It Is Official: The US Is A Police State By Paul Craig Roberts September 25, 2010
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26452.htm
"An American Police State was inevitable once Americans let “their” government get away with 9/11. Americans are too gullible, too uneducated, and too jingoistic to remain a free people. As another Nazi leader Herman Goering said, “ The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. Tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peace-makers for lack of patriotism and for exposing the country to danger.”
It Is Official: The US Is A Police State
By Paul Craig Roberts
September 25, 2010 "Information Clearing House" -- - On September 24, Jason Ditz reported on Antiwar.com that “the FBI is confirming that this morning they began a number of raids against the homes of antiwar activists in Illinois, Minneapolis, Michigan, and North Carolina, claiming that they are ‘seeking evidence relating to activities concerning the material support of terrorism.’”
Now we know what Homeland Security (sic) secretary Janet Napolitano meant when she said on September 10: “The old view that ‘if we fight the terrorists abroad, we won’t have to fight them here’ is just that--the old view.” The new view, Napolitano said, is “to counter violent extremism right here at home.”
“Violent extremism” is one of those undefined police state terms that will mean whatever the government wants it to mean. In this morning’s FBI’s foray into the homes of American citizens of conscience, it means antiwar activists, whose activities are equated with “the material support of terrorism,” just as conservatives equated Vietnam era anti-war protesters with giving material support to communism.
Anti-war activist Mick Kelly whose home was raided, sees the FBI raids as harassment to intimidate those who organize war protests. I wonder if Kelly is under-estimating the threat. The FBI’s own words clearly indicate that the federal police agency and the judges who signed the warrants do not regard antiwar protesters as Americans exercising their Constitutional rights, but as unpatriotic elements offering material support to terrorism.
“Material support” is another of those undefined police state terms. In this context the term means that Americans who fail to believe their government’s lies and instead protest its policies, are supporting their government’s declared enemies and, thus, are not exercising their civil liberties but committing treason.
As this initial FBI foray is a softening up move to get the public accustomed to the idea that the real terrorists are their fellow citizens here at home, Kelly will get off this time. But next time the FBI will find emails on his computer from a “terrorist group” set up by the CIA that will incriminate him. Under the practices put in place by the Bush and Obama regimes, and approved by corrupt federal judges, protesters who have been compromised by fake terrorist groups can be declared “enemy combatants” and sent off to Egypt, Poland, or some other corrupt American puppet state--Canada perhaps--to be tortured until confession is forthcoming that antiwar protesters and, indeed, every critic of the US government, are on Osama bin Laden’s payroll.
Almost every Republican and conservative and, indeed, the majority of Americans will fall for this, only to find, later, that it is subversive to complain that their Social Security was cut in the interest of the war against Iran or some other demonized entity, or that they couldn’t have a Medicare operation because the wars in Central Asia and South America required the money.
Americans are the most gullible people who ever existed. They tend to support the government instead of the Constitution, and almost every Republican and conservative regards civil liberty as a coddling device that encourages criminals and terrorists.
The US media, highly concentrated in violation of the American principle of a diverse and independent media, will lend its support to the witch hunts that will close down all protests and independent thought in the US over the next few years. As the Nazi leader Joseph Goebbels said, “think of the press as a great keyboard on which the Government can play.”
An American Police State was inevitable once Americans let “their” government get away with 9/11. Americans are too gullible, too uneducated, and too jingoistic to remain a free people. As another Nazi leader Herman Goering said, “ The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. Tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peace-makers for lack of patriotism and for exposing the country to danger.”
This is precisely what the Bush and Obama regimes have done. America, as people of my generation knew it, no longer exists.
Dr. Roberts was appointed Assistant Secretary of the US Treasury by President Ronald Reagan. He served in the Congressional Staff of the House and Senate. He was Associate Editor and Columnist for the Wall Street Journal, columnist for Business Week, the Scripps Howard News Service, Creators Syndicate, and for major newspapers in France and Italy. He was Senior Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, for 24 years and occupied the William E. Simon chair of Political Economy in the Center for Strategic and International Affairs, Georgetown University for 12 years. Dr. Roberts has also had academic appointments at Virginia Tech, Tulane University, University of New Mexico, and George Mason University. He was a member of Merton College, Oxford University, during 1963-65. In 1969 he presented a Special University Lecture to the faculty and student body of Oxford University. He was awarded the US Treasury’s Silver Medal in 1982 and the French Legion of Honor in 1987.
