include this message so they will also cross-post the issue(s) and urge others to do the same.

That is all that needs to be done to make it successful, and by doing so, it will swell and gain momentum like nothing you’ve ever seen! Once word gets out that the phone lines and email in Congress and The White House is becoming overwhelmed, the movement will gain momentum by the very nature of people realizing that they are actually impacting their own future - and that’s what all of this is centered upon; Americans finally taking the initiative to express their indignation and disgust that our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Rule of Law is so flagrantly being violated - and if anyone tells you that we can’t make a difference - don’t listen, because we can, and the momentum is already building!

I am attempting to funnel the traffic into Op-Ed News, not because I favor them over other Progressive/Liberal sites, but because they have the bandwidth, the print capabilities, and the ability to email this article to friends without ever having to leave their site. I’m not a Linux Guru, and haven’t figured out how to install those capabilities on my own site, so must choose a Progressive site to do it for me, and besides, once you visit Op-Ed News, you will be struck by the diversity of articles, News, and Op-Ed’s by some of our most well-known activists.

The article that best describes this unconscionable assault on our constitution (IMO) is here, and be prepared to be shocked on how our own government is attempting to quash Free Speech in America, and make it a matter of simplicity to declare those of us that are discontented with the course this nation is taking to be locked-up and imprisoned only because we have enough wherewithal to disagree:

The Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act: A Tutorial in Orwellian Newspeak

After you’ve read that, then please go to this article, and it lists all of the articles you can circulate, email, and print for those who don’t have computers:

Freedom Is Not Free, The Momentum Is Building!

That’s all there is to it, and let’s give ourselves two (2) days before we begin to really hammer the White House and Congress! I’d suggest starting in huge numbers on Tuesday, giving this enough time to circulate even more through the Internet, and don’t stop at one day, but keep it up until we are assured this Bill has been defeated; not a maybe, or “we’ll work on it”, but defeated and dead so we can begin to focus on other important areas of contention.

Good Luck, and remember that “LUCK” is spelled “WORK”, and this will require all of us to spend 10 to 20 minutes per day to make it effective, and for those of you that cross-post it or include it on discussion forums, even more time than that, but the rewards will be well worth it!

Thank you all,

William Cormier

NOTE: If for some unforeseen reason, my site does go dark again, or I’m arrested for instigating a completely peaceful protest, our right as Americans who are only exercising our Free Speech as guaranteed under the Constitution of the United States - please do not allow that to affect this vital protest, one that could save thousands of us from being persecuted by our own government. Be proud, exercise your rights as Americans, and even though they may try to intimidate us by an arrest or two, it’s only an attempt to instill even more fear into the population, and I think we’ve all had enough of that!

The day before yesterday, The Smirking Chimp was hacked, and this subject was running there as well, with over 17 comments. Yesterday, my site was also hacked and I was off-line. It may be a coincidence, but I have received word the calls and emails are beginning to pour into Washington, and alhough it may be nothing more than a coincidence, I am suspicious that two sites carrying the same message were hacked in an attempt to derail this important protest. The Smirking Chimp is stiil down at the time of this posting.

reddit_url='[URL]'

Freedom Is Not Free – And Americans Are Poised To Lose Everything, Part II

Justanothercoverup — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:10:51 EST

In part one of this horror story, we discussed NSPD-51 and the Potential for a Coup d’Etat. I would love to say the news is better, but in my opinion, events are taking place that will reshape the America we have all known and cherished, the one spoke of reverently in our history books and still remains the guiding factor in our fight to restore our freedom(s). Yesterday I received this email, and I had no idea that S 1959 was scheduled for Senate approval this soon. The Congressional site states it’s still in Committee, however we know how fast that process can be when a Bill is fast-tracked. If it is still in committee, we need to make sure it stays there, buried and spoken of in whispers for its egregious assault on the Constitution, without question the worst in American history. This discusses the “Thought Crime Prevention Bill“. This is the greatest assault on the Constitution in American history, and it’s important for Americans to understand what this bill means to each and every one of us! This is the email I received:

THIS IS AN URGENT ACTION ALERT:

S 1959 “Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007″ must be stopped at all costs.

Pick up your phone today and contact your US Senator’s office to instruct them to vote “NO” on S.1959.

Click here for your Senators contact info:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Full PDF text if the bill:
http://tinyurl.com/3a3y2z

If this bill is passed, and becomes law, your words and actions could be considered terrorism. S 1959 EVISCERATES FREE SPEECH, and empowers the govt. to declare ANYTHING they deem an “extremist belief system”, instantly make you a terrorist, resulting in stripping of US citizenship, torture, and/or execution, with no habeas corpus rights, no ability to challenge even in the US Supreme Court.

Contact your Senator and let them know they will be looking for another job if they vote yes on this bill, which is now introduced into the Senate as S.1959 THIS BILL **MUST NOT** BECOME LAW, PERIOD.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-1955
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-1959

If this becomes law, your words could be considered “promoting an extremist belief system”, and all they have to say is that you are using PLANNED OR THREATENED *FORCE* (DOES NOT HAVE TO BE VIOLENCE) –FORCE by exposing CORRUPTION, CRIMINALITY against “THE CIVILIAN POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES, *****OR ANY SEGMENT THEREOF” READ THE BILL MANY TIMES AND VERY CAREFULLY–YOU ARE THE TERRORIST (WHICH MEANS THEY CAN STRIP YOUR CITIZENSHIP, AND HAVE YOU TORTURED AND EXECUTED).

Call their local and DC offices. Go to their offices. Find out where your Senator is and tell him no to HR 1959.

Click here for your Senators contact info:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

“There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can’t take part, you can’t even passively take part, and you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you’ve got to make it stop! And you’ve got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you’re free, the machine will be prevented from working at all!” - Mario Savio
Tina Richards
Grassroots America, A Non Profit

After you understand the implications of the “Thought Crimes Prevention Bill”, and you consider other legislation that is also underway, and its implications, (which could affect the ability of fair elections to occur in the United States;) it allows whoever is in power to affect the outcome of any federal or possibly even state elections, and we as Americans cannot allow this to happen! The following article on BuzzFlash vividly describes what the implications of this bill are, and how it could affect the American election process:

Elliot D. Cohen: The Tele Gate Crisis: Stop Bush’s Electronic Surveillance Before the Next Presidential Election is Stolen

by Elliot D. Cohen (Excerpts)

About to be consummated by the Senate may be one of the most egregious, far-reaching, and dangerous attacks on constitutional rights in U.S. history. What is scheduled to take place this week on the Senate floor is a hearing about shielding telecommunication companies from both past and future criminal and civil liability for helping the Bush Administration to deploy and operate a massive computerized system of unlawful search and seizure with the potential to disrupt and destroy free elections, privacy, freedom of the press, and freedom of speech in America — in a word, democracy.

The gravity of this attack on democracy in America cannot be overstated and is now by far the most serious crisis gripping this nation. Yet most Americans do not know about it. Nor is it on the evening news or being addressed by the mainstream pundits who instead speak at length about who won the last Democratic presidential debate. Sadly, it may not matter.

Since September 2001, and possibly earlier, AT&T, working cooperatively with the White House and the National Security Agency, has conducted monitoring of all e-mail and phone messages passing through the AT&T system, which also includes Qwest and Sprint. Making copies of all these messages and routing them for analysis to secret rooms hidden deep inside major AT&T hubs in the United States, this system has the potential to analyze message content according to predefined search criteria. Absent judicial oversight, as is now the case, these criteria could easily (and may presently be) set to find and read all messages sent by Democratic opponents of the GOP for purposes of gaining an unfair advantage in the upcoming presidential election in November 2008. Worse, this infrastructure supports interception, analysis, and reconfiguration of electronically cast votes when they are routed from individual voting precincts through the phone lines to a central headquarters for tallying. Unless this surveillance system is dismantled or placed immediately under careful, ongoing judicial watch, the outcome of voting in the next election — and in subsequent elections — may be as predictable as rolling loaded dice. Unfortunately, the FISA revisions currently before the Senate do not provide for the judicial oversight urgently needed to prevent the use of this system for such nefarious purposes.

HR 3373, the so-called Restore Act, which has recently been passed by the House of Representatives, has been scheduled for a Senate hearing this week along with the Senate’s version of the bill, S. 2248, The FISA Amendments Act. Each of these bills attempts to revise the 1978 FISA law passed after the Nixon Administration to protect American citizens from being illegally spied on by government. MUCH MORE I highly suggest you read this brilliant article.

I was going to provide a commentary on Operation Falcon and what the danger of these transparent ploys to coordinate city, state, and federal law enforcement agencies that would have the ability to sweep-up hundreds of thousands of people in the early hours of the morning. Those doing the arresting would be led to believe they were arresting actual criminals, not the voice of freedom and those who seek to preserve our constitutional values. These are the imminent dangers we face as a nation, and each must be addressed immediately! Below are some excerpts on Operation Falcon:

Operation FALCON - The USA is turning into a Police State

Operation Falcon: Blueprint for removing dissidents and political rivals

The Bush administration has carried out three massive sweeps in the last two years, rolling up more than 30,000 minor crooks and criminals, without as much as a whimper of protest from the public.

So far, not one of the more than 30,000 victims has been charged with a terror-related crime. So far, not one of the more than 30,000 victims has been charged with a terror-related crime.Operation Falcon is the clearest indication yet that the Bush administration is fine-tuning its shock-troops so it can roll up tens of thousands of people at a moment’s notice and toss them into the newly-built Halliburton detention centers. This should be a red flag for anyone who cares at all about human rights, civil liberties, or simply saving his own skin.

Operation Falcon was allegedly the brainchild of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and his counterpart in the US Marshal’s office, (Director) Ben Reyna. But its roots go much deeper into the nexus of right-wing Washington think tanks where fantasies of autocratic government have a long history. The name, Falcon, is an acronym for “Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally.” It relates to the more than 960 state, local and federal agencies which are directly involved in the administration’s expansive criminal dragnets.

Typically, law enforcement agencies are protective of their own turf and wary of outside intervention. The Falcon program overrides these concerns by streamlining the information-sharing processes and setting up a chain-of-command structure that radiates from the Justice Department. This removes many of the traditional obstacles to agency interface. It also relocates the levers of power in Washington where they can be manned by members of the Bush administration.
MUCH, MUCH MORE Another must-read article.

I had planned to cover a lot of ground in this piece, however our situation is dire. I’m hoping these measures weren’t voted on today, and thankfully, I haven’t seen anything otherwise posted. In the part of this series, Freedom Is Not Free – And Americans Are Poised To Lose Everything, Part 1, we need everyone reading these articles to get on the phones, call congress, the media, call or write your local editors, do what-ever is legal to make Congress and the Mainstream News Media take “We the People” seriously and understand that America belongs to the majority, not the elite and tyrants that seek to undermine the very basics of what make this nation great. We teeter on the verge of total dictatorship, and I believe the only way to halt these tyrants is for five million or more Americans ( A relatively small group when you consider their are 300 million of us here.) pledging to spend ten to fifteen minutes per day calling the White House, Senate, House of Representatives and every other federal agency we can imagine. It is our constitutional right to engage in peaceful protests, and tying up the phone lines in Washington will prove to the politicians that America is watching, and we want our rights protected, not sold-out to a Lobbyist or special interest group. We want our Constitution protected and abided by - not treated as if it meant nothing, and those who died in making a dream become a reality would truly be grief-stricken if they could see the abuse our government has suffered…

Who I am means nothing. The message above could be the equation to helping win the fight for our individual and collective freedom(s), and unfortunately, the time for discussion has long passed. It’s time to take action, right now, and express your outrage that Free Speech and the freedom of a nation is under direct attack by those that seek to destroy the American way of life. Whether it’s five million, or one million people who begin to express their disgust and outrage on how our Constitution and Bill of Rights is being trampled-upon is immaterial - what counts is that you understand the seriousness of what’s at stake, and pick up those phones today, tomorrow, and everyday thereafter until these threats against the American people have been quashed and/or replaced with legislation that makes sense - not legislation that is so vague and odious that it condemns those who are fighting daily for democracy to whatever Homeland Security desires, and that easily could mean imprisonment and the loss of everything they and their families own.

