73 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 39 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H1'ed 12/22/11

Vying for Detention: Two liberal Democratic Senators Give Us a Police State for Christmas

By Dan DeWalt  Posted by Dave Lindorff (about the submitter)       (Page 1 of 3 pages)   34 comments
Message Dave Lindorff

By Dan DeWalt

The Police State came a big step closer in the new military authorization bill
The Police State came a big step closer in the new military authorization bill
(Image by ThisCantBeHappening)
  Details   DMCA

Predator Odrona is about to sign a military authorization bill [Carl Levin's S-1867] that puts every one of us at risk of being detained by our own military. If the government decides that you are a terrorist threat, the military will be able to kidnap you and deny you the right to a trial or even the right to know why you're being held.


The arrogant and short-sighted leaders who "govern" us have granted the government the right to detain you anywhere in the world, including inside the U.S., and there is no limit to the amount of time that they can hold you once they've got you.


We shouldn't worry though, they claim, because this new law is only meant for the terrorists among us.


So just who represents a terrorist threat? Well, protesters for starts, according to a Pentagon training test, which defines protests as acts of low-level terrorism. Quaker peace meetings in Vermont and across the country have been registered as "suspicious incidents" by the Defense Department's secretive TALON snooping system. Once your name has been entered into one of these lovely surveillance systems, you can rest assured that it will never disappear.


The muslims in America certainly know that they are perceived as potential or likely terrorists by an alarming number of law enforcement agencies across the land. Reports have documented blatant anti-muslim profiling by "experts" presenting at law enforcement terrorism training events.


And let's not forget the right side of the spectrum. Radical back-to-the-landers who wave guns and evade taxes have long been a government favorite for keeping their kill squads sharp. Just ask Randy Weaver. Washington state recently requested an was granted the use of a military surveillance drone to lead SWAT teams, a bomb squad, the highway patrol and four counties' worth deputy sheriffs to arrest three unarmed brothers over a six-cow dispute. It wasn't the cows that brought on the military-style show of force. It was the brothers' family affiliation with the Sovereign Citizen movement, which the FBI classifies as an extremest organization and a domestic terrorism threat.


Obama Department of Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano felt compelled to warn law enforcement agencies about "right-wing extremist activity" shortly after her boss's election. A few months earlier, DHS had released a report warning about cyber attacks from left-wing extremists. If the FBI equates extremest groups with domestic terrorism, should we be surprised that the DHS does as well?


Next Page  1  |  2  |  3

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Must Read 13   Well Said 7   Supported 7  
Rate It | View Ratings

Dave Lindorff Social Media Pages: Facebook Page       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Dave Lindorff, winner of a 2019 "Izzy" Award for Outstanding Independent Journalism from the Park Center for Independent Media in Ithaca, is a founding member of the collectively-owned, journalist-run online newspaper (more...)
 

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact EditorContact Editor
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Israel's Gaza Atrocities Recall America's Atrocities in Vietnam

Looming climate catastrophe?: A Rapidly Warming Arctic Could Loose a Methane Climate Bomb Causing Extinction in 9 Years

Supreme Court Junket King Scalia Dies While Vacationing with Wealthy Patrons at Private West Texas Getaway

Something's happening here: Clinton's Crumbling, Bernie's Surging and a 'Political Revolution' May Be in the Offing

The Case for Impeachment of President Barack Obama

Barack Obama: Manchurian Candidate Version 2.0

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend