Soon after September 11, 2001, George W. Bush signed the “Uniting
(and) Strengthening America (by) Providing Appropriate Tools Required (to)
Intercept (and) Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001.” This bill, with the acronym “USA PATRIOT ACT”
removed many restrictions from federal law enforcement agencies investigating
and tracking terrorists. It also gave them
the ability to conduct wire-tapping operations on suspected terrorists. On October 24, 2001, the Act passed the House
357 to 66, with Democrats comprising the overwhelming portion of dissent. The following day on October 25, 2001, the Act
passed the Senate by 98 to 1, with Russ Feingold the only opposition. For the most part the PATRIOT ACT was a
bipartisan bill.
Not long after the bill was signed into law opposition
began. The ACLU and many liberals and Libertarians
objected, saying it was unconstitutional and violated the civil rights of all
Americans. The bill (or parts of it) has
been renewed both by President Bush and President Obama. Many on the left still complain about the
PATRIOT Act and it is often blasted by the main stream media.
In like manner, the left screamed about the Bush
administration’s use of enhanced interrogation techniques decrying them as
torture. Even President Obama said
waterboarding was torture and that the United States does not use torture to gain
intelligence information. The government
waterboarded three terrorists during the Bush administration. No one died and, as much as the President
doesn’t like to admit it, the intelligence gained led to locating Osama Bin
Laden – one of President Obama’s strongest bragging topics.
So why is it that so few on the left are complaining about
President Obama’s declaration that he has the authority to kill American
citizens with drone strikes? The
President has already killed one American without due process. And while I have no problem with the death of
Anwar Al Awlaki, an American Muslim citizen who had declared war on the United
States, I do have a problem with Mr. Obama’s latest declaration.
Supported by his Attorney General, the
President says he can use drone strikes to kill any American “deemed (by the
government) to be part of a terrorist organization” even if there is no
evidence that person is a current threat to the United States. So President Obama and his administration can
decide someone is a terrorist and kill them, without proof, no questions
asked.
Where is the main stream media screaming about a violation
of civil rights? Where are the liberal
protests? Where are the marches on
Washington condemning President Obama?
Where is Michael Moore??!! (To be
fair, Moore has written his disagreement with drone strikes in general but I
have not heard anything from him about the killing of Americans.)
The only ones who are standing against this atrocity are the
Republicans.
In a recent interview with the Huffington Post, Democrat
Minority House Leader Nancy Pelosi said that if and when the President orders a
drone strike to kill an American he doesn’t have to let it be known. “It just depends,” she reportedly said. “People just want to be protected.” She also
said that such disclosure “depends on the timing, because that’s right — it’s
all about the timing.”
That certainly would fit in with President Obama’s
statements that his is “the most transparent Presidency in history.” Declaring an American a terrorist without
having to prove it and secretly killing them – yup – that’s transparency at its
best. I think of all the things the left
has done in recent years this would be the most hypocritical of all. If they don’t stand up to the President declaring
himself the authority to target and kill Americans just because he wants to
where does it end? How long do you think
it will take before some of those Americans are here in the USA and are
targeted? There are already drones in
the skies above the United States. Don’t
believe it? See the link below.
The Department of Homeland Security is buying up guns and
ammunition like it’s going out of style (and it may be for us civilians). Why do they need all that firepower unless
they’re gearing up for something major here in the United States? And President Obama has been questioning
military leaders if they would fire on American citizens if ordered and is
reportedly replacing the ones who answer negatively. I’m thinking drone strikes on people here in
the U.S. may trigger an uproar from the people – something about which the
Obama administration not only seems to be worried but, in fact, appears to be
preparing for.
I don’t make this stuff up.
I merely read various articles and watch the news and put facts
together. Anyone who doesn’t see the
apparent buildup of government forces and misuse of power by the Obama
administration is, in my humble opinion, either living with blinders on or
deliberately ignoring the facts. Either
way – it’s dangerous.
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