September 30, 2007

How many swallows does it take . . .

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA B

AN EMERGING DICTATORSHIP

Introduction: The last six years have seen a dramatic shift in the United States, away from democracy and toward a dictatorship by government and corporations (pp. 110, 144-145, 257).

Corporations rely on government for lucrative contracts, tax breaks, subsidies, industry deregulation, opportunities for profit-making (through privatization, such as of Social Security, Medicare and the military), as well as perks and favors too numerous to itemize. In addition, media corporations need cost-effective news coverage B that is, easily quoted official sources rather than information obtainable only by means of costly investigations. In their pursuit of their essential mission B maximizing profit for shareholders B U.S. corporations increasingly depend on the good graces of the President (pp. 55-56, 164, 233-234 and 250-253).

The reverse is also true. Government needs corporations for political donations, to help it preserve and consolidate its power, to further its ideological agenda of domestic totalitarianism (the AUnitary Executive@) and world domination, and at the same time B as it and the corporations increasingly rule our lives without accountability B to give us, the public, the illusion of continued freedom. Media corporations serve primarily as a delivery service for corporate marketing, corporate propaganda no longer now contained in clearly demarcated commercials, but having invaded and settled in every organ of mass communication, from print, radio, TV and film, to, increasingly, the Internet (pp. 110, 119-122, 164-166, 234, 256, 286-287 and 293. Wikipedia 2007 AUnitary Executive Theory,@ pp. 1-17).

The corollary to this symbiosis between the government and large corporations, is that our descent toward fascism is silent. The tale is not told to us by the mainstream media. Rather, our attention is turned toward half-truths, political noise, consumerism, the latest technology, personalities, scandals, wars, terrorism, sports, and the lifestyle that we should never give up (pp. 55, 109, 165, 176, 233 and 256).

How many swallows does it take to make a spring?

The following summarizes some of the major steps toward totalitarianism that we have taken in the past six years.

DATE EVENT

2000

11/2000 Presidential Elections B Stopping a Vote Recount: Republican candidate George W. Bush loses the popular vote. The Supreme Court nevertheless gives him the presidency, by ruling that the recount of ballots in the State of Florida (governed by Bush=s brother, Jeb) must be stopped. The Republicans bully election officials in Florida into stopping the recount (pp. 162, 248 and 259).

2001

08/09/01 Deregulating Media and Telecommunications Companies: On August 9, 2001, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under the direction of Michael Powell, justifies deregulating the monolithic media and telecommunications companies, on the grounds that new technologies now contribute to media diversity.

The argument omits the fact that to date, the giant media corporations have managed to acquire a stranglehold on each technology that has emerged. A handful of owners is in a position to decide what the American population sees and hears.

For instance:

Viacom owns Blockbuster, CBS network, MTV, Infinity (Radio) Broadcasting, Paramount Pictures, and more.

NewsCorp owns DirecTV (the major satellite television provider), Fox Broadcasting Network, Fox Cable News, 20^th Century Fox, and more (pp. 145 and 227-228. See the present document under 06/27/05).

09/09/01 Deception regarding the War on Afghanistan: Two days before the attacks of 9/11 on the World Trade Center, President Bush finalizes war plans for Afghanistan B 44,000 U.S. troops and 18,000 British troops are strategically placed in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Later, Bush would use the excuse of the 9/11 attacks for his invasion of Afghanistan (pp. 186 and 297).

09/11/01 Complicity with the 9/11 Attacks: The Bush administration either allows or perhaps even orchestrates the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center (pp. 183 and 245).

10/07/01 APre-emptive@ War against Afghanistan: On October 7, 2001, the President declares Apre-emptive@ (really preventive) war against Afghanistan (p. 145).

10/26/01 The USA PATRIOT Act: On October 26, 2001, a mere 45 days after the 09/11 attacks, President Bush signs the AUniting and strengthening America by providing appropriate Tools required to intercept and obstruct Terrorism@ (PATRIOT) Act into law.

