Let Freedom Ring! (and let Big Brother record it?!)

Counter PSYOP

(Part 1)

The foundation that the Global War on Terrorism is built on is one of the September 11th terrorist attacks; based on “Islamic-fascists” Mujahideen committing Jihad against the U.S.A. Even though there is much evidence contrary to the official “conspiracy theory”; the outcome of the Global War on Terror and its domestic implications are likely greater than the attacks themselves. The reaction has been a more severe variable in the equation than the problem in itself.

The Patriot Act was almost certainly written prior to the 9/11 attacks. The 342-page bill went from being distributed to being passed in hours. Legislator after legislator have admitted that they did not have a chance to read it. Yet, they use the Orwellian title of “Patriot” Act on a piece of legislation in the wake of 9/11. Sadly, even a legislative document that distorts the interpretation of the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, our liberty itself can be passed easily in the Congress of the 21st century.

We shall not give up our liberty as citizens despite the fact a great tragedy took place because of a terrorist organization called Al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda, a group translated literally “the Base” as in the database file on CIA computers that contained lists of Mujahideen. These are the same Islamic radicals our intelligence services used to fight a proxy war against Soviets in 80’s Afghanistan. The same Al-Qaeda that helped trained the Kosovo Liberation Army; the faction the U.S.A. supported in the Kosovo conflict.

I'd like to reiterate - It is not American to give up our liberty for Al-Qaeda, oligarchs, authoritarians, cures to disease, or a solution to climate change. We should never let go of our freedom, regardless the reason. I for one, would rather walk the streets in fear and yet a freeman; as opposed to walking among a completely controlled and oppressed nation.

Edmund Burke once said, “Whenever a separation is made between liberty and justice, neither, in my opinion, is safe.”

Much legislation has been passed since 9/11 (and prior to it, of course) that drastically endangers our freedom as United States Citizens; as human beings.

I would say the following are the prime suspects in setting this dangerous precedent: The Patriot Act, the Real ID Act, the “Torture memos,” the Military Commissions Act, and the John Werner Defense Act, in addition to Presidential Directives.

The Patriot Act

The chief problem with the Patriot Act (H. R. 3162) is this: While eroding our rights by allowing comprehensive surveillance, it also acts to remove the vital checks & balances that were put into place by our founding fathers to prevent jeopardizing the Republic. (Contrary to what I was taught in American public schools, America is a Constitutional Republic, not a Democracy.) The Act is also written in a manner that it covers civil issues and crime, although it was supposedly written to address specifically terrorism. This has resulted in all sorts of abuses, not to mention taxpayer money.

Much has been written about it, so I will briefly cover some of the more disturbing details. The travesty that is § 213 allows secret “sneak & peak” searches of your home or business by the authorities, without a warrant. All that is needed is “reasonable cause.” From the Patriot Act analysis by Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC.org): “This significant change in the law applies to all government searches for material that "constitutes evidence of a criminal offense in violation of the laws of the United States" and is not limited to investigations of terrorist activity…The expansion of this extraordinary authority to all searches constitutes a radical departure from Fourth Amendment standards and could result in routine surreptitious entries by law enforcement agents.”

§ 215 allows the FBI to request "the production of any tangible things (including books, records, papers, documents, and other items)" if it is deemed relevant to an investigation. The FBI can then issue a National Security Letter, to notify your postman, librarian, Internet Service Provider (ISP), cell provider, etc. about their “reasonable cause” for surveillance. This situation of a service-provider complying with them to spy on you, or risking their career and their own rights to protect yours, is a tragic case study in 21^st century America.

§ 503 actually stipulates collection of a DNA database, ostensibly for terrorism, but the writing is so broad that any citizen committing “any crime of violence” would be subject to being forced to submit a DNA sample.

Congress couldn’t just destroy the country in one piece of legislation though, so more work had to be done. The government is using incremental legislation in order to eventually produce their desired dystopian effect.