I know this sounds a little dotty, but . . .
November 2nd, 2006
My two favorite things to do when I was little were sewing cards and dot-to-dots. (Either early evidence of burgeoning intellectual prowess or an ability to appear busy while actually vacant and dreaming. You decide. )
Now here’s a dot-to-dot for you:
With the passage and signing of the Military Commissions Act of 2006, George W. Bush is free to name anyone an “unlawful enemy combatant” based on whatever criteria, or lack thereof, that he selects. Goodbye, habeas corpus. (Hello, torture!)
He can take said “enemy combatant”—suppose it is you, for example–and hold you indefinitely without having to say why or show any evidence of wrongdoing on your part.
He could, conceivably, declare whole groups of people to be “enemy combatants.” That might be you and me AND OUR DOGS!!!!
He can also call out the troops to enforce whatever he deems to be a civil dust-up. The newly enacted and signed “John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007” “allows the President to declare a ‘public emergency’ and station troops anywhere in America and take control of state-based National Guard units without the consent of the governor or local authorities, in order to ’suppress public disorder’.”
The President has and is continuing to build numerous Homeland Security detention centers. A Halliburton (who else?) subsidiary has a $385 million dollar contract to construct more detention centers. We might also call them “camps”—but not the kind of camps where you boondoggle lanyards and sing “Kum Ba Ya”. More like, you know, places where you can really concentrate.
I am having no difficulty concentrating; in fact, I am crystal clear about what is happening and what it could mean. If not for me, then I wonder, “Who are the centers for?” My dogs??
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