The Act expands the definition of terrorism to include domestic as well as foreign terrorism. The definition of domestic terrorism is broad B any act which Aappears to be intended to . . . influence the policy of government by intimidation.@

The Act dramatically expands the authority of U.S. law enforcement agencies to fight terrorism, such as by:

* Searching telephone and e-mail communications, medical and financial records, and other types of personal information.

* Easing restrictions on gathering foreign intelligence within the U.S.

* Expanding the authority of the Department of the Treasury to regulate financial transactions.

* Increasing the authority of law enforcement and immigration authorities to detain and deport immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts (p. 34. Wikipedia 2007 AUSA PATRIOT Act,@ pp. 1-2).

Among the provisions of the Act are:

* Sneak and peek Warrants: The Act authorizes issuance of Asneak and peek@ warrants to search the home of anyone suspected of a federal crime, this being done without the person=s knowledge, and even in cases of misdemeanors unrelated to terrorism (pp. 34 and 145).

* Surveillance of Books borrowed and bought: The Act allows the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to demand from libraries and bookstore owners, the names of books borrowed or bought by anyone suspected of Ainvolvement in internal terrorism, or clandestine intelligence activities.@ The library or bookstore owner has no opportunity to object in court, and is under a Agag order@ B that is, may not disclose Ato any other person@ the fact of the FBI search and seizure B either to the person in question or to the press (Jewish World Review 2002, pp. 1-2).

* The President, by himself, can declare War: The Congress relinquishes its power as the sole body which can declare war, delegating this authority to the President (pp. 44, 145 and 268. Wikipedia 2007 AUSA PATRIOT Act,@ p. 1).

11/01 Financial Spying without a Warrant: Within weeks of the 9/11 attacks, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Pentagon send secret Anational security letters@ to credit card companies, banks and other financial agencies, ordering them to provide the records of thousands of American citizens. This financial spying program has access to the vast international data base of the banking consortium, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), located in Brussels. The official goal of the program is to track wire transfers overseas by both American citizens and non-citizens believed to be associated with Al Qaeda (pp. 28, 65-67, 145 and 269. New York Times 2006, p. 1).

2002

07/23/02 Deception regarding the Invasion of Iraq: On July 23, 2002, seven months before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Britain=s Prime Minister, Tony Blair and his inner circle of advisers meet. The minutes of the meeting, later called the ADowning Street Memo,@ state:

ABush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD [weapons of mass destruction] . . . The intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy@ (pp. 17 and 223).

The memo would be leaked by the London Times three years later (on 05/01/05) (pp. 17 and 145).

* 09/30/02 Example of a Signing Statement (See 04/30/06):

The foreign Relations Authorization Act of fiscal Year 2003 (H.R. 1646): On September 30, 2002, President Bush signs into law the AForeign Relations Authorization Act of fiscal Year 2003@ (H.R. 1646).

Bush=s signing statement reads:

AThe executive branch shall construe as advisory the provisions of the Act which purport to direct . . . negotiations . . . or . . . direct executive branch officials . . . to achieve specified foreign policy objectives. Such provisions, if construed as mandatory . . . would impermissibly interfere with the president=s constitutional authority to conduct the Nation=s foreign affairs@ (Wikipedia 2007 AUnitary Executive Theory,@ p. 8).

10/29/02 Privatizing the Election Process: On October 29, 2002, Congress passes the Help America vote Act (HAVA) which allocates money for the use of electronic voting machines across the nation B effectively privatizing the electoral process. The voting machines, designed and manufactured by private corporations with intimate connections with the Republican Party, produce tabulations which cannot be audited. They produce no paper trail and the program (source code) cannot be inspected because, being proprietary information, it can only be inspected by company officials. There is no way to verify the accuracy of the tabulations.

As of 2007, there had been no governmental oversight of the production of the machines, and no background checks for the employees involved in the manufacture of the machines (pp. 261-266).