- Joe's blog
- Login to post comments
I agree 100%
We do live in a police state. Our only hope now is that the military and law enforcement see what is happening and refuse to go along with the NWO boys. This is another reason 9/11 truth is so important.
Do you disagree ...
... with what PCR said?
"Americans are too gullible, too uneducated, and too jingoistic to remain a free people. As another Nazi leader Herman Goering said, “ The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. Tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peace-makers for lack of patriotism and for exposing the country to danger.”
Or do you believe that the term 'Americans' does not include military and law enforcement?
Truth, including/especially that of the 9/11 variety, does not seem to be a guarantee of justice or freedom but instead a treasure to be valued by those who love it.
I am thankful to be able to see and pass on truth to my loved ones who can accept it. I don't expect anything more.
Found at Demoratic Underground
in response to someone posting this article.
"Response to Original message
2. We are locking this
Although it is generally permissible to link to this site, we do not generally permit linking to pieces by Paul Craig Roberts due to his extreme libertarian and anti-Democratic views and his connection to the VDARE website.
Grateful for Hope
For the DU Moderators"
It's worse than you think....
.. has the President not given himself new powers to bump off any American citizen that he thinks is the enemy.... with the advantage that he never has to prove anything in court.
The Oath Keepers
http://oathkeepers.org/oath/about/
I value and respect Paul Craig Roberts and I think Paul Craig Roberts is underestimating the serious potential for expressed resistance in US society. The Oath Keepers is a significant movement within the system that's voiced opposition to the direction taken by the machinery of state in government and their brains and backers in corporate America. Lest anyone think that a joining of forces of police and military with worker and citizen can't happen, US history proves otherwise. Dennis Lahane, famous for Shutter Island and Mystic River has created another exciting story that is being made into a major motion picture right now, called The Given Day, about the September 9, 1919 Boston Police Strike. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Police_Strike On that day nearly the entire Boston Police force went out on strike to protest inaction on promises made to improve working conditions, salaries and other conditions related to police health and well being. At that time major worker revolts were spreading all over the US from coast to coast. The police did it before, they can do it again. There were the Bonus Marches http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonus_Army of former military again denied promised funds and there's Shay's rebellion of former Revolutionary War vets in Massachusetts. Augmenting the Oath Keepers movement is the remains of the US labor movement which, thankfully, still has a few strong unions who have engaged in harsh struggle for worker rights in the past. I think of the ILWU and SEIU. Teamsters and transport workers are still in control of the roads and airways. Don't doubt it.
The continued expansion of the great recession will open more long festering wounds experienced by the poor, middle class, workers and returning unemployed military. The false promises of a Wall St enamored White House with this economic powder keg ready to pop will energize a new revolutionary spirit that may well find its expression in strikes and worker actions rather than violence. Though how things roll out is anybody's guess.
Paul Craig Roberts
is in no small part responsible for this police state. His role in forwarding Reganomics, and in acting as an editor for the Wall Street Journal and Businessweek, must be seen as, at the very least, a contribution to the corporate state America now is. While I agree with his interpretation of 9/11, I still believe he has blood on his hands. It's really surprising he can get published at Counter Punch, and has a book published by AK Press (an anarchist publisher!).
Well simuvac, I'd extend a
Well simuvac, I'd extend a bit more of a welcome to him. Richard Gage, after all, voted for Regan twice, and look at all the worthy accomplishments he's achieved for our movement. There's David Brock, Blinded By The Right. We've gotta allow for transformation to open the eyes of former adversaries, or we're lost.
I think their next move.................
..............will be to frame some 9/11 truth leader or group for some violent or potentially violent crime of some sort.
Just one incident like this, even a sloppily done one, will go huge on the msm and the American people will then accept virtually any action against 9/11 truth groups.
As the 9/11 truth movements seems to have grown lately, and the next anniversary of 9/11 is the tenth, with many people considering making it a very big one for 9/11 truth, I think Obama and the rest are sweating it. They want desperately to destroy the movement. But how?
A framed truther would be the perfect beginning of a crackdown.
