more on NYT story on domestic surveillance

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Robert Bryce <robert () robertbryce com>
Date: December 17, 2005 2:13:54 PM EST
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] NYT story on domestic surveillance

Hi Dave,
For IP, if you like.

I agree with Adam Thornton regarding the NY Times' betrayal of their  
duty to report that the NSA was spying on US citizens without a court  
order.
But it seems to me there are other, larger perversions occurring to  
American democracy -- and perhaps even worse, the English language --  
which are largely being overlooked. First and foremost is the flimsy  
justification for all of this spying both here and abroad.
Bush and his cronies insist it is being done to stop "terrorists" and  
"terrorism."
Well, the definition of terrorism depends on which side you are on.  
Terrorism is what the powerless use against the powerful. As Islamic  
scholar Juan Cole points out, "humiliation is what causes terrorism."
Menachem Begin participated in a bombing attack against the British  
who were inside the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in 1946. The  
bombing killed 91 people - most of them civilians. Begin later became  
the prime minister of Israel.
By any definition, the bombing of the King David was a terrorist  
attack. So was Begin, by definition, a terrorist? Or was he a freedom  
fighter? Or perhaps, an insurgent? (By the way, Defense Secretary  
Rumsfeld insists on calling the insurgents "anti-Iraqi forces.")
The worst act of terrorism on American soil before 9-11 was committed  
by a non-Muslim, a former Marine, and an ardent believer in the  
Constitution. His name was Timothy McVeigh. He blew up the Murrah  
Building in OK City because of what federal police did at the Mount  
Carmel building in Waco. McVeigh was motivated by his disgust at the  
abuse of federal police power in Waco that led to the death of same  
80 Branch Davidians -- most of them children.
But of course, that type of home-grown terrorism is not discussed now  
that the Bush Administration has conflated terrorism with everything  
Islam. And yet, it appears that the very type of terrorism that  
McVeigh perpetrated is made more likely by the broad powers that Bush  
has conferred on America's -- call them what they are -- secret police.
Meanwhile, as has been duly reported here on IP, John Gilmore is  
fighting in court over his need to show an ID at the airport. And  
what is the federal government's response? It is: we have a secret  
law that requires Gilmore, and everybody else, to show IDs at the  
airport.
Hello?!!! A secret law? Even the judge in Gilmore's case was  
incredulous.
This creeping secrecy (the size of the federal intelligence budget is  
secret) combined with the NY Times' unwillingness to expose this  
secret surveillance regime lest its reporters lose their coveted  
access to the Washington power players, is eroding our liberties and  
the rule of law in ways that are both sad and frightening.

best
rb


Robert Bryce
Austin, TX 78704
512-445-5097
robertbryce.com



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