11/2002 Fraud in the 2002 mid-term Elections: There is considerable evidence of fraud in crucial races for the Senate during the 2002 mid-term elections. As of 2007, there had been no full investigation (pp. 275-282).

* 11/05/02 Example of a Signing Statement (See 04/30/06):

No Education Research without Presidential Approval: On November 5, 2002, Congress creates an Institute of Education Sciences, stipulating that its Director shall be allowed to conduct research Awithout the approval of the Secretary of Education.@

President Bush=s signing statement reads that the Director of the Institute Ashall be subject to the supervision and direction of the Secretary of Education@ (Boston Globe 2006a pp. 1-2, and 2006b, p. 2).

2003

03/19/03 APre-emptive@ War on Iraq: On March 19, 2003, the President declares Apre-emptive@ (really preventive) war against Iraq (p. 145).

07/14/03 Silencing Individuals: On July 14, 2003, Robert Novak, right-wing reporter for the Chicago Sun Times, publishes an article entitled, AMission to Niger,@ in which he reveals that the wife of Joseph Wilson, former U.S. embassador to Gabon, is an under-cover agent for the CIA. This is a leak which endangers Wilson=s wife, Valerie Plame, and her co-workers, and also threatens national security.

The revelation comes eight days after an article by Wilson has appeared in the New York Times. In this July 6, 2003, article, entitled, AWhat I didn=t find in Africa,@ Wilson alleges that the Bush administration manipulated the intelligence about Saddam Hussein=s weapons of mass destruction program, in order to justify an invasion of Iraq.

In February 2002 B that is, a year and half before his letter in the New York Times B at the behest of the CIA, Wilson had gone to Niger, in order to investigate the reliability of a British intelligence report which alleged that, in the late 1990=s, Iraq had bought uranium yellow-cake (a processed form of ore) for use in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. Wilson=s conclusion was that the British report was baseless. Despite his findings being made official, they were never acknowledged by the Bush administration.

To the contrary, on January 29, 2003, in his State of the Union address, President Bush had used the discredited report:

AThe British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.@

It is possible that, as Wilson has claimed, the leak of his wife=s identity as an under-cover agent was retaliation by the Bush administration for his July 6, 2003, New York Times article casting doubt on the administration=s official reason for invading Iraq.

It is illegal to leak the identity of an under-cover CIA operative, and in December 2003, Patrick Fitzgerald was appointed special counsel to investigate. The leak turned out to have had no less than three sources, all by high-level officers in the Bush administration B and hence probably originated from either the President himself or Vice-president Dick Cheney.

To punish Wilson by revealing his wife=s identity is a relatively lame way to discredit Wilson. There may have been another reason for the high-level leak. Plame was an under-cover agent investigating whether Iran has a nuclear weapons program. Was the administration intent on putting a stop to that inquiry? In either case, the Bush administration silenced individuals, putting some at risk, for its own political purposes (pp. 269 and 197-202. See the present document under 08/2007).

* 11/06/03 Example of a Signing Statement (See 04/30/06):

Iraq=s Coalition Provisional Authority is not Free: On November 6, 2003, Congress passes a bill to the effect that U.S. officials stationed in Iraq may not prevent a Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) inspector from carrying out any investigation.

President Bush=s signing statement reads that a CPA inspector Ashall refrain@ from investigating any matter which involves sensitive plans, intelligence, national security, or which is already being investigated by the Pentagon (Boston Globe 2006a, pp. 1-2, and 2006b, p. 2).

2004

02/2004 Infiltration of anti-war Organizations: In February 2004, it is revealed that under-cover agents financed by the Austin police department, spy on organizational meetings of anti-war protesters. Similar under-cover surveillance of anti-war groups occurs throughout the nation (pp. 35 and 145).

* 08/05/04 Example of a Signing Statement (See 04/30/06):

The Military can use Evidence illegally-obtained: On August 5, 2004, Congress passes a bill to the effect that the military may not use intelligence obtained illegally.

President Bush=s signing statement reads that only the President has the authority to tell the military what intelligence it may or may not use (Boston Globe 2006a, pp. 1-2, and 2006b, p. 2).