William Cormier

Other important Op-Ed’s and articles that bring into focus the death of the American Dream:

Senate bill kills freedom of speech, thought and religion

America; Descending to 3rd World Status?

Stopping the FCC from Consolidating Media Ownership

The Bush Push To Take Control Of Our Media and What You Can Do About It

reddit_url='[URL]'Footnote: This thread is running on Op-News.com, Diatribe, and other sites as they join-in. This is a chance to have our voices heard, and after you read Part I and II of this series and understand the gravity of the situation, it's obvious that we must do something to bring about change and make our voices heard, now, not next week or "when we get around to it."

There are some interesting comments on Op-Ed News, linked here for your perusal. LINK

Thanks

A True Patriot Speaks-Out For America, Is Anyone Listening?

Justanothercoverup — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:42:41 EST

Most of the material on this site was written exclusively by me, except those quotes that substantiate my commentary. On this date, Thanksgiving, I give my thanks to Mayor Rocky Anderson and all of those who support his words of patriotism that ALL of America should read and act upon immediately, especially a Congress that appears to be complicit with the Bush administration:

Address by Mayor Ross C. “Rocky”- Anderson on October 27, 2007

By Rocky Anderson
Salt Lake City, Utah —

Today, as we come together once again in this great city, we raise our voices in unison to say to President Bush, to Vice President Cheney, to other members of the Bush Administration (past and present), to a majority of Congress, including Utah’s entire congressional delegation, and to much of the mainstream media: “You have failed us miserably and we won’t take it any more.”

“While we had every reason to expect far more of you, you have been pompous, greedy, cruel, and incompetent as you have led this great nation to a moral, military, and national security abyss.”

“You have breached trust with the American people in the most egregious ways. You have utterly failed in the performance of your jobs. You have undermined our Constitution, permitted the violation of the most fundamental treaty obligations, and betrayed the rule of law.”

“You have engaged in, or permitted, heinous human rights abuses of the sort never before countenanced in our nation’s history as a matter of official policy. You have sent American men and women to kill and be killed on the basis of lies, on the basis of shifting justifications, without competent leadership, and without even a coherent plan for this monumental blunder.”
“We are here to tell you: We won’t take it any more!”

“You have acted in direct contravention of values that we, as Americans who love our country, hold dear. You have deceived us in the most cynical, outrageous ways. You have undermined, or allowed the undermining of, our constitutional system of checks and balances among the three presumed co-equal branches of government. You have helped lead our nation to the brink of fascism, of a dictatorship contemptuous of our nation’s treaty obligations, federal statutory law, our Constitution, and the rule of law.”
“Because of you, and because of your jingoistic false ‘patriotism,’ our world is far more dangerous, our nation is far more despised, and the threat of terrorism is far greater than ever before.

It has been absolutely astounding how you have committed the most horrendous acts, causing such needless tragedy in the lives of millions of people, yet you wear your so-called religion on your sleeves, asserting your God-is-on-my-side nonsense – when what you have done flies in the face of any religious or humanitarian tradition. Your hypocrisy is mind-boggling – and disgraceful. What part of “Thou shalt not kill” do you not understand? What part of the “Golden rule” do you not understand? What part of “be honest,” “be responsible,” and “be accountable” don’t you understand? What part of “Blessed are the peacekeepers” do you not understand?

Because of you, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, many thousands of people have suffered horrendous lifetime injuries, and millions have been run off from their homes. For the sake of our nation, for the sake of our children, and for the sake of our brothers and sisters around the world, we are morally compelled to say, as loudly as we can, ‘We won’t take it any more!’ ”
“As United States agents kidnap, disappear, and torture human beings around the world, you justify, you deceive, and you cover up. We find what you have done to men, women and children, and to the good name and reputation of the United States, so appalling, so unconscionable, and so outrageous as to compel us to call upon you to step aside and allow other men and women who are competent, true to our nation’s values, and with high moral principles to stand in your places – for the good of our nation, for the good of our children, and for the good of our world.”

In the case of the President and Vice President, this means impeachment and removal from office, without any further delay from a complacent, complicit Congress, the Democratic majority of which cares more about political gain in 2008 than it does about the vindication of our Constitution, the rule of law, and democratic accountability.

It means the election of people as President and Vice President who, unlike most of the presidential candidates from both major parties, have not aided and abetted in the perpetration of the illegal, tragic, devastating invasion and occupation of Iraq. And it means the election of people as President and Vice President who will commit to return our nation to the moral and strategic imperative of refraining from torturing human beings.

In the case of the majority of Congress, it means electing people who are diligent enough to learn the facts, including reading available National Intelligence Estimates, before voting to go to war. It means electing to Congress men and women who will jealously guard Congress’s sole prerogative to declare war. It means electing to Congress men and women who will not submit like vapid lap dogs to presidential requests for blank checks to engage in so-called preemptive wars, for legislation permitting warrantless wiretapping of communications involving US citizens, and for dangerous, irresponsible, saber-rattling legislation like the recent Kyl-Lieberman amendment.

We must avoid the trap of focusing the blame solely upon President Bush and Vice-President Cheney. This is not just about a few people who have wronged our country – and the world. They were enabled by members of both parties in Congress, they were enabled by the pathetic mainstream news media, and, ultimately, they have been enabled by the American people – 40% of whom are so ill-informed they still think Iraq was behind the 9/11 attacks – a people who know and care more about baseball statistics and which drunken starlets are wearing underwear than they know and care about the atrocities being committed every single day in our name by a government for which we need to take responsibility.

As loyal Americans, without regard to political partisanship — as veterans, as teachers, as religious leaders, as working men and women, as students, as professionals, as businesspeople, as public servants, as retirees, as people of all ages, races, ethnic origins, sexual orientations, and faiths — we are here to say to the Bush administration, to the majority of Congress, and to the mainstream media: “You have violated your solemn responsibilities. You have undermined our democracy, spat upon our Constitution, and engaged in outrageous, despicable acts. You have brought our nation to a point of immorality, inhumanity, and illegality of immense, tragic, unprecedented proportions.”

“But we will live up to our responsibilities as citizens, as brothers and sisters of those who have suffered as a result of the imperial bullying of the United States government, and as moral actors who must take a stand: And we will, and must, mean it when we say ‘We won’t take it any more.’”

If we want principled, courageous elected officials, we need to be principled, courageous, and tenacious ourselves. History has demonstrated that our elected officials are not the leaders – the leadership has to come from us. If we don’t insist, if we don’t persist, then we are not living up to our responsibilities as citizens in a democracy – and our responsibilities as moral human beings. If we remain silent, we signal to Congress and the Bush administration – and to candidates running for office – and to the world – that we support the status quo.

Silence is complicity. Only by standing up for what’s right and never letting down can we say we are doing our part.
Our government, on the basis of a campaign we now know was entirely fraudulent, attacked and militarily occupied a nation that posed no danger to the United States. Our government, acting in our name, has caused immense, unjustified death and destruction.

It all started five years ago, yet where have we, the American people, been? At this point, we are responsible. We get together once in a while at demonstrations and complain about Bush and Cheney, about Congress, and about the pathetic news media. We point fingers and yell a lot. Then most people politely go away until another demonstration a few months later.

How many people can honestly say they have spent as much time learning about and opposing the outrages of the Bush administration as they have spent watching sports or mindless television programs during the past five years? Escapist, time-sapping sports and insipid entertainment have indeed become the opiate of the masses.

Why is this country so sound asleep? Why do we abide what is happening to our nation, to our Constitution, to the cause of peace and international law and order? Why are we not doing all in our power to put an end to this madness?

We should be in the streets regularly and students should be raising hell on our campuses. We should be making it clear in every way possible that apologies or convoluted, disingenuous explanations just don’t cut it when presidential candidates and so many others voted to authorize George Bush and his neo-con buddies to send American men and women to attack and occupy Iraq.
Let’s awaken, and wake up the country by committing here and now to do all each of us can to take our nation back. Let them hear us across the country, as we ask others to join us: “We won’t take it any more!”

I implore you: Draw a line. Figure out exactly where your own moral breaking point is. How much will you put up with before you say “No more” and mean it?

I have drawn my line as a matter of simple personal morality: I cannot, and will not, support any candidate who has voted to fund the atrocities in Iraq. I cannot, and will not, support any candidate who will not commit to remove all US troops, as soon as possible, from Iraq. I cannot, and will not, support any candidate who has supported legislation that takes us one step closer to attacking Iran. I cannot, and will not, support any candidate who has not fought to stop the kidnapping, disappearances, and torture being carried on in our name.

If we expect our nation’s elected officials to take us seriously, let us send a powerful message they cannot misunderstand. Let them know we really do have our moral breaking point. Let them know we have drawn a bright line. Let them know they cannot take our support for granted – that, regardless of their party and regardless of other political considerations, they will not have our support if they cannot provide, and have not provided, principled leadership.

The people of this nation may have been far too quiet for five years, but let us pledge that we won’t let it go on one more day – that we will do all we can to put an end to the illegalities, the moral degradation, and the disintegration of our nation’s reputation in the world.

Let us be unified in drawing the line – in declaring that we do have a moral breaking point. Let us insist, together, in supporting our troops and in gratitude for the freedoms for which our veterans gave so much, that we bring our troops home from Iraq, that we return our government to a constitutional democracy, and that we commit to honoring the fundamental principles of human rights.
In defense of our country, in defense of our Constitution, in defense of our shared values as Americans – and as moral human beings – we declare today that we will fight in every way possible to stop the insanity, stop the continued military occupation of Iraq, and stop the moral depravity reflected by the kidnapping, disappearing, and torture of people around the world.

Mayor Ross C. “Rocky”- Anderson

Freedom Is Not Free, And Americans Are Poised To Lose Everything, Part 1

Justanothercoverup — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:13:15 EST

Preface: After writing for over three years, I consider this to be the most important Op-Ed I have ever written; forget who I am and please concentrate on the facts and the evidence contained herein - and then form your own opinion. I am only the messenger, but the facts speak for themselves, and our nation faces a grave crisis that the majority of the population doesn’t even know exists.

Countless millions of Americans are asking themselves, their Congress, and even their local newspapers why Congress seems to be in collusion with The Bush administration, even though they have violated our Constitution, The Bill of Rights, our Rule of Law, stand in utter contempt of Congress, violate international laws and treaties with impunity – yet a Congress that is empowered and has the duty to impeach these traitors and tyrants still abdicate their sworn duty to uphold the very constitutional values they were voted into office to protect – yet they stand mute and appear to be complicit with the eventual downfall of our democratic republic; Why? Millions are asking these questions, voicing their outrage, and still nothing of substance is being accomplished to halt our nation from falling into tyranny and utter chaos – and most of us stand in disbelief while Bush and Cheney shred everything that once made the United States the great nation it used to be, and now we watch as our economy is literally falling apart! LINK

Until a few days ago, I was one of those Americans that were asking all of these questions, and more - even editorializing on Nancy Pelosi’s idiotic stand on “taking impeachment off the table” and generally condemning our Congress for their lack of courage and inaction as we face the downfall of the world’s foremost democratic society. LINK LINK We know that Bush’s illegal wiretapping began the second month he was in office, and now because of a patriotic Whistle-blower who had the courage to tell the truth, we also know that the Bush administration was not tracking so-called Internet traffic and calls that were based in other countries, but that ALL Internet and possibly phone communication as well within the United States was being quietly fed into NSA’s surveillance system(s), and yes, that includes privileged information from attorneys, Congressmen/women, and every other citizen of the United States! LINK

Even before the 2006 Mid-term elections, I had a firm belief that President Bush, aided by Cheney and his co-conspirators in the NSA were wiretapping members of Congress and actually blackmailing them into submission. Then, it was a suspicion, and as a matter of public record, I had already secretly provided a Democrat in Florida with conclusive evidence that CIFA was in violation of their mandated functions, and I was assured that information and evidence was forwarded to members of Congress in late 2005 or early 2006. Then, after I interviewed Joe Roberts, who was running against Jeff Miller in the Florida Panhandle region, my suspicions were also mirrored by a Democrat running for office in the US Senate. LINK Unfortunately, I wish that was the only serious issue we must deal with, however, just a few days ago I found, quite by accident, or because of the clever actions of Rob Kall, the Editor of Op-Ed News, who included a link on an article that had nothing to do with politics in a piece I had written on CNN and their oversimplification of the Super-Volcano at Yellowstone National Park. LINK (Or so I thought… Rob knows that I’m extremely inquisitive, and that I’d follow a link that didn’t appear to relate to my article - so to him I am grateful that he inspired this important editorial.)

