In yet another indication of how extreme Bush officials were in their war on terrorism, the New York Times is reporting that Vice President Dick Cheney and others pushed former President George Bush to send troops into Buffalo New York to arrest a group of men accused of terrorism.
What is interesting about this story is that such use of military force was completely unnecessary and shows how Bush officials used terrorism to advance their agenda to expand the authority of the presidency. Many Bush officials like John Yoo, Viet Dinh and others had advocated radical views of presidential authority before 9-11. If true, this is the most obvious example of how 9-11 was viewed by Bush officials as an opportunity to achieve their objectives to re-structure the American presidency along the lines of what is often called an “imperial presidency.” The Bush people articulated a view that dwarfed even Richard Nixon who is most associated with the imperial presidency model.
The debate over a military intervention in the suburbs of Buffalo occurred in 2002 — precisely the time when the unlawful programs on torture and warrantless surveillance were ramping up. Indeed, the usual suspects were present in these meetings calling for extreme measures: the lawyers John C. Yoo and Robert J. Delahunty authored the primary memo supporting the move. They argued implausibly that the move would be supported by federal law since the president was recognized to have authority “to take military actions, domestic as well as foreign, if he determines such actions to be necessary to respond to the terrorist attacks upon the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, and before.”
The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 generally prohibits the military from acting in a law enforcement capacity, but Bush officials were highly antagonistic toward the act and its limitations. Congress allowed Bush to expand the domestic use of the military after 9-11 — part of its passive and infamous legacy in the aftermath of the attacks.
The targets were the Lackawanna Six and the Bush officials wanted them declared enemy combatants and a military intervention launched. These were relatively low-grade terrorist wannabes who were convicted of material support — a relatively easy charge for prosecutors when they cannot prove actual terror plots or conspiracies. Mukhtar Al-Bakri, Sahim Alwan, Faysal Galab, Shafal Mosed, Yaseinn Taher, and Yahya Goba all received sentences of ten years or less. The very idea of intervening with active military units for such a group is further evidence of the opportunistic conduct of Bush officials to achieve their vision of an all-powerful chief executive. To his credit, Bush refused to order the military intervention.
Notably, most of the framers opposed a standing army rather than a people’s militia because of their fear of the tendency of the military in history to exert political and social control over countries. We have seen how a domestic role of the military in other countries has produced instability and abuses.
What is truly frightening is how close we came. A single person stood in the way of tearing down one of our most important legal and political traditions. The bar on domestic law enforcement activities distinguishes this country from other countries where the military holds tremendous power like Iran. The recent military takeover in Honduras is an example of the dangers. We have long believed that people raised under our freedoms (and particularly trained in our laws) would be opposed to such attacks on our traditions and values. Yet, a vice president and top legal advisers facilitated an effort that was not just unlawful but unnecessary. It shows that, even in the most successful democracy in history, we can still stand just one vote away from a path of abuse or even tyranny. The alarm over this story is magnified by the utter failure of both Democrats and Republicans in Congress to exercise checks and balances during this period. We came down to George Bush — no civil libertarian — to block this effort — though this may have been more of a political and legal calculation.
For the full story, click here.
quote from article:
“What is truly frightening is how close we came. A single person stood in the way of tearing down one of our most important legal and political traditions. The bar on domestic law enforcement activities distinguishes this country from other countries where the military holds tremendous power like Iran.”
We’re STILL in jeopardy. We still don’t know the truth of what went on and continues to this day.
I keep wondering when the full truth will be known.
Americans are being psychologically harassed in communities across this county and it would appear that there may be government involvement. The mere mention of these harassment campaigns raises eyebrows and complainants are dismissed as “delusional.” Some who report these crimes (surreptitious home entries, vandalism of property, persistent surveillance) may have been a little crazy in the first place and others have probably been tipped in the direction of “crazy”, but some are as sane as the next guy (which, I’ll allow, may not be saying much).
I’m a mental health professional — I first heard about this from patients and kept an open mind. I’ve seen it myself now, but it’s so incredibly unbelievable that it continues.
How it’s going to be exposed and stopped is quite beyond me.
lottakatz:
when that happens just type “test” at the top and it will post.
mespo writes Appliances coming Monday … or so they claim under penalty of flogging. I am using my electric Dutch Oven and this great little appliance that is a rotating pizza oven. I use it for all manner of open face sandwiches. I can also report I am a “regular” at the Whole Foods salad bar!!
a new kitchen? wow. we did our master bath last summer. i had this big scene over at home depot when I went to buy tools of destruction and the guy there laughed at me. anyway. the bathroom is fabulous and my squeeze and I did it all ourselves except the plumbing. happily the kitchen in out 1988 house was already done by the previous owners who had this incredible artist do the glass for the cabinet doors , the lighting fixtures and pantry door.
you will love it when its all finished.
LOL
Someone dubbing themselves “Voice Of Reason” manages to complain about the complaints about things Republican Bush/Cheney didn’t do, even while the Republican Bush/Cheney had plans on the table to commit unconstitutional acts and in other cases clearly committed unconstitutional acts, and then manages to turn around and immediately complain about a fantasy future that only exists in the fevered imagination of fools and fanatics.
Right winger “Voice of Reason” is completely disconnected from ‘Logic’, ‘Facts’, ‘Reality’, or even the internal consistency of their own argument
More seriously, it’s stunning to read and hear right wing proponent’s of an authoritarian military regime trumping the Constitution.