* 10/29/04 Example of a Signing Statement (See 04/30/06):

Military Attorneys are not free: On October 29, 2004, Congress passes a bill to the effect that the Defense Department may not interfere with the advice given by military lawyers to their commanders.

President Bush=s signing statement reads that when giving advice to their commanders, military lawyers must adhere to the legal conclusions reached by the Justice Department and the Pentagon (Boston Globe 2006a, pp. 1-2, and 2006b, p. 2).

11/05/04 Voting Fraud during the Presidential Election: The evidence for widespread and systematic election fraud during the 2004 national elections, is overwhelming and incontrovertible.

Writing in June 2006, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., would estimate that the statistical odds for the discrepancies observed are in the range of one in 3 billion (pp. 37, 248, 261, 271-274 and 282. Kennedy 2006, cited pp. 274 and 288).

* 12/17/04 Example of a Signing Statement (See 04/30/06):

Minorities are not protected: On December 17, 2004, Congress passes a bill stipulating that, in order to ensure diversity in the intelligence community, the Director of National Intelligence shall recruit women and minorities as spies, analysts and translators.

President Bush=s signing statement reads that he will treat everybody equally B meaning that he will not be race- or gender-conscious in his hiring, a view rejected by the Supreme Court in 2003 (Boston Globe 2006a, pp. 1-2, and 2006b, p. 2).

* 12/23/04 Example of a Signing Statement (See 04/30/06):

With regards to the Military, there is no Restraint on the President: On December 23, 2004, Congress passes a bill forbidding U.S. troops stationed in Colombia from participating in combat against rebels, except in cases of self-defense.

President Bush=s signing statement reads that only he can place restrictions on the use of U.S. armed forces (Boston Globe 2006a, pp. 1-2, and 2006b, p. 2).

2005

03/21/05 Violation State Law: Terri Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative condition. This is a matter to be resolved at the level of the state, and Florida courts have consistently ruled in favor of permitting withdrawal of Terri=s feeding tube. On March 21, 2005, intruding and violating state law, President Bush signs into law a bill giving the Federal District Court jurisdiction over the case (p. 48).

05/06/05 Threat to academic Freedom: On May 6, 2005, a bill sponsored by Representative Dennis Baxley (R-FL), AStudent and Faculty academic Freedom in post-secondary Education,@ fails to pass the Florida House of Representatives. The bill would have placed the power to determine the content of Florida=s classrooms in the hands of legislators. It would have mandated a Afair and balanced@ approach to teaching, requiring, for instance, that intelligent design theory be given equal time with evolution. Students would be allowed to sue their professors, should they feel that their own beliefs have been mis-represented or unfairly challenged.

Baxley=s bill fails to become law in Florida. However, since then, similar bills have been floated in other states (pp. 167-168 and 306).

06/27/05 Betraying Freedom in Cyberspace: On June 27, 2005, in the case of National Cable & Telecommunications Association vs. Brand X Internet Services, the Supreme Court rules that large cable companies, such as Comcast and Verizon, are not required to share their cables with other Internet service providers (no Acommon carriage@).

The Court bases its decision on the assumption that cable modem services are informational (one-way, such as TV), rather than telecommunicational (two-ways, such as a telephone line). In grounding its decision on this contrived interpretation of the 1996 Telecommunication Act, the Court evades the central issue, which is whether corporate monopolies are likely to destroy the present, open-access architecture of the Internet (ANet neutrality@).

The ruling favors corporate interests as opposed to freedom of speech in cyberspace, media diversity, and the public interest. It allows corporate media to deny access to (usually small) independent service providers.

Having achieved this first victory, large telecommunications companies are now lobbying Congress for permission to set up tollbooths on the Internet, a step which would enable them to assess higher fees for better service B charging content providers according to the quality of service they offer on their website (APay for play@) (pp. 31, 61, 76, 145, 212-219, 227-229, 233 and 300. See the present document under 08/09/01).