The link that Rob Kall associated with my story was this:

NSPD-51 and the Potential for a Coup d’Etat by National Emergency

By William H. White

October 30, 2007

Can you think of anyone better than George W. Bush with whom to entrust the dictatorial powers hinted at in NSPD-51? Or perhaps you are unwilling to trust anyone with such powers, even Bush. That is not a option in NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE 51 (NSPD-51), signed by Bush and released without comment by the White House on May 9, 2007. To quote from NSPD-51: “This policy establishes ‘National Essential Functions,’ prescribes continuity requirements for all executive departments and agencies, and provides guidance for State, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector organizations in order to ensure a comprehensive and integrated national continuity program that will enhance the credibility of our national security posture and enable a more rapid and effective response to and recovery from a national emergency.” What one would expect, but for some additional details.

Under NSPD-51, only limited ‘National Essential Functions’ of government will continue, which may or may not include Congress and the courts. NSPD-51 assures us: “Enduring Constitutional Government means a cooperative effort among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Federal Government, coordinated by the President, as a matter of comity with respect to the legislative and judicial branches…” This “matter of comity,” which usually refers to the informal and voluntary recognition of jurisdiction among courts, is a troublesomely ambiguous phrase in this context wherein the president determines this as he “coordinates.”

Unfortunately, NSPD-51 provides limited “guidance” to state and local governments, because it revoked the then existing Presidential Decision Directive 67 of October 21, 1998 (”Enduring Constitutional Government and Continuity of Government Operations”), including “all Annexes thereto.” And replaced them with NSPD-51, along with: “Annex A and the classified Continuity Annexes, attached hereto.” But then the rabbit disappears as NSPD-51 soldiers on: “This directive and the information contained herein shall be protected from unauthorized disclosure, provided that, except for Annex A, the Annexes attached to this directive are classified and shall be accorded appropriate handling, consistent with applicable Executive Orders.” In other words, all the details are secret and even the non secret “Annex A” remains undisclosed by the White House. MUCH MORE

If you don’t read another word of this editorial, above all, please follow the above link and read the article in its entirety, as it is the foremost threat to our way of life and the very essence of freedom as we know it in the United States! Also, it vividly offers an extremely valid assumption/speculation/hypothesis on why Congress may be actually afraid to instigate actual impeachment proceeding’s against President Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney. In fact, there is one more paragraph which must be reproduced to urge anyone reading this article to keep reading to understand the extreme jeopardy this unholy directive places our entire society in jeopardy - and could end freedom as we know it and allow President Bush to become nothing less than a dictator with the sole power to rule our country with the iron fist of tyranny - effectively destroying our democracy, probably irreparably, and for that reason, this is a must-read paragraph:

This almost entirely secret directive can be invoked when the president decides “any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government functions” occurred. Bush alone will decide when he must assume this burden, though surely only upon prayerful contemplation during the time saved not having to consult Congress. In addition, because of a change to the Insurrection Act of 1807, enacted as part of the 439-page 2007 Defense Authorization Bill signed into law in October 2006, Bush need no longer obtain a governor’s consent to take control of a state’s national guard units. This same bill overturns the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which limited the use of US military forces within the United States for law enforcement. In addition, Bush issued an executive order on July 17, 2007 authorizing the government to seize the assets of anyone “undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq” under provisions of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Could this include critics of the Iraq war, whom Bush has repeatedly accused of undermining the war effort? LINK

If you take into consideration that President Bush has again circumvented the checks and balances demanded by our Constitution and rule of law, and that this directive is so secretive that even members of Congress are barred from viewing it - who doubts that it contains items that Congress would immediately disapprove of and demand they be quashed; no President has the legal authority to bypass the US Congress, nor does he have the right to make directives so draconian that in an effort to keep his plans hidden, he is again defying Congress and refusing to comply with the law of the land. When you start comprehending the actual danger our democratic republic is in, after reading the directive (or what we have been able to ascertain of its contents) it’s obvious the implied threat of this secret directive is having a negative impact on our Congress, and I strongly believe it’s not a stretch that Bush will attempt to enact this directive if a serious effort is made at impeaching him, and Congress appears to be “hoping” that he will step-down after the 2008 elections rather than addressing this issue and attempting to negate its possible impact.

First and foremost for the people to consider is that President’s don’t create directives if they aren’t expecting to someday place them into motion, and when one is written so that Bush can enact it purely at his sole discretion - especially when such an air of secrecy has been attached that could make Bush an instant Dictator, effectively taking-over our country. It is true, detention camps are being built and renovated across the United States, and we the people have to question why so many are being built, and especially the secrecy that surrounds the entire project:

Homeland Security Contracts for Vast New Detention Camps

News Analysis/Commentary, Peter Dale Scott,
New America Media, Feb 08, 2006

Editor’s Note: A little-known $385 million contract for Halliburton subsidiary KBR to build detention facilities for “an emergency influx of immigrants” is another step down the Bush administration’s road toward martial law, the writer says.

BERKELEY, Calif.–A Halliburton subsidiary has just received a $385 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security to provide “temporary detention and processing capabilities.”

“Almost certainly this is preparation for a roundup after the next 9/11 for Mid-Easterners, Muslims and possibly dissenters,” says Daniel Ellsberg, a former military analyst who in 1971 released the Pentagon Papers, the U.S. military’s account of its activities in Vietnam. “They’ve already done this on a smaller scale, with the ’special registration’ detentions of immigrant men from Muslim countries, and with Guantanamo.”

It is clear that the Bush administration is thinking seriously about martial law.
Many critics have alleged that FEMA’s spectacular failure to respond to Katrina followed from a deliberate White House policy: of paring back FEMA, and instead strengthening the military for responses to disasters.

A multimillion program for detention facilities will greatly increase NORTHCOM’s ability to respond to any domestic disorders. MUCH MORE

These “detention camps” are now interspersed throughout the United States, and many of them are already manned with personnel to run the facilities. LINK

I believe that there are two (s) factors that have Congress essentially hog-tied and ineffective; first, I still believe that the NSA under Bush and Cheney’s guidance have spied on, gathered derogatory information, and much like the days when J. Edgar Hoover was holding much of Washington hostage by the enormous dossiers that he had gathered on his perceived adversaries - the same practice is being used by the Bush administration today, and that may partially explain why they refuse to act in the best interests of the country. Second, with the Congress possibly fearful that Bush will engineer an emergency to suspend the Constitution if they instigate serious impeachment efforts - it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to acknowledge that even Congress is faced with a danger they may not have the fortitude or wherewithal to respond to effectively, and on both matters, “we the people” can offer them a solution. Yes, in spite of the enormous planning Bush and his Neo-cons, corporations, and the radical religious-right have engineered, their plan is not unstoppable - and there is a way to effectively negate these plans that have taken decades to finally be a threat to America - Again!. (Read: Like Father, Like Son – and Grandfather Prescott too! and you will understand this is not the first time a Bush family member and corporate America, as well as our “dynasty families” have attempted to overthrow our government.)

Time grows short, and just yesterday, it was revealed that once again, Vice President Dick Cheney has been attempting to force our various intelligence agencies to remove dissenting opinions from the NIE in regard Iran and its nuclear programs - which was actually ready for publication a year ago, but the White House wouldn’t accept it because it didn’t agree with their attempts to once again, make the intelligence fit their plans to ultimately attack Iran:

Cheney Tried to Stifle Dissent in Iran National Intelligence Estimate

By Gareth Porter

WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (IPS) - A National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran has been held up for more than a year in an effort to force the intelligence community to remove dissenting judgments on the Iranian nuclear programme, and thus make the document more supportive of U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney’s militarily aggressive policy toward Iran, according to accounts of the process provided by participants to two former Central Intelligence Agency officers.

But this pressure on intelligence analysts, obviously instigated by Cheney himself, has not produced a draft estimate without those dissenting views, these sources say. The White House has now apparently decided to release the unsatisfactory draft NIE, but without making its key findings public.

A former CIA intelligence officer who has asked not to be identified told IPS that an official involved in the NIE process says the Iran estimate was ready to be published a year ago but has been delayed because the director of national intelligence wanted a draft reflecting a consensus on key conclusions — particularly on Iran’s nuclear programme.

The NIE coordinates the judgments of 16 intelligence agencies on a specific country or issue. MUCH MORE

Thankfully, this information didn’t escape the attention of Dennis Kucinich, and he has already written a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. and stated that impeaching VP Dick Cheney may be the only way to prevent an eventual war with Iran:

Congressman Kucinich writes letter to Judiciary Committee head supporting impeachment of Vice President Cheney

11/10/2007 @ 10:32 am
Filed by RAW STORY

On Friday, as the embattled legislation is pushed into committee, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) wrote to House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-MI) in support of H. Res 799, Articles of Impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney.

Text of the letter appears below.

I am writing in support of H. Res. 799, the Articles of Impeachment which were referred to the committee relative to the Impeachment of the Vice President of the United States of America.

Recent reports indicate that the Vice President is attempting to shape the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran to conform to his misperceptions about the threat Iran actually poses. Much like his deceptive efforts in the lead up to the Iraq war, the Vice President appears to be manipulating intelligence to conform to his beliefs. MORE

Even though the possibility of impeaching Dick Cheney is encouraging, the fact is, such an action may be placing us in grave danger of Bush enacting this semi-secret directive and purposely creating a set of circumstances so he can use it, thus derailing any serious impeachment effort. I am not stating that the fear of him declaring martial law is a reason to suspend such efforts, in fact, to the contrary, I advocate going full-steam ahead - but with our eyes wide-open into the possible consequences of such an action, and what we as a nation can do to stop Bush from derailing legal and appropriate Congressional action! There are different messages of action and encouragement to each of our several branches of governmental entities that must be stated, and an understanding of what each of these parties, including what the people themselves can do to help circumvent Bush or Cheney derailing our Congress from meeting this daunting challenge head-on, and each will be addressed to the appropriate entities:

To the People of the United States:

I am addressing this message to the “average American”, those that inhabit the quickly disappearing Middle-class, lower Middle-class, and the poor of our country. We are the in the majority of this nation, and corporations exist not in spite of us, but because of our daily efforts and work that keeps this country functioning on an everyday basis. Corporations and special interest groups, while they exhibit the most influence on our Congress and even the President himself - none of them would exist if it were not for us, and if we choose to do so, working in unison and standing in solidarity - we have the power to change the course of history by simply exercising our rights of free speech, and taking the time to make sure this message is broadly disseminated to individuals and groups that can apply the necessary pressure to force Congress to heed our will.

1. Take the time to forward this message to your appropriate Congressional representatives, and if you choose to do so, add your own comments as to why it’s important that they act - and how to prevent our decent into utter tyranny. This action will only take a minute or two of your time. You have the right to DEMAND that Congress take action, not ask, as it is our country, not theirs. Remind them they can be voted out of office if they refuse to obey the will of the people.