We'll see.
Too many people are aware...
I could be wrong but I believe any frame up of a 9-11 Truth group will be highly suspicious to the public. Too many people are now aware of 9-11 Truth. Everywhere I turn people say they know already.
Many People are Distrustful of the Federal Governement
Bruno, I agree with what you said and have answered your previous question twice but they have been censored...as usual.
My two points about Ron Paul/Libertraianism and We Are Changes are:
...that RP/Libertarians are a TEENY element of our political fabric and their fringe nature locks the 9/11TM into the same fringe standing when actually, the 9/11TM is non-partisan and much more accepted than is the RP/Libertarian fringe...
...and that the advent of We Are Changes with their CONFRONTATIONAL TACTICS, which are self-defeating came about in time for the RP and Libertarian party runs in 2006 and 2008 and connections with the Libertarian Party and Ron paul have kept the 9/11 TM at a greater distance from the Peace Communities...and that all of this gives appearances of nefarious activity and plans by the PTB.
WACs and the 9/11TM have to go their own separate ways.
Let RP/Libertarians live or die on their own vine and let the 9/11TM flourish WITHOUT the baggage of RP/Libertrianism stiuffling it at every turn.
The 9/11TM should be A-POLITICAL...its that simple.
9/11 Truth for World Peace and Justice
Robin Hordon
Kingston, WA
PS: please forward your email
Moderated, Robin, when rules and guidelines are violated,
comments are moderated.
[BTW, I forwarded your replies to Bruno, so he got just what you wrote.]
The 9/11 truth movement is very political, how can it be anything else? [We are organizing a peaceful second American revolution, after all]
What the 9/11 truth movement needs to continue striving to do is remain non-partisan. Thus, while we may have members who hold a wide variety of political and economic philosophies, we all know that until we restore the rule of law and the constitution, arguing over how we would govern is pointless while corrupt elites maintain their unlawful hold on power and prevent any change we want to make in our world.
Many of the WAC groups have a broader mission statement than 9/11 truth-only groups, but I have no problem working with them and always enjoy combining efforts.
I think that you will find that most of the WAC groups have moderated their tactics, but still have the courage to ask the hard questions that need to be asked of public figures on camera.
I also think that the northeastern "lefty" establishment's use of the fact that some people who know 9/11 was a false flag are to the right of them (Libertarians, Republicans and conservatives, oh my!) as an excuse to not look at the facts or or even acknowledge the 9/11 issue are pathetic, cowardly gatekeepers and all we need to do is keep educating their rank and file as we have been and the truth will out in the end. I will say that some may be so blinded by denial that even if St. Noam wasn't saying "don't go there" they still would keep their blinders on, but this is an explanation and not an excuse and certainly should disqualify them as leaders of any progressive, informed movement of people, imo.
9/11 truth is very political, it is the ultimate class struggle. It is the extreme minority of hardcore sociopaths against the rest of humanity (and once we all realize this and act on it, peaceful change will become possible and even seem natural as we work forward).
The truth shall set us free. Love is the only way forward.
Reposted so that it will not be missed
LeftWright: "9/11 truth is very political, it is the ultimate class struggle. It is the extreme minority of hardcore sociopaths against the rest of humanity (and once we all realize this and act on it, peaceful change will become possible and even seem natural as we work forward).
The truth shall set us free. Love is the only way forward."
It is encouraging to me to hear you say that.
Where I live, almost nobody is aware.
And I think they could frame up a truther, blast it over all the press, ensure that the issue is ignored by the alternative media, and the general public will believe, then, that the 9/11 truth movement is dangerous.
From that point, they can do anything they want to crush the movement without any dissent, except from those of us who will be a target.
Our only hope is international recognition of 9/11 truth and any oppression of the movement.
Our only hope...
Our only hope is continuing public education: reasoned, factual, unrelenting, and always respectful -- even, I would say, toward those who may well be perpretators and/or accomplices. Nothing seems more effective.
And it has been quite effective, so far. Let's continue.
Counterpunch is one of the main gatekeepers.
Keep in mind that Counterpunch has been, for 9 years, criminally censoring any information that proves the official story is a lie.
Not only won't they present the evidence that the 9/11 truth movement has compiled, but they have written and presented articles that humiliate and insult the truthers.
