Bush's Mysterious 'New Programs'

[Windy]

I don't know anything about the reliability of this site, but worth the read. Scary stuff...

Not that George W. Bush needs much encouragement, but Sen. Lindsey Graham suggested to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales a new target for the administration’s domestic operations -- Fifth Columnists, supposedly disloyal Americans who sympathize and collaborate with the enemy.

“The administration has not only the right, but the duty, in my opinion, to pursue Fifth Column movements,” Graham, R-S.C., told Gonzales during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on Feb. 6.

“I stand by this President’s ability, inherent to being Commander in Chief, to find out about Fifth Column movements, and I don’t think you need a warrant to do that,” Graham added, volunteering to work with the administration to draft guidelines for how best to neutralize this alleged threat.

“Senator,” a smiling Gonzales responded, “the President already said we’d be happy to listen to your ideas.”

In less paranoid times, Graham’s comments might be viewed by many Americans as a Republican trying to have it both ways – ingratiating himself to an administration of his own party while seeking some credit from Washington centrists for suggesting Congress should have at least a tiny say in how Bush runs the War on Terror.

But recent developments suggest that the Bush administration may already be contemplating what to do with Americans who are deemed insufficiently loyal or who disseminate information that may be considered helpful to the enemy.

Top U.S. officials have cited the need to challenge news that undercuts Bush’s actions as a key front in defeating the terrorists, who are aided by “news informers” in the words of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.


More at:
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2006/022106a.html

[punpirate]

1. Robert Parry is...

... a journalist with long experience, and his columns are well worth the read.

If you want to get a good idea of his previous stuff, go to Consortium News archives and start reading the "X-Files."

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. And this "fifth column" includes, by GOP definition....

* Any individual, group, organization or movement which opposes the continued occupation of Iraq, including (but not limited to) any member of the Society of Friends (Quakers), pacifists or social justice advocates.

* Any individual, group, organization or movement which seeks to undermine the cohesion and morale of the US Armed Forces, including (but not limited to) those seeking to overturn "Don't Ask; Don't Tell", opponents of military recruitment in high schools and whistle-blowers on deceptive tactics, half truths and outright lies used by military recruiters.

* Any individual, group, organization or movement which seeks to reveal the half truths, deceptions, outright lies and coverups to which the Bush Administration is a party, including (but not limited to) those responsible for publishing the Abu Graib abuse photos, those responsible for uncovering the wiretapping scandal, those advocating a meaningful investigation in to the Valerie Plame affair, those pushing for convictions with regards to the ever widening Abramoff scandals and those lobbying for a meaningful investigation in to alleged violations of the United States Constitution.

* Any individual, group, organization or movement who seeks to limit the claimed monolithic powers of a "wartime" president, including (but not limited to) progressive and liberal citizens of the United States and anyone who points out the constitutional violations of Attorney General Gonzales' repeated claims that the Congress merely "suggests" laws.

* Any individual, group, organization or movement who, in any way, challenges the Divine Right of the President to do whatever he deems is necessary for the safety and well-being of this country, including (but not limited to) the Democratic Party, international critics of the Current Regime, American citizens who dare give voice to concerns over how Dear Leader is managing foreign and domestic policy and anyone else unilaterally (and often secretly and with no possible legal recourse) declared an enemy of the state and a traitor.

Did I forget anyone?

[mdmc]

3. 84