2. For those of you that have the time, also make sure and send this message to your appropriate local newspapers and address them to the Editor, again demanding that they cover this issue with the importance that it is due. If enough of you do this, the papers will be forced to respond - or have to answer to angry subscribers who can threaten to discontinue their readership and support of those papers. Again, you can simply forward them a copy of this Editorial, and if enough of you take the time to act, they will be forced to respond. They too exist because of our support - which we can quickly stop if they refuse to listen and act accordingly.

3. If you listen to Air America, make a call and insist that they broadcast this message to everyone that will listen - and tell them that you support their efforts to help free us from the heel of oppression.

4. If you are a fan of Lou Dobbs, who many call a conservative, whether you like him or not, remember that he has doggedly plead the case for the “average American” and has valiantly attempted to support our cause and stop the outsourcing of our jobs and tirelessly speaks with clarity on the corruption that exists within the Bush administration. Don’t like Lou Dobbs, then send Jack Cafferty a quick message, and ask either of them why they have not addressed this critical issue, and request that they focus on the real danger to our democratic Republic.

5. If Keith Olbermann is your favorite, take a few moments to send him a message and request that he help to bring attention to this issue. Or, simply forward a copy of this Editorial to countdown@msnbc.com .

6. Finally, tell as many of your friends that remain unaware of this imminent danger, and ask then to participate in “taking back America.” Remember, the majority of Americans aren’t even aware of this absurd Presidential directive - and as always, knowledge is power, and so far, we have been complacent and none of us have yet acted in unison to stop President Bush from assuming complete control of our country. If you have followed the links and examined the evidence and facts yourself - by now you must be aware of the actual danger this directive poses to the very essence of freedom in America.

NOTE: Except for your local newspapers, if you click on the links I provided, you will instantly be connected to the appropriate way to contact all of the above named individuals.

To the Congress of The United States:

We understand the dilemma you face, however, there are many variables you must consider, and in Part 1 of this editorial, as with all others who will be impacted - I will be brief and attempt to articulate the hurdles you may face, and why the consequence may not be as dire as your have been led to believe. If this administration is holding embarrassing information over your heads to influence your votes and actions, please remember that we are a nation of laws, and Due Process and legal discovery are vital elements of our judicial system. Anything that the Bush administration may be holding over your heads has been illegally obtained, and therefore is null and void in a court of law - and therefore cannot legally be used against you.

If it is embarrassing information and you act to save this great nation from tyranny and oppression, the people will support you and demand that nothing of an incriminating nature be released to the media - and even if it was, Bush and Cheney have lost the trust of a nation, their credibility is shot, and the prospect of us believing them is probably of little or no real consequence. We know that those in Congress have even more evidence than we do - so remember that Big Brother is listening, and if you receive this editorial/essay - please take into consideration that you may represent the last chance of saving this nation from the tyrants and traitors that are busily attempting to overthrow our government.

This is a non-partisan issue, and we know that Republicans as well as Democrats are fearful of this Presidency, as are countless millions of Americans. Speak to your colleagues in confidence, poll those that you know who can be trusted, and for the moment, attempt to act in secrecy as you build momentum to impeach and remove these traitors from office. You all know that no real debate is necessary, as you in Congress are fully apprised of the many crimes that Bush and Cheney have perpetrated against this nation and the world; except for listing the actual charges, there is little or no debate necessary to impeach both of them in unison - and if you’re smart and build a coalition of support - The House and Senate could impeach these scoundrels in a matter of a couple of days, not weeks or months as most people believe.

The Congress is the “Payton Place” of politics, and members know who can be trusted and who cannot be - and springing this measure on the floor in the House unexpectedly, followed almost immediately by the Senate could result in a successful impeachment vote only if you act with the political acumen we know you possess. If a forest fire was burning fifteen miles from your homes, would you fight it while it was still containable - or would you wait until the flames were licking at your own doorsteps? We know by researching the above material that those flames are at our proverbial doorsteps, and unless Congress acts with courage and decisiveness - we all know that the face of this nation could change almost instantaneously from one of freedom and liberty to tyranny and dictatorship.

To the Republicans and GOP, I have special words for you; many of you recently overrode President Bush’s recent veto, joining in with Democrats in enacting a Bill that will truly benefit the people. Please remember how petty and vindictive this President actually is, and remember how he has thrown ardent and loyal supporters to the wolves when it served his purpose. He is loyal to no one but himself, and those of you whom voted your opposition against him may now be considered “enemies of the state” because you did stand-up against him, and you have no guarantee that you and your families won’t also be herded in the early hours of the morning into waiting railroad cars to be delivered to the nearest internment center. This President is petty, vicious, and is loyal only to power, greed, and the corporations who he constantly pays homage to rather than the people of this great nation.

The time to act is now, and whether it be from me, or someone else, the public will eventually be made aware of President Bush’s ulterior motive(s) and their many crimes - and the people will remember those who stood for tyranny and dictatorship, and those that had the courage to throw-off a tyrant and instead choose to represent the people - which is why you were all elected. Time is short, and it’s imperative that you look deep within your souls and make a choice - tyranny or freedom, and please keep in mind that America is watching your every move, and while we may be willing to forgive your past transgressions at this moment in history in order to save our nation - this same good will could just as easily evaporate if you choose to side with individuals that have chosen to disregard our constitution and Rule of Law.

This ends segment 1 of this Editorial, and I am hopeful that “the people” will act on this information that has been hidden from most of the public. The days of wine and roses are over, and while we would most likely grant any offender in Congress immunity if you act with courage and fortitude and rid this nation of its traitors; this mood of forbearance will disappear instantly if we find that thousands, or hundreds of thousands of innocent Americans have been hauled-off as political prisoners for simply exercising their belief in the constitutional values most Americans still cherish and respect.

William Cormier

Footnote: There is nothing of a seditious nature contained in this Editorial. I have simply suggested a way of using our own laws and constitution in a manner that will allow the successful impeachment of Bush and Cheney without giving them an excuse to enact NSPD-51 and escape from the rule of law and subsequent prosecution. I propose to do this in accordance with our current laws and there is no suggestion, either overt or implied of violence or revolution, as I am totally against either of those actions. I do agree that extraordinary means may be needed to save this democratic republic, but destroying it while attempting to do so would be counter-productive and would simply play into the hands of Bush and Cheney and allow them an excuse to declare martial law. Besides, it has taken over two-hundred years to build this great nation, and it was the “average American” that did it through blood, sweat and tears - and to act otherwise goes against everything I believe in as it pertains to this great nation. Corporations who exert immense power upon this government are treated like they are people, the most powerful in the world, who believe paying-off the government is the acceptable way to do business. A Government controlled by corporations, Dynasty families, and the Ultra-wealthy in any dictionary are the epitome of Fascism, and I would love to garner enough attention to debate this matter with anyone, including Fox News who I know distort the facts to serve the Bush administration and Rupert Murdoch, however the facts are on my side - and there simply isn’t a logical or legal explanation that can even be considered, unless it involves the concept of the “unitary Executive” which in plain English is a damn dictator! (Interesting. The Wikopedia entry on the “Unitary Executive” is essentially blank. Now we’ll see who gets to write this explanation, and I’m going to offer to take-on the job.

Segment two will address operation Falcon and contain messages for our National Guard, our intelligence services, the armed forces, and local and state law enforcement agencies whom are being trained to conduct a massive sweep in the dead of night to corral all of those whom this criminal government believe are “enemies of the state” - when in reality, if they seek the real enemy, they only have to gaze upon themselves in the nearest mirror.

I’m going to urge everyone to send their personal comments and request that this matter be brought-up in the media sources I offered links to in the hopes that this matter will get some airtime., possibly in a round table debate. The general public needs to know about these issues so they have the opportunity to act, and we could make that happen by spreading the word in anyway we can. Forwarding this article via email and adding your comments also speak volumes. As I’ve said in other articles, if someone has a better idea, then please, make a comment and we’ll discuss it, but my thoughts on this matter is that it’s serious enough that it needs to be addressed almost immediately - so if you have a better solution than mine, let’s discuss and make the necessary changes. A lot of us are going to carry much of the load, but no matter how you look it it, is a cause that makes many others look small. Also, if it comes up in a debate, I don’t want Democrats debating in behalf of an ideology the don’t share. I’m tired of “political correctness” and I want someone from the progressive,Liberal/or Independent side that will represent this issue with straight-forward talk minus the political rhetoric in almost any matter that is discussed in Washington, and who the tenacity and presence of mind to answer the right-wing commenter’s to appear biased and ignorant of the true facts that are driving this nation.

An Open Letter To President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad And The People Of Iran

Justanothercoverup — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 01:14:37 EST

I began a series of articles back in 2005 that delved into the situation in Iraq, and specifically stated that our intent on invading Iraq was a precursor to an eventual attack on Iran. I’m not a well-known Political Commentator, and while I did note an occasional visitor from Iran, they were few and far in between; ever since I wrote Attack On Iran Slated For October 15th, Prepare For Disaster those numbers have changed drastically, and just this month we’ve received a 1,000 % increase of hits originating from Iran, a marked increase in the readership of this site from your country. Those are only the visits that we could verify, however know that many more than that have been logged by other programs. It seems that this small article has been read through-out the Middle-east and Europe, and now, Iran and other countries I never knew frequented this Blog are regular visitors.

As you have noted from previous articles, I am against a preemptive strike against your country by this administration, and sincerely believe that diplomacy, sanctions, and the internal politics of Iran, given enough time, will positively impact the current controversy in regard Iran’s nuclear issues with most of the free world. Too many people in the United States are unaware that the youth of Iran is very supportive of the United States, and their admiration and support was easy to see by their western-style haircuts, clothes, music, and even the concept of being free enough to indulge themselves in free expression, a right that is inherent in the United States, although under fire at the moment, just as it is in Iran.

I write these articles because I believe increasing the awareness of the general public is tantamount in the fight to stave-off war with Iran - and while I’m dead-set against an attack on Iran by the Bush administration, this cannot be construed as me supporting you - which I don’t, but can be viewed as me supporting the people of Iran, just as I do those here in America. There isn’t any question that when the world at large views you and President Bush, not necessarily here in the US or Iran, but even more so beyond our borders, they see two tyrants attempting to justify their actions - when both sides have made grave errors, and there is no justification for the behavior of either nation. This is a case of the “pot calling the kettle black”, as both of you have many of the same characteristics.

You ran on a platform targeting the economically challenged and campaigned with promises of a brighter economic future for those who were experiencing hard times, an audience that desperately needed help, and they placed their trust and votes in you, only to become disillusioned and witness their situations becoming worse, not better.

Ahmadinejad, a hardline conservative and Revolutionary Guard veteran, mounted a surprisingly strong challenge with a populist message aimed at the economically disadvantaged. He promised to strengthen social safety nets, offer subsidized food and housing for the poor, and institute monthly stipends for citizens. Much of Ahmadinejad’s support in the first round of voting came from poorer areas such as South Tehran. MUCH MORE

From what I’ve been able to ascertain, the Iranian economy worsens by the day, gas prices are rising, and the poor and disadvantaged are suffering worse now then before you took office:

Despite its continued bluster on nuclear issues, Iran is discovering that there are costs to be paid for maintaining its confrontational stance. Pressure from Washington to isolate Tehran financially has already succeeded in removing or significantly reducing such major European banks as Credit Suisse and UBS from the Iranian scene. Now several large German institutions are preparing to leave as well. Over the last few months Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank have withdrawn investments. Dresdner Bank has announced it will cancel operations within Iran altogether. It is believed that these banks fear losing U.S. business if they continue to operate in Iran. MORE

Excerpts from The BBC News Online:

America’s financial war on Iran

But there is also a second, potentially more powerful, element. Since September 2006, US officials have been traveling the world talking to banks and company bosses. They aim to persuade business to voluntarily abandon or scale back all dealings with Iran.