For those right wingers here that recognize the extremely dangerous precedents set by the Republican Bush/Cheney administration, thank you for your voices (especially you, Prof.).
People this so called breach of law ( of course he could do it legal) by Bush never happen. Also for your edification this was over 7 yrs. ago. If you don’t know this is a ploy by BO and his minions to misdirect the overwhelming problems BO has, then you have your head up your back side. Get over it. We have enough problems with whats going on in the country from this racist president.
Strange- I’m getting a “duplicate message” comment when trying to re-post my actual comment that I posted before my test but it doesn’t show up. ?
Test- I can’t seem to post to this thread.
Glen Greenwald’s article on the subject
check out the highlighted memo portions
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/07/25/military/index.html
IS,
One correction in your response earlier. The soldiers that you referenced in the civil rights integration cases were state national guardsmen that were federalized, not active troops used in place of the FBI or police. The Naval and Air Forces were used in US waters on the coast and in territorial waters surrounding the States. Sending troops into Buffalo is nowhere near the same situation. Cheney was planning on breaking the law for the purpose of expanding Executive power.
Patty C:
Appliances coming Monday … or so they claim under penalty of flogging. I am using my electric Dutch Oven and this great little appliance that is a rotating pizza oven. I use it for all manner of open face sandwiches. I can also report I am a “regular” at the Whole Foods salad bar!!
Hey Mespo!
How’s that shiny new kitchen?
“I cannot believe anyone is getting worked up over something that was discussed but not done!”
************
Personally, I can’t believe that the fine folks who built the Titanic pooh-poohed the notion that something so big could ever sink.
And if you think that’s not bad enough, we’ve got religious nuts “worked up” over things that never, ever happened nor will ever happen!
I cannot believe anyone is getting worked up over something that was discussed but not done! Look around people, our country is being taken over by a textbook radical, statist, fascist, Marxist dictator in the making!
In about six months, you all are going to wish that W and Cheney were still in power, because you will not recognize the United States of Obamaland.
Bobesq:
degr
I agree whole heartedly with you on that score. “What evil lies in the hearts of men only the shadow knows”
Freedom is a tenuous concept and forces beyond our comprehension seem always ready to snatch it away for trivial reasons. It is a pity as freedom is mans natural and appropriate state by virtue of his free will and rational mind.
Evil is manifested by a desire to control the minds of other men and a total disregard for the individual and his desires.
Bob,Esq.:
“Moral of the story: Don’t cry tyranny when you’ve handed the president the keys to all three branches simply because you were ‘afraid’.”
******************
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
–Ralph Waldo Emerson
CLINTON, HOLDER & CRAIG…
“SENT” ARMED TROOPS TO MIAMI
TO SWEEP A CHILD AT GUNPOINT(Read above)
They clearly didn’t do that. End of Story.
However, the Clinton Administration, with the direct assistance of Janet Reno (the AG), Eric Holder (a key point person, as the assistant AG) and Gregory Craig (an attorney for Elian Gonzalez father and the Castro Regime AND NOW A KEY ADVISOR TO OBAMA), betrayed the Rights of Elian Gonzalez and EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN when Federal agents stormed into the bedroom of a child and held him at gunpoint. This violent act was an egregious and blatant disregard against illegal search and seizures, under the 4th of Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Under Federal Law, family custody disputes are to be handled in STATE COURTS, and the family WAS COOPERATING IN THAT ENDEAVOR. An appropriate family judge with experience in those matters would have heard both sides of the family and came to an informed determination one way or another as to the custody claims. As a citizen, Elian Gonzalez’ rights were abrogated when the Clinton Administration decided by fiat after secret discussions with the Castro Government through their socialist go-between Greg Craig. Only for Fidel Castro would the Feds violently attack its own citizens! Regardless where one stood on the issue of his return or not, he was not afforded a day in court, as a naturalized citizen, which he was upon setting foot here. But since it’s one of those so-called right-wing Cubans, the media saw fit to ramp up the rhetoric and claim political posteuring by a family, and now Elian is in Cuba, for years he has been brainwashed, and used as REAL propaganda all over that country, with no mentions by those such as Craig, Holder or the media. These people are all hypocrites. The Federal Agents trespassed on the rights of ALL Americans on that fateful day. And everyone should be outraged, as THESE are the precedents of things to come.
Indentured Servant,
Fair enough, I simply didn’t understand where and how you were using the quotes.
One note on tyranny though.
Tyranny is not, as you say, tyranny. Bush and Cheney colored their rhetoric with the term when attempting to justify invading Iraq; implying that Americans have an implicit duty to fight tyranny wherever it may occur. That’s incorrect.
Tyranny, in form and function, is the first and foremost enemy of the constitution. However, tyranny, by definition, is a uniquely DOMESTIC ENEMY. It occurs when OUR rulers exercise power beyond which no one has a right to.
Per the Posse Comitatus Act, it would appear that granting such a vague authorization for use of military force (i.e. the 9/11 authorization) quite possibly could have trumped Posse Comitatus had they actually sent troops into Buffalo.
To Wit: That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons HE DETERMINES planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.
Moral of the story: Don’t cry tyranny when you’ve handed the president the keys to all three branches simply because you were ‘afraid’.