ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2012 eerily anticipating Trump Et Al. Worthy of a re-read.
This story should be a wake up call to ALL citizens of this country, regardless of party affiliation. If this doesn't raise the hair on your neck, nothing will.
H.R.2810 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 115th Congress (2017-2018) became law, hereinafter referred to as NDAA
Within NDAA under the umbrella of fighting terrorism, constitutionally protected rights become fuzzy, to say the least.
here is an example:
A father went to visit his teenage son at this youth detention center and was told they didn't know where his son was. After weeks of searching, the dad found his son basically brain dead in a hospital miles away from the detention center. The Unbelievable Brutality Unleashed on Kids in For-Profit Prisons
The Walnut Grove story is a cautionary tale that raises alarming questions about the treatment of youthful, mostly nonviolent offenders in Mississippi and elsewhere. And it calls into question the wisdom of turning over the care of these youths, some as young as 13, to private companies that exist solely to turn a profit – companies that have no incentive to rehabilitate youths, that thrive on recidivism, and that increase their profits by cutting corners and reaping ever more troubled souls into their walls.
Can things become worse? Yes. Steps and even laws have been passed that could easily be used to create worse situations. I looked everywhere for a time line and/or a compilation of these steps and laws and couldn't find one.
THE MAIN REASON I AM PUTTING THIS DIARY TOGETHER IS TO PROVIDE JOURNALISTS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS WITH A RESOURCE FOR THE LAWS and DOCUMENTS I HAVE FOUND that lay the groundwork for some frightening Authoritarian scenarios if POWER rests in the wrong hands.
The following laws are on the books, written in response to 911. We can suspect there are others yet unknown to the general public but equally disconcerting.
ICE is disconcerting.
Yes, this is a long read rife with links; however, it is worth the read so you can fully understand the potential precipice our society is perched on and the implications, under new laws, that power in the wrong hands can have.
I urge you to read this and share with others. Also, if you have some additional information, let me know and I will include your contributions to the time line.
Let's jump right in.
Not hyperbole - Did Rumsfeld/BushCo use Gulag Archipelago as a resource guide post 911?
For instance, the torture techniques spelled out in the book are eerily similar to the torture techniques signed off in the Bybee memo. There are other similarities, as well. You can peruse the book here: GULAG Archipelago.
In this context I am left asking a couple of questions: What part, if any, could S. 1867 resemble Stalin's Russian Law: Article 58 (RSFSR Penal Code) which is the law that allowed Stalin's "Organs" (men and women comfortable with using extreme torture) to round up innocent people, place them in indefinite detention while they were interrogated and tortured, forced into bogus confessions and accusations about others, and then shipped to the Archipelago to work in labor camps?
The Organs had monthly quotas to fill, so anyone and everyone was at risk of being rounded up. Millions were and millions died. No one was ever prosecuted for this dark time.
Could the US enroll enough people to slip down this slippery slope? Most of the Russian Organs faced torture, the labor camps, and death themselves if they didn't comply with orders to arrest and torture. Many were happy in their roles as interrogators and torturers.
Where in the NDAA or any law, that condones indefinite detention of American citizens by the military, are TERRORISTS concisely defined and what acts are clearly defined as those of TERRORISM.
And where can we find the Northern Command (NorthCom) instructions that specifically deal with American Citizens IN the USA.
S. 1867 is a reference, but lacks specifics.
I tried to answer these questions by searching Government documents. The documents I found are listed below.
History has so many lessons to teach.
Like you who also study history, the hair is standing up on the back of my neck when I hear the term INDEFINITE DETENTION.
Matt Taibbi is just as concerned for the same reasons: Indefinite Detention of American Citizens: Coming Soon to Battlefield U.S.A.
Here's the Bill that Rolling Stones cites: 112TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION II - Calendar No. 230 - S. 1867 Matt Taibbi ends his article, cited above, with
"A few years ago, that would have sounded like a hysterical question. But it just doesn’t seem that crazy anymore. We’re turning into a kind of sci-fi society in which making it and being a success not only means getting rich, but also means winning the full rights of citizenship. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t see this ending well."
Perhaps Matt's, yours, and my concerns arise because we have learned too much history.
Below is a compilation of steps that have been taken over the years that set the stage for Gulag Americapelago. If you have items you would like to add to the list, please drop them below.
It is very important we all know our rights UNDER the new laws.
Who are the new terrorists? It might be you.
Why the Gulag reference? History is prescient and the similarities leading up to and arising from authoritarian/totalitarian takeovers and already implemented IN the USA are too many to ignore.
First, the parallels of the USA since 2001 and Russia under Stalin.
Of course, we have no one like Stalin, however many are more than concerned about The Slippery Slope created by NOT prosecuting the detention and torture policies of the Bush Administration. It seems these unchallenged policies continue and, even worse, are about to be unleashed on the citizens of the USA IN the USA.
We certainly want all the crazies that are contemplating causing mass destruction deterred. Who doesn't? However, if that means that people can be rounded up by military personnel (which will be called Homeland Response Units, details below) with no due process other than, hopefully, some evidence, and perhaps only on the word of another or a stupidly worded tweet, then I fail to see how such power won't deteriorate into a quasi-Gulag hell.
