Time to Listen Up
 
 

I have come to the opinion that many of those who support the American president in his bid to 'rid the world of evil' have no idea at all what in the hell is going on.  Maybe it has to do with the analysts, who replace the words spoken by this administration with more reasonable ideas - perhaps because the words are too apocalyptic to be taken seriously as the thoughts of a sane man.  Who knows?  But somehow I think that we must again be reminded of what's going on.  In this regard, let me assure you that my knowledge of what's to come is in no way prophetic or even insightful, since Bush Jr. and his administration has spelled it out for us.  You want to know what's going on?  Forget what you think is 'reasonable' for a second, and listen to the words.

In the days following the attacks, everybody wanted to get whomever was responsible.  'Whomever' turned quickly - and for all I know correctly - toward bin Laden, and then to his 'network'.  This is as far as it went for many - perhaps even most - people, which is perhaps why so many continued to talk about Al Qaeda even after they heard Bush Jr.'s speech.  Folks still talked about strategy for getting those guys, like they hadn't heard a word the president said.  When we started to bomb Afghanistan, many seemed a little confused at first, but quickly recalled that "oh yeah, we're going after governments which harbor terrorists as well," and everybody got their bearings a little.  No big deal, the Taliban sucks anyway, right?

But against whom are we fighting?  Do you know?  It was all in that little speech Bush Jr. gave.  Did you listen?  The terrorists?  Al Qaeda, with bin Laden at their helm?  The Taliban?  Oh, but then the list keeps growing, doesn't it?  Folks seemed surprised again to learn that parts of Africa are on the hit list, with military preparations underway.  I suppose they will again be surprised when Indonesia, the Phillipines, Malaysia, Pakistan (hey, aren't they on our side?), Iran and all the rest show in the papers...

You really don't know, do you?

Ok, then allow me to remind you what Mr. Bush has said, directly, on national television.  We are going to war with every country in the world which is hostile toward the United States.  And not only those which are now hostile, but also any who become hostile in the future, for any reason.  And, this applies not only to countries, but also to groups and individuals who are or have become hostile in a manner deemed significant.  This latter group applies also - it was again stated directly - to American citizens.  No rights for these people, no courts like the one that killed McVeigh - simply death at the hands of the military.  We are told that the administration will determine who poses a credible threat.  Period.  That's the offense.

For defense, Bush has proposed and will continue to propose (as foreign anger and domestic tension mounts) ever more sweeping powers for law enforcement on every level, telling us that if we don't voluntarily give up our liberties for a 'period of time' (an untold number measured in years) we will be exposed to danger.  And oh yeah, a total media blackout.

Maybe so we don't have to watch?

'Preposterous', you say.  'Bush is not talking about that at all.  We are trying to get the Taliban, to smoke out bin Laden and other members of Al Qaeda, and we're only talking about wiretaps and holding questionable immigrants a few days.'  Well, I wish that were true.  I sincerely do.

But the opposite could not be more clear.  George Bush Jr. (may god have mercy on his soul) has told the world to choose up sides.  Either they let us unhindered into their country with our armies, or else they do the work themselves with our supervision, or we will destroy them and replace them with a government which likes us.  That's it.  Bush called a war against all comers.  Bet you never thought WWIII would start like this, huh?  Then again, WWII started in a similar fashion...

And the strange admission has been made that 800+ people, many of them citizens, have been picked up and held by Somebody (FBI, CIA, Homeland Security?), 500 of whom are still held, and we don't even know their names.  The rest have been released - after weeks, not days - all innocent of any crime, most American citizens, many leaving the country over their treatment.  And Ashcroft admits that maybe only a dozen or so out of the whole mess will be 'useful'.  Oh yeah, and the military is floating the idea of bringing back torture 'just for now' to crack those difficult nuts.  They must be encouraged, for I've heard no public outcry.

Folks, I'm no conspiracy theorist.  I simply believe that what I've been told by the current administration will happen, will happen.  I don't think Bush Jr. is lying, do you?
 

October 23, 2001