AmBushing the Citizenry

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18 Dec 2005 01:45:39 -0800

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AmBushing the Citizenry

 

 

 

OpEdNews.com

 

Original Article at

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_missy_co_051218_ambushing_the_citize.htm

 

December 18, 2005

 

AmBushing the Citizenry

 

By Missy Comley Beattie

 

On Saturday, George W. Bush said with presidential certitude:

 

The American people expect me to do everything in my power under our

laws and Constitution to protect them and their civil liberties and

that is exactly what I will continue to do so long as I am President

of the United States.

 

Forget his rationales. This is just another example that Bush believes

he's above the law. Here is a man who admits no mistakes. Not for the

colossal failure in Iraq nor for treating the Constitution like a

spitball.

 

" This is a highly classified program that is crucial to our national

security, " the president stated.

 

Bush is high on the authority of his office, but his words ring

hollow. And this is why:

 

The latest report of the 9/11 Commission speaks volumes about

vulnerabilities in our infrastructure, airline passenger

pre-screening, explosive and cargo screening, borders and document

security, private sector preparedness, and transportation security. In

other words, we are exposed and vulnerable to another attack.

 

If Bush is telling us that he knows we expect him to protect us, why

hasn't he? Why is he using tax dollars to listen to our telephone

calls and read our e-mails instead of enacting the recommendations of

a bipartisan commission that has so painstakingly evaluated our

weaknesses and revealed the ineptitude of our elected officials? It's

been more than four years since that day in September yet little has

been done to prevent the same kind of disaster.

 

The Commission gave the Federal Government and Congress failing safety

grades in five areas and mediocre grades in so many others.

 

And what is Bush ordering? Wiretaps. He says the National Security

Agency is listening to Americans with possible terrorist ties. But

others on the list include people like Cindy Sheehan and many who

simply want a peaceful world. Are those of us who organize and march

in peace parades under scrutiny--Grannies against the War, Vietnam

Vets Against the War, Republicans Against the war, and Iraq War Vets

Against the War? Are we being spied on by government employees who get

paid to listen to us talk with our friends and families and bid on Ebay?

 

That we are under this illegal surveillance is beyond unbelievable.

That Bush refuses to stop his intrusive program is outrageous.

 

As commander in chief, George W. Bush makes Richard Nixon look benign.

What other secrets lurk within his heart? Only his 'Shadows' (Cheney

and Rove) know.

 

I spoke about it with my mother last night. She is 80 years old and on

a rant against the lies of this president, his vice, Rumsfeld, Rove,

Rice and all the other co-conspirators who killed her grandson in a

senseless war in Iraq. She said, " I hope they're listening to me right

now. Let them take me to jail. "

 

I suggested we just start talking dirty since these uptight 'suits'

that Bush has ordered to listen to our antiwar talk are probably

breathing heavily as they get an earful.

 

I'm wondering what they wrote about me when I placed my order for Bush

toilet tissue--each sheet has a Bushism. I bet they even created

something sinister out of the Hobo International Bag I ordered on the

Internet for my sister-in-law.

 

Meanwhile, my fellow Americans, our ports are at risk and so are our

airlines, subways, buses, trains, our soft targets and our hard ones.

 

With this government's eavesdropping, I think the hard targets may

just be below the belts of all those in this administration who are

getting off on the power they've assigned themselves.

 

 

 

Authors Bio: Missy Beattie lives in New York City. She's written for

National Public Radio and Nashville Life Magazine. An outspoken critic

of the Bush Administration and the war in Iraq, she has participated

in many peace marches, including the Cindy Sheehan rally in DC. She

completed a novel last year, but since the death of her nephew, Marine

Lance Cpl. Chase J. Comley, in Iraq on August 6,'05, she has been

writing political articles.