Suddenly, in the midst of the deprivations of the Imperial police state, a controversy has arisen! I imagine it will die down (literally perhaps). The same neo-con nuts who gleefully embraced preemptive war, torture, and summary execution of “fara-ners” with rabid, Ares-worshipping lust have suddenly found a reason to be concerned about similar tactics. Apparently, these Jacobin decepticons were previously unaware of the prolific and deadly use of armed, un-maned drones in the War on Freedo..er..Terror.
Now there is a great uproar over President Sotoro’s claim, cleared legally by the Just-Us department, unopposed by the loyal and useless opposition in Congress, and unaddressed by Federal Courts, to have the unilateral authority to kill any American citizen by drone strike anywhere, at any time, and for any reason or for no reason.
You may recall the Obama’s warning to his daughter’s potential suitors: “I have two words for you — predator drones.” See the Emperor in action here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWKG6ZmgAX4. We all laughed. Hahahahuuuuuh…. The man was serious it seems. Now it appears that these flying hunter-killers are intended to quell any Amerikans out of line, not merely stupid teenage boys who hit on the wrong girls.
By Executive Order (an act of Congress without an act of Congress) the President has established a “kill list” of suspects, terrorists, others (political dissenters??), the occupants of which may be targeted for death by Hellfire missile at the President’s individual whim. Hitler is probably kicking himself in hell for not thinking of something similar. Americans are not exempted from the list. No need to trouble a grand jury, the police, or the Courts! No need for antiquated concepts like Due Process or Equal Protection. Just press a button and … BOOM! Problem solved. All of this takes place in secret as to protect us serfs.
The New york Times has warned that 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue may be engaging in a “‘Whac-A-Mole’ approach to counterterrorism” (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/world/obamas-leadership-in-war-on-al-qaeda.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0). Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, does it not? Silly old Jimmy Carter was laughed at for once stating he sought nuclear policy advice from his daughter. Now we have a deadly serious policy operating on the principles of a carnival game.
(This thing may be coming for you, Amerika. Source – Google Images, fair use.)
Many ordinary citizens, when confronted with such awful reality often retort, “It can’t happen here!” Sadly, while not necessarily occurring on American soil, it has already happened to three Americans overseas. Samir Khan and Anwar al-Awlaki along with Awlaki’s 16-year-old son were blasted by a missile from a drone. (http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/05/16856963-american-drone-deaths-highlight-controversy?lite). These individuals were allegedly involved in some sort of terrorist activity in Yemen. Details are scarce in this case, absent altogether really. Per the President’s Order the public (and Congress, etc.) need not know any reasons behind such actions. Tyrants usually do not to explain themselves.
This is the current poster case of drone abuse. Considering the government goes to extraordinary lengths to keep its criminal activities secret, there may be other incidents of extra-legal drone killings (murder). I have friends in and out of the legal community who defend such actions as warranted under the “War” on terror. Can you recall when Congress declared war on terror? They did not. They did authorize President Bush to use force in Iraq and Afghanistan based on numerous lies concocted by the previous administration. I suppose this “War” extends to Yemen and, now, world-wide. The most Honorable Ron Paul objected to this carte blanche authority and urged his lower-IQ colleagues in the House to consider a Declaration of War, as mandated by the Constitution. Remember the Constitution? Congress has not declared war since 1941 and probably never will again. Rules are so hard to follow; sworn oaths be damned.
Reports have been issued that these mechanical terror birds are currently in use over the good old U.S.A. for domestic surveillance purposes. The details, again, are scant at best. A rumour floated around the newsrooms that drones were used to hunt accused criminal Christopher Dorner in California. Is it possible the fire which killed Dorner might have been started by a warhead detonation rather than the (constantly shifting) reasons given by the authorities involved in the case? Dorner was described as a “domestic terrorist” after all by L.A. Police Chief Charlie Beck. (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/10/ex-cop-manhunt-continues/1906999/). Perhaps Beck made a phone call to the White House. I speculate wildly and perhaps without cause.
On Wednesday the Federal Aviation Administration assured the shepple that there will never be any armed drones over Amerikan soil. See here: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/feb/13/faa-official-no-armed-drones-us/. Some, like Kentucky Senator, Rand Paul, Dr. Ron Paul’s son, fear the President might someday use armed drones to kill more citizens here at home. Now we know we are safe – the government told us so. This would be the same government that told us income tax withholding would cease just as soon as Hitler and Tojo were licked. The same government that told us about the great naval battle in the Gulf of Token, the evil of the Waco TX Seventh Day Adventists, and the collapse of World Trade Center Number 7. We have nothing to worry about! Really!
I can sense, telepathically, that you don’t believe this latest lie. You may recall that on the same day they “pulled” WTC No. 7, the FAA temporarily lost control of the nation’s airspace to the Imperial military. Your flights were cancelled and all. It’s the same military that will dispatch the armed drones to engage all of you “domestic tarr-ists” whether the FAA likes it or not. The FAA answers to Little Barry and when (if) he tells them to step aside, they will without a word of protest.
A long, long time ago, back when America more resembled a free country, Congress took up the subject of lower tech military threats against Americans in America. The result was the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibited the use of military troops or assets in domestic law enforcement. For years this law sat on a shelf in Washington until it was completely covered with dust. By strange chance a night cleaning crew uncovered it while trying to tidy up after Watergate. The law was promptly re-addressed by the Congress and essentially nullified. It’s still on the books though it has never been used – ever. Rarely does a federal law go unused. I am (or was) an expert on this little gem of legal security and you can look for a near future discussion of the same at this site.
There are many potential solutions to this quandary: impeachment, nullification, Congressional oversight, etc. You can (and should) write your representative in Mordor to recommend and demand such action; do not expect results. Reinvigorating and strengthening (and applying) the Posse Comitatus Act might be a way to solve the neo-cons’ worries. Oh, I almost forgot about them. They do tend to be annoyingly forgettable, don’t they? I think their concern stems from the party association of this particular President rather than his policies.
The ever-wafting neo-fascists were enthusiastic, as noted above, when a Republican president used similar heavy handed measures. “D” and “R” convey tremendous power. Last year, as in 2008, the RepunliCONS had a good chance to stand behind a man who would have never allowed such atrocities to befall the American people. At the time, though, the nuts declared Dr. Ron Paul to be an isolationist and a wachco. Would they agree now that a wacho beats a dictator?