07/20/05 The whole United States is a Battlefield: On July 20, 2005, defending the President=s right to capture a U.S. citizen on American soil and hold him indefinitely as an enemy combatant, Solicitor General Paul Clements declares:

AThe United States is a battlefield in the War on Terror@ (pp. 204-205).

* 08/08/05 Example of a Signing Statement (See 04/30/06):

Silencing Whistle-blowers: On August 8, 2005, Congress passes a bill directing the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission not to fire or otherwise punish whistle-blowers B employees who have apprized Congress of possible wrongdoing.

President Bush=s signing statement reads that he only will determine whether employees of the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission may give information to Congress (pp. 269 and 292. Boston Globe 2006a, pp. 1-2, and 2006b, pp. 1-2).

09/05 Anticipating Martial Law: On September 5, 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, President Bush calls for the use of the military to enforce the law in case of a natural disaster.

The call violates Posse Comitatus, the legal prohibition against the use of the military for law enforcement (pp. 180 and 292. U.S. Constitution.net 2006, p. 1. See the present document under 11/05).

11/05 Again anticipating Martial Law: In October 2005, President Bush calls for martial law, including forced quarantines, in the event of an Avian Flu pandemic (pp. 180 and 292. U.S. Constitution.net 2006, p. 1. See the present document under 09/05).

12/13/05 Abuse of Terrorism Alerts: By December 2005, at least 13 changes in color-coded terrorism alerts had been preceded by a political downturn for the Bush administration. Fear-inducing headlines consistently dwarf setbacks for the Bush administration (pp. 177-178).

12/16/05 Domestic Spying (Wiretapping) without a Warrant: ABush lets U.S. spy on Callers without Courts,@ announces the New York Times on December 16, 2005 B after, at the request of the Bush administration, having held off publication of this major invasion of privacy for more than one year.

Eight months later, in August 2006, Bush=s secret National Security Administration (NSA) spying program would be ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge. However, President Bush would then arrange to continue the program, this time with a (secret) standing permission from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Court.

The files assembled by the NSA, are linked to health, credit card, and billing records. In fact, therefore, the program is the continuation of the discarded Total Information Awareness (TIP) program, this time without a name (pp. 22, 26, 65, 145, 196-197, 269 and 292. See the present document under 04/2006 and 05/21/06 ).

* 12/30/05 1. Example of a Signing Statement (See 04/30/06):

Silencing Scientists: On December 30, 2007, Congress passes a bill stipulating that when requested by Congress, scientific information Aprepared by government researchers and scientists shall be transmitted uncensored and without delay.@

President Bush=s signing statement reads that the President has the authority to tell researchers to withhold any information from Congress, should disclosure interfere with foreign relations, national security, or executive branch operations (Boston Globe 2006a, pp. 1-2, and 2006b, p. 1).

2. Example of a Signing Statement (See 04/30/06):

Torture allowed: On December 30, 2005, Congress passes the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 (The McCain Amendment 1977), as Title X of the Department of Defense Authorization bill. The amendment prohibits inhumane treatment of prisoners, including prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, by limiting interrogations techniques to those specified in the Army Field Manual.

President Bush=s signing statement reads:

AThe executive branch shall construe Title X . . . in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President . . . as Commander in Chief . . . [and in a manner] which will assist . . . in protecting the American people from further terrorist attacks.@

In other words, the President can waive the torture ban, should he decide that harsh interrogation techniques will assist in preventing terrorist attacks (Boston Globe 2006a, pp. 1-2, and 2006b, p. 1. Wikipedia 2007 AUnitary Executive Theory,@ p. 8. Wikipedia 2007 AMcCain Detainee Amendment,@ pp. 1-2. See the present document under 10/17/06, ANo Guarantee against Torture@).

2006

01/19/06 Physical Searches without a Warrant: On January 19, 2006, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales submits a white paper to Congress, claiming that

AThe President has inherent authority to conduct warrant-less physical searches for foreign intelligence purposes@ (pp. 24 and 145).

