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Be the Change
Timothy Gatto
The news coming from Yemen is disconcerting to anyone that has viewed the movie "Dirty Wars" by Jeremy Scahill. The insensitivity of the United States government is astounding. I can't believe we are seeing a dozen drone strikes in Yemen without any backlash in the US. We are told of a nefarious "terror plot" without details because they claim that they have no details, yet they seem to have enough information to kill people with illegal drone strikes into a country that we are not at war with.
This act alone is warfare kept hidden by the American government from the American people. Waging warfare in a foreign nation without Congressional approval in this scenario of "The War on Terror" is a sham. We have an administration that thinks the use of military force anywhere in the World is acceptable. Internationals law says otherwise. It is amazing when you consider that most of the nations that signed on to Laws of Warfare are silent about the United States violating most of these laws.
The recent debate with Russia over Edward Snowden shows just how worried the US is over the information Snowden has on the surveillance network that the United States operates. The United States acted like a petulant child in dealing with Putin. Snubbing Putin at the G10 meeting is ridiculous. The Obama administration is using this matter as a distraction to what the United States is doing in the Middle East militarily.
The truth is that we all know now with certainty that the American government is a surveillance state that has never been equaled in the history of the planet. Everything that you say and everything you write is "captured" by the all powerful State. This is no illusion, this is reality. We can all understand now how Occupy was dismantled by the government so successfully. I believe that anyone with a clear mind can understand that Big Brother is here, at least electronically.
What is the end game of the United States? What is it that our government wants? Is perpetual war the end game in itself? Is keeping the Military Industrial complex alive the game in itself? Will Russia again become the new "enemy" that frightens the American populace into submitting to anything that the government says it needs? This is insane. The foreign policy of the United States is insane. They offer the American people no objectives for their foreign policy. It seems as if they make it up as they go along.
We are constantly reminded of "terrorist threats". Like many other Americans, I am tired of this routine. What exactly are the threats? If we are under threat, tell us about them. Vague veiled threats no longer scare this American, and I'm sure many Americans agree with me.
As far as monitoring everything I write or capturing any phone call I make, that is a violation of my 4th Amendment rights. I don't care if the government says that they don't actually listen into my conversations or read my writing, I don't believe them. The entire premise of the American nation is being violated, Our Constitution means nothing to the government and it appears that most Americans are asleep at the switch.
We need to make the government understand that the actions they are involved in are unacceptable to the American people. Americans must make the government understand that their actions are in violation of this nation's Constitution. This is not conjecture, this is fact. The term is "Warrantless eavesdropping" and it clearly violates the 4th Amendment. This is certainly an impeachable offense.
Even though this President has committed an impeachable offense, notice that the "opposition party" has said nothing. This just illustrates how the corporate duopoly really works. The only time that the "opposition party" complains is when it involves side issues like immigration or women's rights. As far as foreign policy goes, the administration uses John McCain to represent America to Egypt. The two parties are in collusion on the surveillance state and American foreign policy. Where is our so-called democracy when the government spies on its citizens and drops bombs on people in countries we are not at war with?
How can the American people stop our governments actions and behavior? If we use the ballot box we can stop voting for the two corporately owned political parties. We can also turn off television news and get our news from the internet while we still have it. We can get together locally and form groups to educate the people as to what is really happening. Unlike Occupy, we can present a list of demands and elect leaders.
This is a warning to all Americans. There may come a time when you won't be allowed to read articles like this. Our system of checks and balances is off kilter. Congress does nothing while the executive branch executes military operations overseas against enemies that they think may exist in any nation they please to attack. Congress has lost the right to declare war or not to declare war. This is specifically against Article I, Section 8, Clause 11: Congress shall have Power To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water.
It also does not have the power to authorize surveillance of any American without a warrant:
AMENDMENT IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
This "Prism" program is indefensible. Surveillance of Americans is indefensible. The Obama administration has committed two impeachable offences. The American people need to wake up and do something about it before it will become impossible to change the all-powerful state.
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Tim Gatto's new book "Contempt to Outrage" available from Oliver Arts and Open Press.
By Timothy V. Gatto, a retired Army Sergeant and former Chairman of The Liberal Party of America. He can be reached at: timgatto@hotmail.com Read Tim's Book "Complicity to Contempt"
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