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George W. wants Congress to give him the authority to use regular military troops (as distinct from the National Guard) to control domestic disasters (such as Katrina). He wants to turn over emergency response to the Pentagon, to give the military the authority to operate on home soil. Can you say "Police State?" Instituted during an emergency and then maintained indefinitely "for the public good." We're talking about tanks in the streets, armed soldiers hanging out on the corner, attack helicopters patrolling the city. That's what it looks like when the military takes control of a situation...those are the tools they use. My memory of history is a bit dodgy but wasn't that the beginning of the end for the Roman republic, when Julius Caesar brought his troops across the Rubicon and into Italy? Once you cross that line, everything changes...that's why making an irreversible decision is called "crossing the Rubicon." Besides, the thought of handing George W. Bush a homeland army is just too frightening for words. |