Mr Levey, who is spearheading the Treasury’s campaign, insists he is already getting results.

“There is significant evidence that it’s working in the sense that Iranian business is being subjected to greater scrutiny and it’s more difficult for them to operate,” he says.

“A number of major financial institutions have cut off doing business with certain Iranian banks or with Iran entirely.” MORE

The above information reflects pressure exerted by the US designed to force Iran into accepting the policies of the IEAA. The financial troubles began in Iran prior to those sanctions, and President Ahmadinejad needs to explain to his own people, as well as the world, why he has driven Iran back into the stone-age of social enlightenment, and instead of helping those he vowed to help,
President Ahmadinejad has made their conditions worse by spending Iran’s wealth on nuclear facilities, advanced weapons systems, and financial and logistical aid to known terrorist groups.

We in the European and Western nations who drink from the fountain of freedom, albeit diminished, find it hard to understand a society that murders those who exhibit a different different sexual preference than that of what is called for in radical Islam; we fail to understand why you have worked relentlessly to stamp-out any showing of western values in your own nation, and have actually arrested and persecuted those who didn’t follow your draconian dress and hair policies. The “morality police” are real in Iran, and many fear Americans will soon feel the heel of religious oppression via a Supreme Court that has been stacked with conservative Justices.

Iran is a nation rich in natural resources, mainly oil, yet you have built few, if any new refineries to ease the gas crunch in your nation, and the people of Iran do not benefit from Iran’s considerable wealth; armies and weapons are expensive, as are nuclear facilities and the constant financial support you offer to terrorist groups in Lebanon, Iraq, and the Palestinians… Why is it so important to ferment unrest and attempt to project Iran’s considerable local power upon others while allowing the Iranian people to suffer? The same question must be answered by President Bush, as Americans are also beginning to suffer from these endless wars. The people of the United States and Iran have similar goals, and that is to return their nations to what they were before you or Bush’s election (sic). (Again, similarities exist in your election and that of the Bush administration; Bush was “placed” in office in 2000 by the US Supreme Court, and your election was alleged to have been aided by illegal acts ordered by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and carried-out by the Revolutionary Guard:

IRAN: RUNNING TOWARD THE GASOLINE DUMP WITH A LIT MATCH

(Excerpts)

Ever since fanatical Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was installed by the Guardian Council last June via a questionable election, nearly every step taken by the former Commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s foreign assassination outfit has been designed to either solidify his hold on power by purging those in the Iranian government deemed not “revolutionary” enough or making it clear that he seeks confrontation with the west and Israel over the Iranian nuclear program.

Many analysts questioned Ahmadinejad’s victory in the runoff election against long time Iranian politico Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani whose loss to the little known former mayor of Tehran occurred under suspicious circumstances. Prior to the run-off, there were several charges of corruption, including the unleashing of 300,000 Revolutionary Guards to mobilize support for Ahmadinejad. Two newspapers who dared to print a letter outlining the charges from a reformist politician were summarily shut down. Then, in the subsequent run-off between Rafsanjani and Ahmadinejad, ballot box irregularities were reported as a sizable segment of the population boycotted the election. Polling places that were deserted on the day of the election ended up showing thousands of ballots cast for the former hard-line mayor.

It is important to understand that the President of Iran is on a very short leash. His decisions must be ratified by Iran’s Supreme Leader who also controls the ruling Guardian Council which has absolute veto power over laws passed by the Iranian parliament as well as access to the big stick in Iranian society; the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). The Council is made up of 6 clerical members and 6 lawyers, all of whom are appointed by the Supreme Leader. The Council also has absolute authority in matters involving elections, determining who can run and, as we have seen, who wins and who loses. MORE

As we move on to the crux of the issue that has the European community, several Arab states, Israel, and the United States demanding an explanation of and a halt to Iran enriching uranium, Iran has cast its own shadow of doubt on her nuclear ambitions, and the aforementioned countries have every right to question a program you insist is peaceful; for eighteen years, Iran’s nuclear program was hidden from the rest of the world, and by running a covert nuclear program, Iran effectively demonstrated they were attempting to skirt International treaties and hide their nuclear ambitions - and that action in itself does nothing to bolster an air of trust, which is what Iran is requesting that all of the nations do, without any viable rationale or evidence that your programs are actually peaceful:

History

Iran’s interest in nuclear technology predates the Islamic revolution of 1979. Iran’s revolutionaries forced most western trained scientists, engineers and managers out of Iran, greatly slowing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. In the late 1980s, Iran turned to the Soviet Union to restart its civil nuclear program, which at the time centered on the West German designed, but never completed Bushehr nuclear power reactor. Unknown at the time was that in 1985, Iran secretly tapped into the nuclear black market run by the father of Pakistan’s nuclear program – A.Q. Khan. Khan had established a robust network of front companies and clandestine shipments to fuel Pakistan’s own nuclear weapon program. For 18 years, Iran successfully hid – in violation of international law and its voluntary treaty commitments to the International Atomic Energy Agency – its clandestine nuclear procurement and development program. This technology was used to design and begin construction on the Natanz uranium enrichment facility where work resumed on January 9th.

International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards are used in most countries to provide confidence that peaceful facilities are not used for military purposes. This is the case in Europe and Japan, and US and Russian peaceful enrichment facilities are open to IAEA inspection. International confidence – albeit a subjective measure – is high that these countries will not use their peaceful enrichment facilities for the production of weapons.

Iran’s now documented 18-year track record of hiding nuclear facilities, and the behavior of its leaders and security forces provide the international community with much lower confidence in its peaceful intentions. Moreover, Iran currently lacks both the nuclear plants needed to make use of enriched uranium or the domestic stocks of uranium ore to justify the expense of a domestic uranium enrichment program. The existence of a robust and economically competitive international set of enrichment providers casts even further doubt on Iran’s motives for pursuing enrichment on such an accelerated and (previously) secretive basis. MORE

If your nuclear plans are peaceful as you claim, why was your nuclear program hidden from the world for eighteen years? Why did Iran also procure plans to build a nuclear weapon from Pakistan’s A.Q. Khan? The history of Iran’s so-called “peaceful” nuclear enrichment program is suspect at best based on Iran’s questionable activities prior to the discovery of their nuclear program - and it’s unreasonable for the world to accept a song and dance from President Ahmadinejad that the program is entirely peaceful until the IEAA is allowed to continue inspections throughout Iran; visiting sites that have been preprepared for international view is nothing more than an open-house into those programs that do comply with IEAA guidelines, however, until Iran allows the IEAA unfettered access to Iran in general, and is able to follow-up on any leads into suspected sites that could be used to produce weapons, the West, Israel, and the European community will remain skeptical of Iran’s intentions, and in this writer’s opinion the skepticism is well deserved.

President Ahmadinejad, the majority of the people in the United States do not favor a preemptive strike against your country, but there are several issues that Iran constantly skirts, and answers have been slow or downright impossible to receive that pertain to sites that we suspect are still operating in secrecy. I have no hard evidence that Iran is actively attempting to produce a nuclear warhead, and while the suspicions we hear may be political rhetoric with no basis in fact, Iran has made it exceedingly difficult to prove those allegations are false. Transparency in the nuclear cycle, from all of Iran’s nuclear facilities would go a long way to dispel those fears, and now we are faced with a situation where Iran can effectively diffuse the situation by cooperating with the International community - but you and those that control your policies are stubborn, refuse to halt uranium enrichment for a period long enough to successfully negotiate and build the trust we need to end this stalemate and enter a period of progress and understanding.

I’m not a diplomat and lack the ability to speak in guarded political terms, so from here forward I’ll just be blunt, speak my mind as an American citizen, which I am entitled to do - and I’ll do my best to communicate how you can help to end this stalemate, gain the trust of the International community, and how you can affect politics in the United States in a positive manner by acting responsibly and working with us to regain stability in the Middle-East as a whole and again bring Iran into the modern world, at least as much as your restrictive society will allow.

We know you follow American politics very carefully, and I have suspicions that many of your actions are based on a perceived belief that our President, George W. Bush, will not instigate an attack on Iran. Those “suspicions” could be true, however, if millions of Americans themselves also don’t trust Bush and Cheney - that should be a wake-up call to your country that a real danger exists - and as the President of Iran, in my humble opinion, rather than risk the lives of people who voted you into office because of a sense of national pride, wouldn’t it be wise to consider negotiating with a true spirit of diffusing the crisis?

As you know, there is now an impeachment measure in Committee to impeach Vice-President Dick Cheney, and if that measure succeeds, you can believe that Bush will be next. If you are a true leader, value the lives of your countrymen as well as the stability of the Middle-East - then what have you to lose to stop the nuclear enrichment program as we in America work to expel the warmongers from the White House and return our country to sanity, the Rule of Law, and halt the aggression of the Bush administration? Is your pride worth starting a war when it could be stopped by prudent action designed to allow negotiations to proceed in good faith? Are you a leader of the people, or a President that resembles our own, intent on furthering his own twisted agenda rather than one that would lead to peace and stability?

When two bullies square off to fight in a battle that everyone loses in the long run, who is the better man - one that decides to make the other look small by complying with United Nation mandates - or allowing the other bully to let your pride possibly cause the destruction of your entire society? Consider this; if Iran’s nuclear program is indeed peaceful as you state, then make a statement to the world, cease nuclear enrichment temporarily until the IAEE has definite proof that your plans are peaceful - and in the final analysis, if you’re telling the truth, who will emerge as the better leader, you who swallowed his pride and complied with the United Nations, or Mr. Bush and Cheney - who are looking for any excuse they can to start a war with your country? If the IAEE eventually does state unequivocally that Iran’s nuclear program is entirely peaceful, the blow you will deal to a President that has the lowest poll rating in US history will also have to bear the brunt of explaining why he lied again, and only you can make that happen by deescalating the crisis.

It takes two to tango, and while my father is no longer with us, he always stated the better man was the one that walked away from a fight. Which will you be, the better man, or will you continue to defy UN mandates and give Israel or Bush and Cheney an excuse to start World War III - and if you believe that any of us would survive that event, then you too have failed your people, just as Bush and Cheney have failed America and the world in general.

William Cormier

Situation In Pakistan Is Much More Complicated Than The MSM Or Bush States

Justanothercoverup — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 09:05:50 EST

On first glance, if you believe what Bush, Condeleesa Rice, and the America Mainstream News Media are stating regard the situation in Pakistan - you are receiving far less than the picture as a whole. As I stated in a previous article - The United States bears some, if not much of the responsibility of Pakistan’s woes that are currently handled via a state of emergency and martial law as declared by President Pervez Musharraf. (IMHO) Whether or not the call to suspend Pakistan’s Constitution and declare Martial law was to circumvent a probable ruling by Pakistan’s Supreme Court in reference to President Pervez Musharraf’s eligibility to retain the Presidency remains to be seen, as there are many variables not being reported by America’s MSM. In a prior aricle, I made note of this, which is also somewhat substantiated in the link that accompanies the post:

We as a nation are watching the country of Pakistan, a primary ally of the United States, in a state of emergency and now under martial law. This, in my opinion, is a condition that the United States, through thoughtful deployment of our armed forces could have helped to avoid - yet when we had the chance to completely decimate the Taliban and Al Qaeda, your Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, answering to you and Vice-President Dick Cheney - allowed both of the above terrorist entities to escape from Tora Bora by allowing the Afghanistan Military, as ill-trained as they were, to conduct the final mop-up of the remaining insurgents in Afghanistan and the Central Commands refusal to commit the necessary troops to finalize the destruction of Taliban and Al Qaeda elements, which allowed many of them to escape into the northern tribal areas of Pakistan and again become a threat to US interests, Pakistan itself, and now the fight in Afghanistan is almost as fierce as it was when we first began. LINK (Make sure and follow the link in regard Tora Bora to see Wikopedia’s definition/assessment of the Battle of Tora Bora.)

