15 replies to this topic

[Bard of Thorns]

http://reason.com/bl...s-rules-for-ass

 

 

I flipped through the actual memo a bit, and it does indeed appear to be what's being bandied about as "the justification for killing American citizens without trial".  It's somewhat vague, of course, and it would appear that the intent is to transition ALL anti-terrorism activities over to the military, and to view terrorism as an act of war no matter its origins or scope.

[Rhuen]

I will now be calling the mother ship down, I think we've let you psycho apes control your own fates long enough with too big of toys to play with for your own good.

[Bard of Thorns]

Go on ahead.  I've lived a good life.  Good, not long.

[TheUnknowable]

The military doesn't see shades of grey for the most part, nor are they very big on "due process."  Military trials are swift and decisive.  With the executive branch now being able to effectively be judge, jury, and executioner for anyone they call a terrorist, it will be very easy for the system to be abused.  When they can declare anyone a terrorist, and kill anyone they think is a terrorist, the temptation to use it against groups they don't like may be too much for some people in the military to handle properly.

What if they think that a political policy is a threat to national security?  Can they kill Congressmen, as they are effectively traitors in the military's mind, if not technically terrorists?

[Rhuen]

considering this

 

http://worldnews.nbc...new-guinea?lite=

 

really wish I could.

 

Seriously, not one arrest so far, hundreds of witnesses, on video who did it, and no local authorities have made any arrests.

 

We have bladless fans, we know what flavor a nebula is, invented healing plastic skin, artificial limbs, and people are still being burned as witches in parts of this planet.

The military doesn't see shades of grey for the most part, nor are they very big on "due process."  Military trials are swift and decisive.  With the executive branch now being able to effectively be judge, jury, and executioner for anyone they call a terrorist, it will be very easy for the system to be abused.  When they can declare anyone a terrorist, and kill anyone they think is a terrorist, the temptation to use it against groups they don't like may be too much for some people in the military to handle properly.

What if they think that a political policy is a threat to national security?  Can they kill Congressmen, as they are effectively traitors in the military's mind, if not technically terrorists?

 

[to get in good with the public they'll target the West Boro Baptist church and the Klu Klux Klan first

[TheUnknowable]

Ever hear the saying "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it?"

The people burning witches, Westboro and the KKK are idiots, but they at least deserve a trial before their execution.  Besides, Westboro and the KKK don't murder people, and therefore can't be given the death penalty.

[Rhuen]

Its how this works in sci-fi, how they get the majority on their side (also how its been done historically)

 

scapegoat the least popular group of people, using your "secret police" thus making them out to be some kind of heroes, as you chip away at the liberties of people you don't like or voice against you to secure your power.

 

Of course this also leads to the downfall of many nations, especially when these forces are tied into high ranking military positions and get "better deals".

 

Its how a number of Roman Emperors "exchanged".

 

We are basically looking at the rise of the American Empire. Just wait till the American / Mexican War II, and the Canadian/American boarder conflicts in the following decades. Also the Annexation of Cuba.

[Caulfield]

When the administration uses an executive order to ban "assault" weapons (read: rifles with a pistol grip) approximately 20Million American citizens become instant terrorists. Assuming they have a buy-back/amnesty period, even if 95% of those citizens who own an "assault" rifle comply you still have, at the end period, ~1Million people who have an "illegal weapon" and no justification for owning it. These people must, therefore, be plotting an attack on the state and are as a result to be deemed a "terrorist threat". 

Now that what has been one of the worst kept secrets is public, that the administration can deem anyone they like as a terrorist and kill them without trial, it sets up a very sad situation where the administration goes to war on its own people. 

And if you think that anyone in the government wouldn't risk their political future over such a thing, remember that the "Commander in Chief" can enact emergency powers suspending the democratic election of the Commander in Chief. Welcome to the United States of Obama. And you all thought it would be a Republican president to do this.

[Rhuen]

there is only one party, they make it look like two to give the apperance of (choice).

[TheUnknowable]

there is only one party, they make it look like two to give the apperance of (choice).

 

 

sure seems that way.  Especially when they run almost identical candidates.

[FallingSpider]

Every president since Regan has been involved in creating this, so as Rhuen said, there is only one party. Personally I'm surprised we haven't started chanting, "war is peace, peace is war"!

[Caulfield]

If you bother to pay attention to advertising you'll find it's chock full of nuspeak.

[FallingSpider]

They've been using advertising for social engineering for a long time. Just look at how we've changed in relation to advertising.

[Caulfield]

Whether this is an entirely false flag attack or just a "lucky" (for the administration that is) coincidence, Christopher Dorner has become a perfect test subject for gauging the public response to the expansion of drone warfare onto US soil.

http://www.express.c...illed-policeman

"Yesterday, as a task force of 125 officers, some riding Snowcats in the rugged terrain, continued their search, it was revealed that Dorner has become the first human target for remotely-controlled airborne drones on US soil."

[Bard of Thorns]

I strongly disapprove.  First they claim it's unarmed drones, next they're adding missile launchers to the fucking killbots!

[Caulfield]

Something tells me that Christopher Dorner is either as dead as Bin Laden or, like Bin Laden, holed up in a US Government safe-house.