Bending the Third Rail

Because We Should, We Can, We Do

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Detention

There is a very disturbing article on Alternet by Nat Perry that discusses the intersection of some statements made by GOP officials and programs instigated by the administration (via Suburban Guerrilla) . In ordinary times, this would be the stuff of the tinfoil hat club. In these times, it bears investigating and scrutiny. First, Lindsay Graham:

"The administration has not only the right, but the duty, in my opinion, to pursue Fifth Column movements," Graham, R-S.C., told Gonzales during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on Feb. 6.

"I stand by this president's ability, inherent to being commander in chief, to find out about Fifth Column movements, and I don't think you need a warrant to do that," Graham added, volunteering to work with the administration to draft guidelines for how best to neutralize this alleged threat.

"Senator," a smiling Gonzales responded, "the president already said we'd be happy to listen to your ideas."

Can someone please define a "Fifth Column Movement" to me? Quickly? Me thinks I may belong, at least according to many conservatives.

Then there's this:

Plus, there was that curious development in January when the Army Corps of Engineers awarded Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root a $385 million contract to construct detention centers somewhere in the United States, to deal with "an emergency influx of immigrants into the U.S., or to support the rapid development of new programs," KBR said.

Later, the New York Times reported that "KBR would build the centers for the Homeland Security Department for an unexpected influx of immigrants, to house people in the event of a natural disaster or for new programs that require additional detention space."

Ok. So here's the scenario. There's another very large terrorist attack a la 911. The government swings into action, rounding up "everyone" they consider a threat to the national security, including those who have vocally opposed the administration, and anyone who has voiced sympathy for those on the other end of U.S. abuses.

Far fetched?

If you think so, just ask some Japanese American citizens who spent some serious time behind barbed wire during WWII.

Written at 8:45 AM by Greyhair.

2 comments

2 Comments:

Lynne said...

This is the scariest thing I've seen in a long time. We are headed for internment camps. Fitting, since we are busy reenacting the McCarthy era. We might as well push a little farther backward.

9:41 AM

Lynne said...

I think we should have named our blog The Fifth Column!

3:45 PM

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