With the Republicans in power unlikely to take any steps to thwart Bush, and the majority of Democrats and the national media either blackmailed, intimidated, bought-off, or otherwise too out-to-lunch to even mention the word 'Impeachment' (and, with the Alito confirmation, ready to hand over the Supreme Court to the Bushies without a filibuster), Bush is, effectively, a dictator, with the power to order troops to 'fight terrorism' anywhere on the planet without Congressional oversight, imprison anyone he deems an 'enemy combatant' without due process of law, and freely ignore any parts of the Constitution that he feels interfere with his ability to 'defend us against terrorism' or 'protect national security.'
If any of this sounds familiar, it's because they are precisely the arguments used by two European dictators to rationalize seizing power seven decades ago; dictators we deposed in World War Two.
Most of those who risked their lives back then to accomplish this purpose are dying off now, probably mercifully; they don't have to live to wonder why they bothered, or why their comrades-in-arms died or lived with disabilities and disfigurement only to see tyranny with a Texas drawl imposed on the land they shed blood to preserve from that fate.
Here's a breakdown of the relevant Executive Orders and Acts of Congress giving Bush the power of a despot; although Sachs focuses on FEMA in this piece, we also know that the Pentagon, FBI and CIA have been purged of non-believers and converted to Bush-friendly organizations.
As has been shown by the history of Europe in the 1920s and 1930s, by the time the 'good people' wake up to the danger, the deed has been accomplished and it's too late to save democracy and freedom. It is most likely too late for America now, save some miracle.
The only questions remaining: Would average Americans let Bush get away with declaring martial law, with the cover story of a Bird Flu outbreak or other threat; and would American troops fire on American citizens to quell a 'disruption' should Bush order it?
THE MOST POWERFUL ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES
by Arthur Sachs
President George W. Bush has signed executive orders giving him sole authority to impose martial law, suspend habeas corpus and ignore the Posse Comitatus Act that prohibits deployment of U.S. troops on American streets. This would give him absolute dictatorial power over the government with no checks and balances.
These "national security initiatives," hatched in 1982 by controversial Marine Colonel Oliver North, later one of the key players in the Iran-Contra Scandal, charged the Federal Emergency Management Agency with administering executive orders that allowed suspension of the Constitution, implementation of martial law, establishment of internment camps, and the turning the government over to the President.
The Posse Comitatus Act is "misunderstood and misapplied" and that the U.S. has in times of national emergency the "full and absolute authority" to send troops into American streets to "enforce order and maintain the peace."
Bush used parts of the plan to send troops into the streets of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. In addition, FEMA hired former special forces personnel from the mercenary firm Blackwater USA to "enforce security."
Executive orders already signed by Bush allow the Northern Command to send troops into American streets, seize control of radio and television stations and networks and impose martial law "in times of national emergency."
The authority to declare what is or is not a national emergency rests entirely with Bush who does not have to either consult or seek the approval of Congress for permission to assume absolute control over the government of the United States.
Some people have referred to it as the "secret government" of the United States. It is not an elected body, it does not involve itself in public disclosures, and it even has a quasi-secret budget in the billions of dollars. This government organization has more power than the President of the United States or the Congress, it has the power to suspend laws, move entire populations, arrest and detain citizens without a warrant and hold them without trial, it can seize property, food supplies, transportation systems, and can suspend the Constitution.
Originally conceived in the Richard Nixon Administration, it was refined by President Jimmy Carter and given teeth in the Ronald Reagan and George Bush Administrations.
Not only is it the most powerful entity in the United States, but it was not even created under Constitutional law by the Congress. It was a product of a Presidential Executive Order. No, it is not the U.S. military nor the Central Intelligence Agency, they are subject to Congress. The organization is called FEMA, which stands for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Though it may be the most powerful organization in the United States, few people know it even exists. But it has crept into our private lives.
Here are just a few Executive Orders associated with FEMA that would suspend the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These Executive Orders have been on record for nearly 30 years and could be enacted by the stroke of a Presidential pen, In the past few month President Bush is picking selected orders to promote his personal agenda and those may not be in the interest of regular Americans.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 10990 allows the government to take over all modes of transportation and control of highways and seaports.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 10995 allows the government to seize and control the communication media.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 10997 allows the government to take over all electrical power, gas, petroleum, fuels and minerals.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 10998 allows the government to take over all food resources and farms.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11000 allows the government to mobilize civilians into work brigades under government supervision.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11001 allows the government to take over all health, education and welfare functions.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11002 designates the Postmaster General to operate a national registration of all persons.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11003 allows the government to take over all airports and aircraft, including commercial aircraft.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11004 allows the Housing and Finance Authority to relocate communities, build new housing with public funds, designate areas to be abandoned, and establish new locations for populations.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11005 allows the government to take over railroads, inland waterways and public storage facilities.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11051 specifies the responsibility of the Office of Emergency Planning and gives authorization to put all Executive Orders into effect in times of increased international tensions and economic or financial crisis.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11310 grants authority to the Department of Justice to enforce the plans set out in Executive Orders, to institute industrial support, to establish judicial and legislative liaison, to control all aliens, to operate penal and correctional institutions, and to advise and assist the President.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11049 assigns emergency preparedness function to federal departments and agencies, consolidating 21 operative Executive Orders issued over a fifteen year period.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11921 allows the Federal Emergency Preparedness Agency to develop plans to establish control over the mechanisms of production and distribution, of energy sources, wages, salaries, credit and the flow of money in U.S. financial institution in any undefined national emergency. It also provides that when a state of emergency is declared by the President, Congress cannot review the action for six months.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has broad powers in every aspect of the nation. General Frank Salzedo, chief of FEMA's Civil Security Division stated in a 1983 conference that he saw FEMA's role as a "new frontier in the protection of individual and governmental leaders from assassination, and of civil and military installations from sabotage and/or attack, as well as prevention of dissident groups from gaining access to U.S. opinion, or a global audience in times of crisis."
FEMA's powers were consolidated by President Carter to incorporate: the National Security Act of 1947, which allows for the strategic relocation of industries, services, government and other essential economic activities, and to rationalize the requirements for manpower, resources and production facilities; the 1950 Defense Production Act, which gives the President sweeping powers over all aspects of the economy; the Act of August 29, 1916, which authorizes the Secretary of the Army, in time of war, to take possession of any transportation system for transporting troops, material, or any other purpose related to the emergency; and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which enables the President to seize the property of a foreign country or national. These powers were transferred to FEMA in a sweeping consolidation in 1979.
I have submitted this article as a concerned American who wants this beloved country to be here for my children and grandchildren. We have to be careful that a few people don't try to change everything our forefathers fought for and our fathers died for in the wars to maintain our independence and freedoms. It is intuitively obvious some of the interruptions explaining the taking away of our freedoms are a front for power and greed.
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Today's Quotes
"George W. is confused on a basic concept. He's commander-in-chief of the military, not the United States -- and even the top military chief is not allowed to suspend our Bill of Rights."
-- Jim Hightower, "All Hail King George," Progressive Populist, Feb. 1, 2006 issue.
"In the United States, the law says the government is owned by the people for the benefit of the people. George W. Bush has now asserted that, in order to protect the people's rights, he is usurping their ownership and placing himself solely in charge, until such time as he decides that the ownership of the government can be safely given back to the people. When has this recipe for preserving a free democracy ever worked at any time for any country in history?"
-- Max Publico
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