I have observed the Democrats in congress to be profoundly lacking in anticipation, whereas the the republicans have made an art of it. This diary will attempt to pave a path to knowing what could be the administration's next step regarding the warrant-less, pervasive, invasive electronic wiretapping of innocent Americans.
"The best way to predict the future is to create it"
Peter F. Drucker
My perception of the government, my whole life, could be described as apathetic / conservative. But, like many, recent events have made me take notice of my surroundings and I've increasingly found the administration untrustworthy - but NOT INCOMPETENT.
There is a rising awareness of the electronic surveillance currently being conducted. It is at the heart of the wiretapping scandal - and assumably, the reason why justice officials were willing to walk, if the activity was not constrained. In a related vein, the FISA bill being hurried through congress is to inoculate the largest bandwidth providers from liability for installing these filtering/monitoring systems on their networks.
This morning I came across an interesting scrolling headline on MSNBC:
'Internet is the new Afghanistan'
"Much different from the Israeli-Palestinian equation, the transformation of a Western-based individual to a terrorist is not triggered by oppression, suffering, revenge or desperation," it said.
"Rather, it is a phenomenon that occurs because the individual is looking for an identity and a cause, and unfortunately often finds them in extremist Islam," said the report, titled "Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat."
.....
Potential homegrown terrorists "are not on the law enforcement radar," the study says. "Most have never been arrested or involved in any kind of legal trouble."
"Individuals who have been radicalized but are not jihadists may serve as mentors and agents of influence to those who might become terrorists of tomorrow," according to the report, which analyzed five homegrown US attack plots.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...
The internet is quickly being lobotomized. If something bad happens it will likely be shut down, while the 'bad guys are ferreted out'. All of us will be cut off from 'our internet friends' for sometime.
So much for fighting them over there
That last paragraph is particularly heart warming, no? So, what we have is a new and interesting phenomenon - homegrown american jihadists - that might not be 'terrorists'. A domestic 'bad guy' with 'their intentions' being found 'posting on the internet'. Given what we know about the administrations penchant for politicization of agencies, who thinks this target might be politically liberal but ABSOLUTELY NOT jihadists / muslim?
The recent chatter I hear on the MSM is all about a domestic bad guy - creating an atmosphere of 'us against them' in America. History is full of such demonization and no good ever comes of it. O'Reilly's jihad on Kos is a loud and ominous example. It's patent absurdity is the best indication of its diabolical intentions.
"Propaganda works best when it bypasses intellect for an emotional reaction."
So, let's anticipate what might happen, once this law enforcement gets into full swing.
Best case scenario
Catching the bad guys - the terrorist who want to kill americans are thrwarted.
Bad case scenario
Catching liberals and other 'political insurgents'
Worse case scenario
- People seeking accountability for the war (probably on Iran by this time) and 911.
- Along with a police state, a full economic collapse, worse than the great depression ensues.
- An oligarchy is formed, based on fascism. The constitution is shredded.
- GWB finds himself on Mount Rushmore and is labeled 'The Great Uniter'.
- The founding fathers are relegated to a footnote in 'history' books.
"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
H. Zinn
"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then."
T. Jefferson
As much as we'd like to think so, this is not fantasy and it is not a conspiracy theory. It is the writing on the wall which you either choose to read or ignore.
Cheers.
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http://www.dailykos.com/...
http://www.matthewgood.org/...
http://www.correntewire.com/...