To understand the situation as a whole, we must first understand the dynamics that are involved in Pakistan’s internal politics, their past, and apparently - President Musharraf’s belief that he could play both ends against the middle and come out unscathed. The Bush’s administration allowing Taliban and Al Qaeda elements to escape into Pakistan and to create a stronghold in the northern tribal areas complicated the situation - but even before that, the relationship between Islamic extremists, Pakistan’s view on Afghanistan and the ongoing lawlessness in the northern tribal areas is a story itself, and the complexities of Pakistan’s internal politics are extremely complicated and not necessarily common-knowledge as we attempt to evaluate the situation. I found an article written in April of 2007 that is extremely insightful into the dynamics of Pakistan, and while it’s a fairly comprehensive situation, and the story is lengthy, and because of copyright restrictions I am unable to republish more than three paragraphs - however, if you truly want to understand how complex this situation is, a full read of the original piece is a must; it was written by Ziauddin Sardar, and his credentials are impressive:

Ziauddin Sardar, writer and broadcaster, describes himself as a ‘critical polymath’. He is the author of over 40 books, including the highly acclaimed ‘Desperately Seeking Paradise’. He is Visiting Professor, School of Arts, the City University, London and editor of ‘Futures’, the monthly journal of planning, policy and futures studies. LINK

FYI, this is only one opinion of many that exist, but this one is substantiated with links, extremely comprehensive, and paints a picture we as Americans have never fully understood and been apprised of in anything that was widely disseminated:

Pakistan: The Taliban takeover

Ziauddin Sardar

Published 30 April 2007 (Excerpts.)

Pakistan is reverberating with the call of jihad. For more than two months, the capital, Islamabad, has been held hostage by a group of burqa-clad women, armed with sticks and shouting: “Al-jihad, al-jihad.” These female students belong to two madrasas attached to the Lal Masjid, a large mosque near one of the city’s main supermarkets. I found the atmosphere around the masjid tense, with heavily armed police surrounding the building. Though the students were allowed to go in and out freely, no one else could enter the mosque. The women are demanding the imposition of sharia law and the instant abolition of all “dens of vice”. Away from the masjid, Islamabad looked like a city under siege.

A new generation of militants is emerging in Pakistan. Although they are generally referred to as “Taliban”, they are a recent phenomenon. The original Taliban, who ruled Afghanistan briefly during the 1990s, were Afghan fighters, a product of the Soviet invasion of their country. They were created and moulded by the Pakistani army, with the active support of the United States and Saudi money, and the deliberate use of madrasas to prop up religious leaders. Many Taliban leaders were educated at Haqqania by Maulana Sami ul-Haq. The new generation of militants are all Pakistani; they emerged after the US invasion of Afghanistan and represent a revolt against the government’s support for the US. Mostly unemployed, not all of them are madrasa-educated. They are led by young mullahs who, unlike the original Taliban, are technology- and media-savvy, and are also influenced by various indigenous tribal nationalisms, honouring the tribal codes that govern social life in Pakistan’s rural areas. “They are Taliban in the sense that they share the same ideology as the Taliban in Afghanistan,” says Rahimullah Yusufzai, Peshawar-based columnist on the News. “But they are totally Pakistani, with a better understanding of how the world works.” Their jihad is aimed not just at “infidels occupying Afghanistan”, but also the “infidels” who are ruling and running Pakistan and maintaining the secular values of Pakistani society. “They aim at nothing less than to cleanse Pakistan and turn it into a pure Islamic state,” says Rashed Rahman, executive editor of the Lahore-based Post newspaper.

The Pakistani Taliban now dominate the northern province of Waziristan, adjacent to Afghan istan. “They are de facto rulers of the province,” says Yusufzai. Waziristan is a tribal area that has historically been ruled by the tribes themselves. Pakistan has followed the policy of British Raj in the region. The British allowed tribal leaders, known as maliks, semi-autonomous powers in exchange for loyalty to the crown. Pakistan gives them the same power but demands loyalty to the federal government. They have been sidelined by the Taliban, however. Pro-government maliks who resisted the onslaught of the Taliban have been brutally killed and had their bodies hung from poles as a lesson to others. The Taliban have declared Waziristan an “Islamic emirate” and are trying to establish a parallel administration, complete with sharia courts and tax system. MUCH MORE

The above article is extremely enlightening in regard the real situation as it is now - but keep in mind this reference material was published in April 2007 and the situation is even more fluid, and much more of the population has become radicalized. CNN appears to be attempting to over-simplify the matter, as indicated in this recent story:

Pakistan crisis: ‘It ain’t easy’ for U.S.

* U.S. official: “We are looking at our options, and none of them are good”
* Washington weighs how to respond to Gen. Pervez Musharraf
* U.S. officials say any response will boil down to one thing: al Qaeda

By Elise Labott
CNN

Editor’s note: In our Behind the Scenes series, CNN correspondents and producers share their experiences in covering news and analyze the stories behind the events. Here, producer Elise Labott, who covers the State Department, offers insights into U.S. options in dealing with Pakistan.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s declaration of martial law was a wake-up call for Washington, leaving the future alliance with the Pakistani president in question.

Even before Saturday’s crackdown, U.S. State Department officials said they had struggled with what to do if Musharraf went through with his threat. They didn’t know then, and they don’t know now.

“Frankly, it ain’t easy,” one official said. “We are looking at our options, and none of them are good.” MUCH MORE

CNN’s article indicates we will do little if not anything in regard sanctions against Pakistan, and they are simply too important as an ally right now, and their involvement and proximity in regard Afghanistan is of the utmost concern in this crisis. However, I am hearing more and more that the US is demanding that Pakistan return to civilian rule almost immediately - but on close examination of the facts this recommendation will be debated and talked abort in the back rooms of many governments for a long while. There’s no doubt it is politically correct to condemn Musharraf’s draconian measures to quell the violence and/or his attempt to thwart an upcoming ruling my Pakistan’s Supreme Court, but in this matter it may be possible they are being politically correct rather than delving into the reality of the situation. We always seem to believe that the American style of democracy is applicable in almost every situation, although at this time it could be counter-productive in actually solving Pakistan’s unique security crisis.

Worldthreats.com offers a further analysis of Al Qaeda, their influence in Pakistan and some of the obstacles in cutting-of their financing as well as offering even more insight into the Pakistani situation (excerpts):

Al-Qaeda’s Revenge:
Its Methods and Nation-State Allies

By David N. Bossie & Christopher M. Gray

Al-Qaeda’s finances are almost impossible to identify by Western governments for two cultural reasons: 1) bin Laden uses Islamic banks that are not allowed to charge interest; and 2) the havala system of doing business in the Middle East. The Koran prohibits usury, or the charging of interest for lending money. Bin Laden thus refuses to deposit any of Al-Qaeda’s money in 99.9 percent of the world’s banks. President Bush’s September 2001 decision to freeze bin Laden’s financial assets thus will probably have limited success just as former President Bill Clinton’s effort to do likewise in August 1998 did. Bin Laden employs couriers carrying large sums by hand to further complicate any attempt to destroy Al-Qaeda’s finances. But havala, the traditional system of doing business in the Middle East, especially by Afghans engaged in the narcotics trade, most frustrates the financial war. As Al-Qaeda expert Peter Bergen puts it, ?[monies] arrive [to bin Laden] through the venerable havala system of interlocking money changers, which has operated through decades all over the Middle East and Asia, handling sums large and small, on a handshake and trust. Hundreds of millions of dollars are transferred through this system every year and the funds are essentially untraceable.” 2

Al-Qaeda’s untraceable finances make it extremely powerful in poverty-stricken Afghanistan, and its neighbor, Pakistan. Plenty of young manpower from all over the Muslim world is willing and available to work for and learn from this terror network. After the U.S. and Saudi Arabia pumped $6 billion in military aid to the mujahedeen during the 1980’s, weapons and explosives became plentiful and cheap. The ruling Taliban regime in Afghanistan venerated bin Laden for his heroism in the Soviet-Afghan war and his unyielding Wahhabist Muslim stance. They welcome his continued residence in Afghanistan. So Al-Qaeda took advantage of Afghan circumstances to finance and administer the world’s largest collection of terrorist training camps at bargain prices.

Abdullah Azzam, bin Laden’s mentor, inspired many Al-Qaeda volunteers with his fiery preaching. Bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda aides emulate him by persuading Muslim preachers around the world to help with recruiting. The many thousands of ?Afghan Arabs” who he trained and fought with against the Soviets in Afghanistan still take their lead from Al-Qaeda. The network recruits terrorists in over sixty different countries; from immigrant communities in the United States and Western Europe across the world to Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The recent capture of three Taliban warriors who claim American citizenship underline how effective Al-Qaeda’s recruiting is. Its agents seek new human talent in all six inhabited continents. Even far-off South America and Australia now host Al-Qaeda members and enablers. MUCH MORE

From what I’ve been able to gather, some of it posted above, the country of Pakistan is well on its way to fall into the hands of Islamic militants. They are well-organized, and I’m also curious why the Untied States would back an attempt to reaching a power-sharing deal with past President Bhutto. If memory serves me correctly, Musharraf’s coup was made popular by the public’s general disapproval of many of Bhutto’s policies and rampant corruption within her government. I seem to remember that the coup was extremely well-received by the people, who had grown weary of the continual controversy and corruption springing from Bhutto’s administration. Butto is still highly popular again in some areas, and that may spring from Musharraf’s growing unpopularity, however much of that unpopularity is fomented by the radical elements of Islam currently attempting to take-over the country.

Think about restoring democracy when the government is in danger of falling into the hands of radical Islam? I’ve presented myself with this question, and in consideration of Pakistan’s formidable nuclear arsenal, have opted to error on the side of caution. My opinion is based on many factors. US strategic failure and planning allowed thousands of Taliban and Al Qaeda to escape from Afghanistan into Pakistan, and true to form, they began pushing their religious agenda - murdering those who disagreed, and began to embed themselves in the poorer segments of Pakistani society. No matter how we sugarcoat the issue, elements of Al Qaeda and the Taliban are firmly embedded within Pakistan at several levels and are physically attempting to take-over the government.

What will restoring democracy too soon and allowing this fall into radial Islam to accomplish itself the long-run? If radical elements of Islam were that firmly embedded in our own country, would we find it necessary to root-all of them out - perhaps negotiate a truce with the peaceful elements of Islam who probably wouldn’t become involved anyway - and at all costs, would have to rid ourselves of any radicalization that was threatening the very fabric of the country. It becomes far more complicated if you attempt to place yourself in Musharraf’s shoes and his many backers. Pakistani society as a whole does not want to live under Sharia Law, and in fact are fighting for the very survival of their nation. Another matter we must understand that Bhutto is a woman, and radical Islam will never support her in a state of rule in any way because she is a woman. We are now dealing with huge factions of radical Islam, and if successful will alter Pakistani society and quickly move them backward into the age of Morality Police and the total collapse of progressive Pakistanis. At least partly because of Bush’s ill thought-out actions we face the possibility of losing a vital ally as well as a society that was moving progressively forward, notwithstanding the influence of Taliban and Al Qaeda elements.

I have noted that several Liberals and Progressives have also stated their support of an immediate return to democracy. Many of those beliefs are understandable because they are inherent in the American psyche and our belief of a free society. I’m sure many will disagree with me, and in fact, on the matter of Pakistan’s unlawful tribal territories, especially those that contain the terrorist training camps and we know are Taliban and Al Qaeda controlled/infested, I do support our own military answering a request from President Musharraf if we need to assist in the northern tribal areas - but would wholeheartedly not support any other military action unless it involved guarding and helping to secure Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal if necessary.

Granted, Musharraf himself shoulders a large percentage of the blame himself by attempting to appease and negotiate with the Taliban/Al Qaeda. I have always believed those actions were counterproductive to American interests, and now it is proved beyond any reasonable doubt, but one fact we’ll have to remember and keep in constant consideration; No matter what the situation is in Pakistan, and whether we agree with Musharraf’s methodology in attempting to address the situation is that nuclear arsenal - and that makes Pakistan a much greater threat to the Middle-East peace and stability than Iran and caution, rather than rhetoric should be behind our policy in Pakistan at this particular moment.

