The Unknown Candidate: Are YOU the Enemy?

Monday, March 06, 2006

Are YOU the Enemy?

So much for the freedom to protest peacefully.... Cindy Sheehan and 3 other women were arrested today in New York after the U.S. Mission to the U.N. refused to meet with a delegation of women visiting from Iraq and with Gold Star Families for Peace. The group was attempting to deliver a petition with 72,000 signatures to the Mission. The women were reportedly treated very roughly and "drug off in a rough manner." Many, including some members of the press, were reportedly thrown against a building.

UPDATE: The four arrestees are being held now by the Police on their way to the DA's office. They are to be charged with resisting arrest. According to Rev. Patti Ackerman (one of the arrested), Sheehan has a "wrenched arm and bruises on her torso and head from being dropped on the pavement.

After initially telling the activists they could deliver the petitions to a receptionist at the US Mission, where they had an appointment to do so, the New York police cited a change of plan from "higher up" and moved in to prevent the delivery and arrest the activists. In addition to rough handling of Ms. Sheehan, one of the Iraqi women with the group was punched in the stomach. This according to Rev. Ackerman on the phone.

One broadcast producer who saw footage of the incident described the police as "particularly nasty" in their treatment of the women.

Visions of the 60's battles between anti-war protesters and the police? Back to the future? Looks that way.

But that's not the worst of it. This is:

Bush's Mysterious 'New Programs'

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

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 such extraordinary circumstances, the American people might legitimately ask exactly what the Bush administration means by the "rapid development of new programs," which might require the construction of a new network of detention camps.

This is getting really scarey, folks. Call your representatives and demand answers.

Otherwise, hope to catch y'all later--if you can find me in my new secret detention center lodgings ..... If I'm not there, you might try the new Civilian Inmate Labor Program .....

Whatever you do, read this entire article: Bush's Mysterious 'New Programs' By Nat Parry