I don't know where they get their funding from, but I'm betting it is from some huge foundations, the owners and controllers of which are hopelessly hidden behind a web of corporate connections. But they compromise their mandate (to go where the msm won't) in order to get this money.
Do not support Counterpunch in any way.
Counterpunch published this right before the anniversary
http://911truthnews.com/toward-justice/
It is also
a consistent critic of Zionism and U.S. policy re Israel/Palestine--which poses a complication for the assertion sometimes made in the 9/11 truth movement that gatekeeping on the left where 9/11 is concerned is motivated by a need to shield any possible Israeli role from exposure. That may be the explanation in a lot of cases, but these anti-Zionist gatekeepers (of which the libertarian Antiwar.com is another example) point to another problem in showing themselves to be just as addicted to blowback theory as other gatekeepers. They evidently think that if only Americans can be made to understand that U.S. support for Israel is a big reason why 'they' attacked us, then Americans will finally wake up to the need to change this policy. Dream on....
More: The US Is A Police State
Paul Craig Robert's excellent article was written just after the FBI raids commenced on "non-violent left-leaning American citizens".
Since the weekend, the Associated Press has just published the article below. Note especially two comments from the article:
1.) "a new test to see if FBI agents understand new rules allowing them to conduct surveillance and open files on Americans without evidence of criminal wrongdoing."
2.) "That IG report also criticized the factual basis for opening or continuing FBI domestic terrorism investigations of some other nonviolent left-leaning groups."
NON-VIOLENT LEFT LEANING GROUPS ARE NOW TO BE CONSIDERED AS TERRORISTS!
Report Finds Significant Exam Cheating By FBI Agents
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130155757&ft=1&f=1001
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Justice Department investigation has found that FBI agents, including several supervisors, cheated on an important test covering the bureau's policies for conducting surveillance on Americans.
Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine said Monday that his limited review of allegations that agents improperly took the open-book test together or had access to an answer sheet has turned up "significant abuses and cheating."
Fine called on the bureau to discipline the agents, throw out the results and come up with a new test to see if FBI agents understand new rules allowing them to conduct surveillance and open files on Americans without evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
The troubling review of the exam on surveillance rules follows Fine's report last week on the FBI's scrutiny of domestic activist groups. That investigation found that the FBI gave inaccurate information to Congress and the public when it claimed a possible terrorism link to justify monitoring an anti-war rally in Pittsburgh in 2002. That IG report also criticized the factual basis for opening or continuing FBI domestic terrorism investigations of some other nonviolent left-leaning groups.
In the inquiry into the exam, the inspector general looked at only at four FBI field offices and found enough troubling information to warrant a comprehensive review by the FBI.
In one FBI field office, four agents exploited a computer software flaw "to reveal the answers to the questions as they were taking the exam," Fine said.
Other test-takers used or circulated materials that essentially provided the test answers, he said.
Fine said that almost all of those who cheated "falsely certified" that they did the work themselves, without the help of others.
Last year, Assistant Director Joseph Persichini, the head of the FBI's Washington field office that investigates congressional wrongdoing and other crime in the nation's capital, retired amid a review of test-taking in his office.
Persichini took the test alongside two of his most senior managers and one of the bureau attorneys in charge of making sure the exam was administered properly, current and former officials said. The two agents who took the test with him have been moved to headquarters while the investigation continues.
Some Alarming Things...
FBI Raids on Anti-War Activists.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-09-24/news/ct-met-fbi-terrorism-...
Assassination Program under State Secrets Privilege.
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/09/26-5
U.S. Wants to Make It Easier to Wiretap the Internet
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/27/us/27wiretap.html?_r=1&th&emc=th
Pentagon destroys 10,000 books.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/pentagon-observers-publisher-destroye...
PC Roberts on Russia Today Sept 27
The FBI raided the homes of a number of anti-war activists in Chicago and Minneapolis. The Activists are planning demonstrations against the FBI. Is this a sign of a growing American police state? Former Reagan official Paul Craig Roberts argued that the US government is establishing in the mind of the public that anyone who criticizes the War on Terror is aligned with terrorists. He further argued that under the rubric of terror the government has stripped American's of their civil liberties.