I personally abhor detaining people that were merely demonstrating, but as far as allowing Musharraf the chance at fighting and possibly wining against the more militant elements of Radical Islam, I believe we should support him to the best of our ability - and then when the smoke settles, it will be time to work on getting those protesters released and at that time, a return to Pakistan’s road to democracy should be restored.

William Cormier

Note: I do expect this to be a controversial Op-Ed, however, discussing it could possibly demonstrate the errors in my thoughts, or in the alternative – maybe out of the census of opinion something will arise that better serves the interests of Pakistan as well as our own, but please – keep one thing in mind; Iraq is a blaring indicator that our style of democracy, especially in a crisis – is not necessarily the way to proceed in countries that have cultures and dynamics that hardly resemble our own; and in this case, the nuclear arsenal of Pakistan has to be a tantamount concern to all of us, and a situation that may be effective here could prove to be disastrous there.

President Bush and VP Cheney, Your Time Has Come And Gone!

Justanothercoverup — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 14:29:10 EST

We as a nation are watching the country of Pakistan, a primary ally of the United States, in a state of emergency and now under martial law. This, in my opinion, is a condition that the United States, through thoughtful deployment of our armed forces could have helped to avoid - yet when we had the chance to completely decimate the Taliban and Al Qaeda, your Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, answering to you and Vice-President Dick Cheney - allowed both of the above terrorist entities to escape from Tora Bora by allowing the Afghanistan Military, as ill-trained as they were, to conduct the final mop-up of the remaining insurgents in Afghanistan and the Central Commands refusal to commit the necessary troops to finalize the destruction of Taliban and Al Qaeda elements, which allowed many of them to escape into the northern tribal areas of Pakistan and again become a threat to US interests, Pakistan itself, and now the fight in Afghanistan is almost as fierce as it was when we first began.

It is common knowledge that Pakistan has a substantial nuclear arsenal, and by and through the incompetence of the White House and the Department of Defense, then headed by Donald Rumsfeld - we allowed this to happen and instead turned our military might on Iraq, who had no weapons of mass destruction and had absolutely nothing to do with the events that transpired on 9-11.

Present Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney - you have both failed this nation miserably, and as a private citizen that predicted this development in Pakistan, I personally condemn both of you for failing our nation in a time of war. No one yet knows how Pakistan will weather this crisis, but I wholeheartedly support the people of Pakistan that are attempting to stave-off radical Islam, and we as a nation are aware that it was your decisions that allowed this unprecedented spiral of Pakistan into anarchy - and whatever the consequences may be, you both stand responsible for Pakistan’s fate.

Through experience we have learned that radical Islam spreads like a cancer, and through your own words we know this, as well as our continued monitoring of this situation in Pakistan and other nations who are fighting radical Islam. You both state that you support our troops and are attempting to make America safer; by your very actions, which reek of utter incompetence and greed, you have failed the people of the United States, the world, and especially those who trusted your judgment. These events in Pakistan could easily destabilize the Middle-East even more than your actions have already done - and the people of the United States should rise-up in unison and condemn your actions and incompetence.

Please Mr. Bush and Cheney - your time to lead this nation has come and gone; you have demonstrated that you have no respect for our own Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and the Rule of Law. Not only have you violated our own laws and the trust of a nation, in addition to the many international laws and treaties you’ve violated your decisions have negatively impacted several nations throughout the world - and over a million Iraqis and thousands of our own troops now lie dead because of your miscalculations, incompetence, and violation of International Law. If you care for this great nation as you state you do - it’s time for both of you to resign so that we can begin to rebuild this shattered nation, and at the same time, mitigate the damage your administration has caused throughout the world!

America as a nation should rise-up and demand your resignation, and those of us that do not are contributing to the downfall of the country our forefathers fought and died for - something that you refused to do during the Vietnam War, staying comfortably in the US while more then 58,000 of America’s best lost their lives in the Vietnam War. We need a President with the will to guide this nation by and through the tenants as set forth in our constitution - not as they are interpreted by a tyrant and Dictator. I call upon our Congress and the American people to demand your resignations - and if that does not happen forthwith, then it is now the time to begin impeachment proceedings. This nation, nor the world, can stand much more of your incompetence and violation of our sacred laws and spirit of freedom and liberty - and I respectfully call for both of your resignations as a free person and citizen of the United States of America!

William Cormier

Footnote: When I write an editorial of this nature, it is in the hopes that other patriotic Americans will also choose to stand-up against a government the military itself believes “is out of control.” We have reached a point in our history when the “Thought Crime Prevention Bill” will soon come before the Senate, and what that Bill will mean to us that continue to challenge the government remains to be seen. I note, sometimes with great trepidation, that the CIA and other governmental agencies are reading this site - and although I have written nothing that is illegal - I, as well as other individuals that run Blogs, have installed tracking software to get a glimpse of who is reading what we have written. It is often quite unsettling to note that words written that are non-violent and simply request our own government to follow our own laws is being monitored by the government - and it may be simple intimidation, or something much more sinister. None of us that write to further the cause of our constitutional values know exactly what Bush and Cheney are planning, however - when you take into consideration the way the ‘Thought Crime Prevention Bill” is written, it is ominous as best - and at worst, could mean the end of free speech in the United States.

This Bill, above all others, is the greatest assault on free speech and our constitutional guarantees ever presented before Congress, and it enjoys huge bipartisan support - which means that our Congress is still cowed and complicit with the Bush administration. We as Americans must stand-up to repression and tyranny any way we can - and to do otherwise is to stand idly by while our rights and freedoms are very quickly disappearing. Please, join in with the rest of the “Freedom Fighters” and voice your outrage against a government that no longer represents the people - but only pays homage to huge multinational corporations and the dynasty families of America.

The Thought Police are Coming - to the National Federation of Republican Women

JAC

The Situation In Pakistan Is Grave - This Is Where The US Military Has An Obligation To Support Pakistan

Justanothercoverup — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 10:48:19 EDT

Today’s news is disheartening and presents one of the most viable security risks to the stability of the Middle-East, and in comparison to Iran - the situation in Pakistan is dangerous to US interests, the fight against Al Qaeda, and the stability of the entire Middle-East. I have been attempting to draw attention to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Pakistan through other articles - but the United States has allowed Pakistan to fall into anarchy by ignoring these ominous signs that Al Qaeda has essentially become politically more powerful than the Musharraf government itself - and in consideration of Pakistan’s substantial nuclear arsenal - we need to act and help to diffuse this situation immediately!

CNN is reporting that President Pervez Musharraf has declared a state of emergency:

‘Martial law declared in Pakistan’

LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) — Faced with increasing violence and unrest, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday declared a state of emergency, government sources told CNN.

The nation’s constitution has been suspended, government sources said, and martial law has been declared.

In Islamabad, troops entered the Supreme Court and were surrounding the judges’ homes, according to CNN’s Syed Mohsin Naqvi. MUCH MORE

The War On Terror is Real, But We Are Fighting In The Wrong Country

In the above article, I made this comment, and unfortunately, today is has proven to be true, and once again, the situation in Pakistan can be laid squarely on the shoulders of George W. Bush for reneging on a promise he made to America soon after the 9-11 attacks against the United States:

Pakistan is a prime example of a failed U.S foreign policy. We refused to strike-out against the Taliban in the northern tribal area of Pakistan out of respect to President Musharraf and his failed efforts to quell radicalism in his own country; now, a recent poll has indicated that Osama Bin Laden is more popular than President Musharraf - and that is sobering news!

Pakistan is a prime example of a failed U.S foreign policy. We refused to strike-out against the Taliban in the northern tribal area of Pakistan out of respect to President Musharraf and his failed efforts to quell radicalism in his own country; now, a recent poll has indicated that Osama Bin Laden is more popular than President Musharraf - and that is sobering news!

Bin Laden more popular than Musharraf in Pakistan: poll

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is more popular in Pakistan than President Pervez Musharraf, according to a poll released Wednesday.

Nearly three-quarters of Pakistanis also oppose unilateral US military action against Islamic insurgents in Pakistan’s tribal areas, said the poll for Terror Free Tomorrow, a US-based organization.

The survey “may help explain why Osama bin Laden remains at large in Pakistan and why both al-Qaeda and the Taleban have regrouped there”, the group said in a statement. MORE

It doesn’t seem to be getting better, and now the U.S., one of Pakistan’s chief allies, has sided in some measure against President
Musharraf:

Pakistan crackdown: ’scores’ held

* ‘Hundreds’ of activists arrested after police take leaders into preventive custody
* Supreme Court dismisses 2 out of 7 petitions against Musharraf’s re-election bid
* Musharraf will seek new five-year term in presidential election set for October 6
* Pakistan’s legal fraternity named first candidate to challenge Musharraf

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Police intensified a crackdown Monday that opposition parties say has left hundreds of activists in custody while the Supreme Court dismissed three challenges to the re-election bid of Pakistan’s military leader.

The U.S. Embassy called the crackdown “extremely disturbing” and urged the immediate release of several opposition leaders arrested since Saturday night. The government said they were detained to derail possible unrest.

The criticism was unusually sharp, considering Washington has been one of the biggest supporters of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, a key ally in the U.S. war on terrorism.

“The reports of arrests of the leadership of several major Pakistani political parties are extremely disturbing and confusing for the friends of Pakistan,” an embassy statement said. “We wish to express our serious concern about these developments. These detainees should be released as soon as possible.” MORE

On June 5th, 2003, in a speech to the Troops in Qatar, the President stated:

We have made it clear that we’ll hunt the terrorists down. There’s no place they can hide from the justice of the United States of America and our friends. And right now we’ve got — we’re on the hunt in the Horn of Africa. And of course, in the battle of Iraq, you set an example of skill and daring that will stand for all time. (Applause.) The very first strike in the liberation of Iraq started from right here, and many others followed. Missions of mercy are directed from here. LINK

Fast-forward to September 25, 2007 - and let this U.S. Intelligence Report sink-in to fully understand the folly and incompetence Bush and Cheney have demonstrated in prosecuting “the War on Terror.”

U.S. Intelligence Report to Say Al-Qaida Regroups

by Linda Wertheimer and Mary Louise Kelly

Morning Edition, July 17, 2007 • The National Intelligence Estimate, a survey of threats to the U.S. compiled from intelligence gathered by CIA, FBI, State Department and military intelligence agencies, is expected to report a persistent and evolving terrorist threat to the U.S. in the next three years from al-Qaeda. LINK

That’s right, in the final analysis, IF the United States would have stuck with President Bush’s policy of not allowing terrorists safe-haven no matter where they were, we would have followed and finished-off the leadership of Al Qaeda, The Taliban, and the lawless tribes of northern Pakistan would have been unable to destabilize the government of President Musharraf.

Look at this issue in perspective; The US is reported to have attack plans in place to bomb Iran at a moments notice; LINK Bombing Iran is a guarantee that President Musharraf’s government will dissolve almost as fast as President Bush’s ratings have, and then we are faced with a country controlled by Radical Islam that would possess NUCLEAR WEAPONS!
LINK

There now little doubt that Pakistan is the stronghold for Al Qaeda, and we cannot allow Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal to fall into the hands of Radical Islam and Al Qaeda - and strong action is required by the US Military to help intervene in this situation and place the emphasis on where it’s desperately needed - Pakistan, and not Iran!

