Could it happen?

[Hygiliak]

Ok been reading the paper the last couple days and a few reoccuring articals just seem to stick in my head.
I can't help but think that they go togather and not in a good way.

Sense the Patriot Act the government is holding hundreds of people without charges or courts or lawyers. this is done by declareing them ENEMY COMBATANTS.
Then there is the renewal of the wrongful death law suit filed on behalf of the Branch Dividians. That mess occured here in Waco Texas 10 years ago. During the standoff with federal agents thay were refered to as combatants and antigovernment fanatics.

Could it happen that the government could extend its use of the Patriot Act to include groups such as this or your local militia or antiwar protester. How about PETA or Green peace.

If any group actually fires a shot at a federal agent are they combatants?

Give me your thoughts on this.
What do you really think a government any government is capable of doing with this kind of power??

[Koliedrus]

"Any" government?

That will take some consideration. There are far too many variations.

I can only begin to imagine the beginnings once one group is defined as "government".

I'm fairly sure that the differences are noteworthy and worth comparison.

Show and tell.

[zim]

With the patriot act 2, you wont need to be a member of an organization even.

Jose Padilla didnt even fire a shot at a federal agent. All we KNOW that he did was get accused.

What do you mean what "could happen"

It's already started. But slow enough that we'll let it keep happening.

First they came for the Jews...

[SimpleSimon]

Could it happen? It is happening, and it is no new thing. It is just a little more open and blatant today.

Ask the surviving Branch Davidians, if you can locate them. Ask Randy Weaver or Kevin Harris (see this) (http://i2i.org/SuptDocs/Waco/rrprosec.htm) - you certanly cannot ask Vicki or Sammy Weaver, unarmed non combatants cold bloodedly murdered by federal law enforcement agents.

Ask the Canadian citizen arrested and deported to Syria, if you can find him. If you can locate their names and whereabouts, ask the over 2,000 men, women, and children arrested and incarcerated without charges or benefit of counsel for "immigration violations".

Talk to Air Force General Benton K. Partin, one of the most experienced and knowledgeable explosives experts in this nation, who says the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City was destroyed by multiple charges emplaced within it, not a truck bomb parked across the street (look here) (http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/POLITICS/OK/PARTIN/okm.htm). I'd say ask Timothy McVeigh, but he has been forever silenced.

Look at all the evidence regarding the original bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993, and then ask yourself - who really planted these bombs? See the New York Times, 10/28/93, pg A1.

In my view, government of the people, by the people, for the people was never really more than a pipe dream in this nation. Today it is not even that - our "leaders" give not even lip service to such a strange notion, and have not since early last century.

This is about control and power, and the exercise thereof. After each major national trauma in the last 50 years we have seen ever more draconian legislation passed granting government more and more power at the expense of the people. It is ever more open and blatant, and the sheep are calmly chewing their cuds as they walk down the chute to slaughter.

Zim - you are quite correct, last time they came for the Jews first. This time it is the moslems, and persons of middle eastern origin and descent. Ask yourself - who is next?

For thirty years there has been an increasingly vociferous chorus of voices trying to outlaw weapons in the hands of private citizens? Why? The reasons stated are as various as the crying voices, but it all boils down to this - it is much harder to enslave an armed man.

So perhaps next it will be the weapons owners being told to give em up - think that can't happen? Ask the Australians. Do you say, well they don't know about mine? Ever bought ammo with a check or credit card, or ATM card? Ever filled out the legally required documentation to purchase a weapon from a licensed dealer? Ever made a pro-gun comment on any site on the internet? Data-mining is a wondrous thing.

Welcome to the 21st century. I'd say it's time to move on, but the world is too small a place now.