* 03/09/06 Signing Statement (See 04/30/06):

The FBI not accountable to Congress: On March 9, 2006, Congress passes a bill stipulating that the Justice Department must report regularly to Congress concerning the FBI=s activities under the authority of the USA Patriot Act B searches of homes and the secret seizure of documents.

President Bush=s signing statement reads that he can order the Justice Department to withhold any information from Congress, should disclosure interfere with national security or executive branch operations (Boston Globe 2006a, pp. 1-2, and 2006b, p. 1).

04/2006 Monitoring e-mail Messages without a Warrant: In April, 2006, former AT&T employee Mark Klein, discloses a secret National Security Administration (NSA) program to monitor, without warrant, domestic and foreign e-mail messages carried on AT&T cables. It is probable that other major Internet service providers, such as BellSouth and Verizon have similar programs, and are cooperating with the government in the creation of personal files on every American citizen (pp. 27-28, 75, 145, 196-197, 220 and 292. See the present document under 12/16/05 and 05/21/06).

* 04/30/06 Signing Statements: On April 30, 2006, the Boston Globe reveals that President Bush has used Asigning statements@ granting himself the right to disregard Congressional decisions, and circumvent a possible Congressional over-ride (by a 2/3 majority of both houses) of a Presidential veto. In 1998, this type of Aline item veto@ was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

President Bush has issued more than 750 signing statements during his five years in office, compared to George H. W. Bush=s 232 in his four years in office, and Bill Clinton=s 140 during his eight years in office (pp. 43, 181, 292 and 308-309. Boston Globe 2006a, pp. 1-2, and 2006b, p. 1).

05/21/06 Threat to Journalists: On May 21, 2006, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales declares that under the Espionage Act of 1917, journalists can be prosecuted for disclosing classified leaks (even leaks of illegal activity by the government). Gonzales states that prosecutors will have an Aobligation to enforce the law,@ should they find criminal activity, in their probe of the leak from the National Security Administration (NSA) regarding the administration=s warrant-less (and illegal) wiretapping of the phone calls and e-mail messages of American citizens (See the present document under 12/16/05 and 04/2006).

Gonzales summarizes:

AWe have an obligation to ensure that our national security is protected . . . Freedom of the press should not be absolute when it comes to national security@ (pp. 145, 202-205, 269 and 292).

06/2006 Home Searches without AKnock and announce@: In June 2006, the Supreme Court rules that the police has the right to enter a home disregarding the AKnock and announce@ rule B that is, without announcing their presence at the door. Warrant in hand, they may simply enter and search (pp. 244 and 269).

10/17/06 The Military Commissions Act of 2006: On October 17, 2006, President Bush signs into law the Miliary Commissions Act of 2006. Among its provisions are:

1. Denial of the right of habeas corpus: The Act denies the writ of habeas corpus to any Aalien@ (non-U.S. citizen) who is determined to be an Aunlawful enemy combatant,@ that is,

AAn individual engaged in hostilities against the United States who is not a lawful enemy combatant@ (pp. 41, 145, 269 and 292).

2. No Guarantee against Torture: The Act deprives alien unlawful enemy combatants the protection of the Geneva Conventions:

ANo alien enemy unlawful combatant subject to trial by military commission . . . may invoke the Geneva Conventions as a source of rights at his trial by military commission.@

The Act stipulates that it is the President who will determine whether torture has occurred, and makes this authority retroactive as of November 26, 1997. The torture is carried out in secret prison camps (pp. 42-43, 145, 269, 292 and 305. Wikipedia 2007 AMilitary Commissions Act of 2006,@ p. 1. See the present document under 12/30/05, AExample of a Signing Statement, Torture allowed@).

2007

2007 Interference with Science: An increasing number of climatologists, including James Hansen, chief climate scientist at the National Aeronautics Safety Administration (NASA), complain of attempts by the federal government to either silence them, alter their findings, or discourage them from speaking out (p. 76).