William Cormier

A Clash Of Beliefs - And Congress Rules Against The People

Justanothercoverup — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:43:02 EDT

This morning, CNN is reporting that Congress’s approval rating is at an all time low. When the population understands the ramifications of the “Thought Crime Prevention Bill” - you can bet their ratings will plummet even more. First, here’s what CNN had to say, then we’ll explore what the Thought Crimes Prevention Bill entails, and how it will affect Americans:

Poll: 75 percent disapprove of Congress’ performance

* Approval rating for all members of Congress sits at 22 percent
* Congress needs to focus on the big issues, professor says
* Overall congressional approval rating down 6 points from last October

From Sasha Johnson and Paul Steinhauser
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Americans think Congress is doing a pretty lousy job, according to a poll released Friday.

The approval rating for all members of Congress sits at a dismal 22 percent, according to the CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll. About 75 percent of those surveyed said they disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job.

A year ago, a similar poll found the numbers to be 28 percent approval, 63 percent disapproval.

“The big issues of the day just don’t seem to be being addressed,” said Sarah Binder, a political science professor at George Washington University who studies Congress. “The issues that matter most to people — the economy, health care, the environment and the larger war in Iraq — it is so difficult for Congress to move on those issues that I believe the public looks and says, ‘Why aren’t they doing anything?’ ”

Approval of congressional Democrats stands at 43 percent, twice that of Congress in general. The flip side, however, is that Democrats who control Congress still face a disapproval rating of 51 percent, a figure that has increased 11 percentage points since March. MORE

The “Thought Crime Prevention Bill” hasn’t received much coverage in the Mainstream News Media, and that’s understandable, because as it is written, it is the most draconian assault on the Constitution ever brought-up in Congress, and it evidently enjoyed bipartisan support. Under said Bill, it should be noted that I’m more than likely committing a “crime” writing this post and commentary - as are Liberal and Progressive Bloggers throughout the United States. There’s a direct link to the article and commentary on Op-Ed News, however, this assault on our liberty and freedom must be widely circulated, because if it passes the Senate - it’s probable that Blogs that disagree with this administration, or even Democrats like Nancy Pelosi as I have done LINK, will pay the price for committing “thought crimes”, and free speech will soon be effectively muzzled in the United States.

This is some of the commentary written by ROGUEGOVERNMENT.COM - and it’s excellent as well as frightening:

House Passes Thought Crime Prevention Bill

10-25-2007
www.roguegovernment.com
Lee Rogers

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed HR 1955 titled the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. This bill is one of the most blatant attacks against the Constitution yet and actually defines thought crimes as homegrown terrorism. If passed into law, it will also establish a commission and a Center of Excellence to study and defeat so called thought criminals. Unlike previous anti-terror legislation, this bill specifically targets the civilian population of the United States and uses vague language to define homegrown terrorism. Amazingly, 404 of our elected representatives from both the Democrat and Republican parties voted in favor of this bill. There is little doubt that this bill is specifically targeting the growing patriot community that is demanding the restoration of the Constitution.

First let’s take a look at the definitions of violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism as defined in Section 899A of the bill.

The definition of violent radicalization uses vague language to define this term of promoting any belief system that the government considers to be an extremist agenda. Since the bill doesn’t specifically define what an extremist belief system is, it is entirely up to the interpretation of the government. Considering how much the government has done to destroy the Constitution they could even define Ron Paul supporters as promoting an extremist belief system. Literally, the government according to this definition can define whatever they want as an extremist belief system. Essentially they have defined violent radicalization as thought crime. The definition as defined in the bill is shown below.

(2) VIOLENT RADICALIZATION- The term `violent radicalization’ means the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change.

(3) HOMEGROWN TERRORISM- The term `homegrown terrorism’ means the use, planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual born, raised, or based and operating primarily within the United States or any possession of the United States to intimidate or coerce the United States government, the civilian population of the United States, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.

`SEC. 899B. FINDINGS.

`The Congress finds the following:

`(1) The development and implementation of methods and processes that can be utilized to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in the United States is critical to combating domestic terrorism.

`(2) The promotion of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence exists in the United States and poses a threat to homeland security.

`(3) The Internet has aided in facilitating violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism process in the United States by providing access to broad and constant streams of terrorist-related propaganda to United States citizens.

`(4) While the United States must continue its vigilant efforts to combat international terrorism, it must also strengthen efforts to combat the threat posed by homegrown terrorists based and operating within the United States.

`(5) Understanding the motivational factors that lead to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence is a vital step toward eradicating these threats in the United States.

`(6) The potential rise of self radicalized, unaffiliated terrorists domestically cannot be easily prevented through traditional Federal intelligence or law enforcement efforts, and requires the incorporation of State and local solutions.

`(7) Individuals prone to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence span all races, ethnicities, and religious beliefs, and individuals should not be targeted based solely on race, ethnicity, or religion.

`(8) Any measure taken to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence and homegrown terrorism in the United States should not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights and civil liberties of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents.

`(9) Certain governments, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have significant experience with homegrown terrorism and the United States can benefit from lessons learned by those nations.

It states in the first subsection that in general the efforts to defeat thought crime shall not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights and civil liberties of the United States citizens and lawful permanent residents. How does this protect constitutional rights if they use vague language such as in general that prefaces the statement? This means that the Department of Homeland Security does not have to abide by the Constitution in their attempts to prevent so called homegrown terrorism.

This bill is completely insane. It literally allows the government to define any and all crimes including thought crime as violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism. Obviously, this legislation is unconstitutional on a number of levels and it is clear that all 404 representatives who voted in favor of this bill are traitors and should be removed from office immediately. The treason spans both political parties and it shows us all that there is no difference between them. The bill will go on to the Senate and will likely be passed and signed into the law by George W. Bush. Considering that draconian legislation like the Patriot Act and the Military Commissions Act have already been passed, there seems little question that this one will get passed as well. This is more proof that our country has been completely sold out by a group of traitors at all levels of government.

It’s important to note the original article on ROGUEGOVERNMENT.COM has more commentary than I’ve reprinted here, and I’d advise visiting the site yourself to examine an excellent breakdown of various segments of the Bill. Here’s the LINK.

Historically speaking, the common man or woman has only been able to express their opinions via voting - and as we’ve seen elections stolen via electronic voting machines and other GOP chicanery, even our votes amount to little or nothing in bringing about change to our government. The sad fact is most of our Congressmen are wealthy, secure for life via government pensions and perks, and with the birth of the Internet, anyone has been able to create a Blog and voice their outrage against a Congress and Presidency that are completely ignoring the will of the people.

Democrats were ecstatic with the support they received from the Blogosphere during the 2006 Mid-term elections as America attempted to stand-up to government corruption and an administration that has deserved to be impeached since their second month in office. (That’s when the illegal surveillance by NSA began, not after 9-11 as the President and White House claimed. LINK)

Now, however, the worm has turned, and I’m far from the only Blogger that has criticized our Democratically controlled Congress; there is a groundswell of opposition springing-up everywhere, and Patriots, which I have labeled as “Freedom Fighters” are aggressively attempting to wake-up America in the hope that when enough people are aware that our Congress is essentially rubber-stamping most of President Bush’s Bills, in direct opposition to their constituencies that placed them in office to reclaim our constitutional values and the rule of law - “the people” are quickly becoming outraged that once again, they have been betrayed by their elected officials. Congress’s approval ratings are so dismal because people, via the Internet, are learning the truth and facts the MSM won’t publish, and the complicity of Democrats that supposedly control Congress have become alarmed that Americans also view them as part of the problem, not the solution as we believed in 2006.

If we are to hold on to Free Speech in America, the importance of defeating this Bill in the Senate is essential, and in order to bring about the pressure needed to bring the Senate in line with the will of the people, people must first know how and why this Bill is detrimental to freedom and democracy, and that will only happen if knowledge of the pending unconstitutional legislation is passed on to everyone that peruses the Internet. Knowledge is power, and truth will overcome lies and deception if enough people are aware that our Congress is attacking the very essence of freedom and liberty!

Visit the original article with the links I’ve provided, and show your support by clicking on the “Digg” and “Reddit” buttons so this story will spread through the Internet like wildfire and help to awaken a sleeping population that is now close to losing the very essence of their freedom - and if this Bill passes, “the people” will no longer be heard unless they comply with the party line, and that is contrary to our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Rule of Law. The only way the people will prevail in this matter is with your support, and the knowledge that the very foundation of our government is being attacked by Republicans and Democrats alike. Please join in the fight to uphold our Constitution, otherwise, all you’ll hear on the Internet will be a mirror of what we see on the Mainstream News, and that possibility should be enough to outrage any patriotic American - Democrat or Republican!

William Cormier

With This New Evidence, Congress Must Impeach Bush and Cheney

Justanothercoverup — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:12:30 EDT

Today, in this writer’s opinion, “the other show has dropped” and Congress, unless they are in league with Bush’s illegal power grab, have the final piece of evidence that even Republicans cannot ignore, or support unless they too are complicit in the unlawful eavesdropping by the Bush administration. New evidence conclusively demonstrates that Bush began the illegal surveillance of Americans long before September the 11th, 2001 - and in fact began as early as February 27th, 2001. This new evidence suggests that Bush began illegally wiretapping Americans shortly after he was installed in office by the Supreme Court, and if the Congress fails to impeach Bush and Cheney considering this new evidence - they should be heralded as cowards and traitors, as they have a sworn duty to impeach when the preponderance of evidence has proven that the President lied to Congress, the American people, and the world when he stated the wiretapping program was started because of 9-11. The lies have finally caught-up with this administration, and the people of the United States should stand in solidarity and demand that Congress fulfill its duty to impeach these charlatans immediately, or in the alternative, accept the immediate resignations of President Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney!

Bush administration was either incompetent or is guilty of malfeasance

Bush can’t have it both ways.

Impeachment, not immunity, or blank war checks without aggressive congressional checks and balances, is more warranted than ever now. As first reported on Daily Kos, and summarized by Bob Fertik on Democrats.com, the Bush administration has been pursuing dragnet data mining operations well in advance of September 11, 2001. Of course, once again, Bush has been mendacious and totally erroneous about when the illegal warrantless wiretapping began and for what purpose.

Quoting Mr. Fertik,

“This week Joseph Nacchio, the former CEO of Qwest, revealed the Bush Administration started muscling telephone companies to wiretap American citizens without a warrant on Feb. 27, 2001. When Qwest refused, they were cut out of government contracts and Nacchio was prosecuted for insider trading.

So we now know Bush began violating FISA and the 4th Amendment just 1 month after stealing the White House. And since the 9/11 attack was 7 months later, Bush has lied about 9/11 being the justification for warrantless wiretapping for the past two years.” MORE

Is it any wonder that the telecoms are vigorously lobbying Congress for immunity for following the President’s illegal orders, especially when they knew all along that the wiretapping program began well in advance of 9-11? QWEST was courageous, decided to stand-up for our Constitutional principles, and what was their reward? They were denied lucrative federal contracts, and the CEO was prosecuted for insider trading! If people stand-up for the values that made America great, they are punished and prosecuted by the Bush administration, and other than being contrary to our laws, is a disgrace and act that should effectively end the power of this farce of a President.

To anyone that reads this information it should be stone-cold clear that President Bush and Dick Cheney have misled and actually lied to the American people from the beginning of their terms in office - and that in itself is more than enough reason to demand their immediate resignation(s)! How can anyone, Republican, Democrat, or Independent logically defend this behavior? Why did Bush and Cheney start spying on the American people prior to 9-11, and if this was really such a great method to prevent terrorist attacks against the United States, then why did 9-11 ever happen now that we know the illegal surveillance began far before the Twin Towers collapsed and thousands of innocent Americans lost their lives?

I find this new information to be utterly outrageous, and everyone should pick up their phones and blitz the White House and Congress, demanding that Bush and Cheney either resign or be impeached, and if Congress won’t impeach now, we as Americans should begin to grieve for the nation that was once a beacon of freedom, but now only remains to serve a corrupt Presidency and a cowardly Congress. Impeach or label our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Rule of Law as defunct - and we should begin the death knell and hold a vigil to protest the loss of our freedom, dignity, and our Democratic Republic.
William Cormier