Article: An Open Letter to Senator Kennedy About Our Freedom

Dear Senator Kennedy,

For months you have been telling me about George W. Bush and his one track mind concerning Iraq. Oil, intimidation of other countries, and the chances we as a nation have given him, only to see him screw up everything that he touches. I have signed your petition to stop this "Surge" which I too believe is just another way to say "Stay the Course" and to escalate our involvement. I too believe that if we left Iraq, and left the people of Iraq alone to work out their problems, that they would indeed find a way to stop the violence against each other. As long as we are there to blame, I don't believe the sectarian violence will ever stop.

I also believe that the "terrorists" that are in Iraq will not "follow us home" as the President suggests. If they were intent to come to this country they would come, regardless of what happens in Iraq. One does not have anything to do with the other. The President uses this message because it suits his purposes and at first listen, it almost sounds credible. It's when you think about the fact that if they really want to attack us, they will, whether we win in Iraq, or lose in Iraq. They are not going to be "emboldened". I believe that the only one, who would be emboldened if he were to win in Iraq, is President Bush. I believe that after a win in Iraq, he would move right into Iran.

So Senator, I have supported you for a long time. I admire you. I believe that you don't bow to corporate interests and that you believe what you are doing is right. What I am concerned about, and what I'd like a little help on, is getting back the rights that The President, with help from Congress, have taken away from us. I'm talking about all the rights we lost with the Patriot Act and the various revisions that have been added to it. We have lost our freedom from warrant less searches and the right to privacy that The Constitution gives us. The President has used the NSA to circumvent the FISA court. Regardless of his "change of heart", the fact is he has committed a crime against the people of the United States. The Military commissions Act of 2006 has taken away the Writ of Habeas Corpus from anyone that the administration designates a terrorist. Who is a terrorist is open to debate. The list of various crimes that fall under the terminology of Terrorism grows larger everyday. Almost anyone could be labeled a "terrorist" today. It's now a matter of semantics. As you well know Sir, a nobody like me could "disappear" in this country and go "missing" forever. If they accused me of terrorism, they would not have to tell me anything about the charges they have against me. They would not have to tell me how long I was going to be held. They would not have to let me see a lawyer. They would not be required to show me the evidence they have on me. I would not be tried in court by a jury of my peers, I could be tried in a military tribunal that was done behind closed doors and sentenced to death. I don't think that I'm over reacting when I tell you that I don't like the power that Congress has given this Unitary Executive Branch that has done nothing but make mistake after mistake since taking office.

I am afraid of The Unitary Executive Branch when they thumb their nose at the law and this President makes signing statements for every law that he doesn't feel inclined to follow. He has "rendered" U.S. Citizens and taken them to other countries and allowed them to be tortured. He has fabricated evidence and indicted an entire sovereign nation for crimes that they didn't commit and we are still in a state of war with them. The attacks of 9/11 have forced people to look for evidence of who perpetrated these attacks, as the administration leveled the blame on Al-Qaeda without even investigating. People that did investigate found that Marvin Bush, the President's youngest brother was the head of security of the World trade Center. He had the entire buildings evacuated every night for two weeks before the "attack" which supposedly "Destroyed" the two towers plus a building (No.7) that wasn't even hit by airliners. 39 Skyscrapers have been directly hit by airplanes and they never crumbled. The rate of descent of the towers was measured by scientists and it was concluded that they were in "free fall" which means that there was nothing under the tops of the towers when they fell. The heat of the flames that would have been produced from jet fuel was hundreds of degrees cooler than what the temperature rating of the beams that held the towers up. If they indeed melted and gave way, why weren't the contractors and inspectors charged with fraud and negligence or conspiracy? Why was the Saudi Royal family jetted out of the country within minutes of the attack? Why did The President not act for a full 7 minutes after he was told "The nation is under attack!" Why did the President and his cabinet start taking Cipro, which is an anti-biotic made for exposure to Anthrax two weeks before 9/11? These Senator Kennedy, are real concerns that I have.

It's not only the war sir. I am afraid for my wife and myself and my entire extended family and my fellow countrymen. As honest and as sincere as the President looked and acted during his State of the Union speech, I believe he is capable of that much dishonesty and insincerity behind closed doors. I believe that our nation is at great peril, and I believe that you and a few other Senators and Congressmen are the only thing between us living under a totalitarian state, or living under a nation of law and protected freedoms. We have lost much of our freedom in the last six years. I don't understand why Americans must lose their freedom because we were attacked. Senator Kennedy, I have done everything you have asked of me. I even donated $50.00 to you Senatorial Campaign when I was living at poverty level after my cancer operation. I am not a constituent, but I have no real representation in South Carolina. Please help me and your nation as well? I will be waiting for your reply. I realize that I am putting you on the spot, but I also believe that you are one of the only people in Washington with the temerity to stand up to this President and his misuse of power.

Sincerely,

Timothy V. Gatto
SSG US Army (Ret.)
Chairman, Liberal Party of America