2007 Intimidating Aactivist@ Judges: The President intimidates, and in some cases, dismisses federal judges (pp. 145 and 292-293).

01/2007 A AGatekeeper@ inside every federal Agency: In January 2007, President Bush issues an executive order establishing a Agatekeeper@ position in every federal agency (such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Environmental Agency). The individual will be appointed by the White House for the purpose of confirming that presidential mandates are carried out.

The authority of federal agencies derives from laws enacted by Congress. President Bush=s order usurps congressional authority, by giving him direct control over the rules and policies developed by federal agencies B be it in regards to civil rights, privacy, public health, safety or the environment (pp. 43-44).

08/2007 War on Iran: In August 2007, President Bush states his intention to designate all or part of Iran=s Revolutionary Guard Corps (APasdaran,@ army) a terrorist organization.

On September 26, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the next day, the Senate, pass resolutions calling for this designation.

President Bush=s war plans seem in place. Two U.S. naval aircraft carrier strike forces have been dispatched to the Middle East. The CIA and the Air Force have deployed Patriot anti-missile missiles to the area, and they are flying missions over Iran, assessing military and nuclear targets. Turkey has allowed U.S. strike aircrafts to use its airspace, thus facilitating an attack on northern Iran (p. 189. The Vineyard of the Saker (Blog) 2007, p. 1. See the present document under 07/14/03)

CONCLUSION

Only awareness of our steps toward a police state can help us resume our previous path toward the progressive broadening of democracy to all segments of the population.

REFERENCES

Unless specified, all page numbers refer to:

Cohen, Elliot and Bruce Fraser. 2007. The last days of democracy B how big media and power-hungry government are turning America into a dictatorship. Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus.

Specified references are as follows:

Boston Globe,

2006a. ABush challenges hundreds of laws B President cites Powers of his Office.@ (Charlie Savage). April 30.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/04/30/bush_challenges. Accessed October 4, 2007.

2006b. AExamples of the President=s Signing Statements.@ (Charlie Savage). April 30.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/04/30/examples. Accessed October 4, 2007.

Jewish World Review, 2002. AThe FBI among the Bookshelves.@ (Nat Hentoff). February 25.

http://www.jewishworldreivew.com/cols/hentoff022502.asp. Accessed October 3, 2007.

Kennedy, Robert F., Jr., 2006. AWas the 2004 Election stolen? Republicans prevented more than 350,000 Voters in Ohio from casting Ballots, or having their Votes counted B enough to have put John Kerry in the White House.@ Rolling Stone. June. Cited in ElliotCohen and Bruce Fraser. 2007. The last days of democracy B how big media and power-hungry government are turning America into a dictatorship. Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus.

News.findlaw.com, 2005. A>Compromise Bill= Re: Terri Schiavo signed into Law.@ March 21.

http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/schiavo/bill31905.html. Accessed October 3, 2007.

New York Times, 2006. ABank Data is sifted by U.S. in secret to block Terror.@ (Eric Lichtblau and James Risen). June 23.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/23/washington/23intel.html. Accessed October 3, 2007.

USConstitution.net, 2006. AConstitutional Topic B Martial Law.@

http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_mlaw.html. Updated March 15. Accessed October 3, 2007.

Vineyard of the Saker (Blog), 2007. AU.S. Senate brands Iran Guard >terrorist Organization.=@ September 27.

http://vineyardsaker.blospot.com/2007/09/us-senate-brands-iran-guard-terrorist.html. Accessed October 3, 2007.

Wikipedia, 2007.

AMcCain Detainee Amendment.@

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detainee_Treatment_Act. Updated August 10. Accessed October 7, 2007.

AMilitary Commissions Act of 2006.@

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Commissions_Act_of_2006. Updated September 25. Accessed October 3, 2007.

AUnitary Executive Theory.@

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_Executive_Theory. Updated September 25. Accessed October 7, 2007.

AUSA Patriot Act.@

http://en/wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_PATRIOT_Act. Updated October 3. Accessed October 3, 2007.

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