The human nature lessons from Nazi Germany and Stalin's Russia prove that the potential for insanely heinuos injustice and cruelty are unleashed by Ideology.
86,000 Nazis were tried in Nuremberg.
ZERO Russian "Organs so-called" were tried after Stalin's power passed. It is estimated that perhaps 250,000 Russians took part in the capture, torture, imprisonment, and banishment to the Gulag/Siberia/Archipelago.
Yes, there are equally insane people that would like to blow the western world off the planet. Why? Because they are 100% attached to an Ideology of hate and/or fear. It's this blind attachment to an Ideology based on fear and/or hate that opens the gates of hell, annihilating the sense of shared humanity in order to JUSTIFY the annihilation of the ENEMY.
In short, declare the OFFENSE, declare the ENEMY, JUSTIFY retribution, unleash the legally mandated Ideologues, and give them free rein to imprison and interrogate the ENEMY.
Oddly, the Interrogation Techniques signed off and approved by the Bush Administration read like those listed in the book, GULAG Archipelago, pgs. 82 - 89.. Astoundingly similar. The physical abuse is ghastly; however, it is reported that the worst and most damaging is sleep deprivation.
In the case of Home Land security the definition of the ENEMY is both clear and not clear. Clearly any/all either connected to or in support of Middle Eastern and/or Other known Terrorists groups are also deemed TERRORISTS and can be indefinitely detained or murdered/eliminated if overseas.
If the Indefinite Detention US Citizens who are IN the United States is passed, I have some confidence that those in the know, like the law team for ACLU, will make sure the scope of "Who Is Elligible for Indefinte Detention" is CLEARLY STATED.
*******What creates some muddy water for interpretation is language within some of the followng military and civil documents that depicts a need to respond to Civil Unrest. *********
The question that really needs to be cleared up is whether or not a peaceful protestor or a writer of blogs, facebook posts, and/or tweets that is CRITICAL of US domestic policies can be deemed an ENEMY also ripe for indefinite detention.
An understanding of history demonstrates some startling similarities that many have recognized:
UNITED STATES -
We are protecting our homeland with Homeland Security.
The enemy is called Terrorist.
The threat is possible nuclear annihilation.
Known "crimes" of the Bush Administration were not investigated and prosecuted. Used the term Terrorist/Terrorism to justify new laws.
The chronology of the torture issue, who, when, how the policy seems to have been adopted can be found here.
This is included because Obama administration and Congress refused to investigate torture and indefinite detention:
Powell Told Bush "Don't Do It" on January 26, 2002 Obama wins the right to invoke “State Secrets” to protect Bush crimes
STALIN'S RUSSIA - Stalin's Russia was protecting their Motherland.
The enemy was called Enemy of the Worker. The threat was disruptive or destructive descension.
The "crimes" of Stalin's regime, against millions of Russian people, were never investigated and tried.
Used the term Terrorist/Terrorism to justify new laws. Solzhenitsyn writes on page 139:
Yes, so-and-so many millions did get mowed down—but no one was to blame for it. And if someone pipes up: "What about those who..." the answer comes from all sides, reproachfully and amicably at first: "What are you talking about, comrade! Why open old wounds?"
LAWS THAT OPENED THE GATE FOR A DETERIORATION OF PROTECTIONS UNDER LAW
The US has the PATRIOT ACT and S. 1867
Russia had RSFSR Penal Code, Article 58
HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT RE: Deterioration of Rights Under Law?
Under the wrong leadership, how large/small a leap would/could it be for seemingly helpful programs to be turned into instruments to support authoritarian and/or totalitarian nightmare scenarios? Who would be the people to act as the ORGANS to spy, tattle, accuse, and round up their versions of undesirables/terrorists/evil doers? What percent of the US population would be onboard?
Are you aware that, in your community, there are volunteer police armed and wearing the uniform?
Are they also participating in OPPOSITION TO OCCUPY WALL STREET?
Go to THIS LINK to see if there are volunteer police in your area. Origin of the Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) Program
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) manages and implements the VIPS Program in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice
There are Reserve Police Officers Association. I highly recommend going to this link and then clicking on the BODY ARMOR PROGRAM, where The Army of God is donating used bullet proof vests to volunteer police.
These are official military documents. April 17, 2002 - USNORTHCOM
As authorized by President George W. Bush April 17, 2002, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced the establishment of U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) to consolidate under a single unified command those existing homeland defense and civil support missions that were previously executed by other military organizations
2002 - Bush Creates USA Freedom Corp
President Bush created USA Freedom Corps to build on the countless acts of service, sacrifice, and generosity that followed September 11th.
Oddly, even Dick Armey was up in arms over this.
"The idea that government can teach charity to America rings very hollow with me," Rep. Dick Armey, R-Texas, told reporters. "I do not understand why anybody would embrace AmeriCorps. I consider just the structural framework of AmeriCorps as obnoxious." Bush said he's boosting AmeriCorps funding as part of a national strategy to bolster public service in ways that enhance homeland security and not necessarily to promote volunteerism by voucher."I think the country needs to provide opportunities for people to serve, expanding AmeriCorps, expanding Senior Corps -- it's a good way for Americans to fight evil," Bush said while touring the Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
2004 - The State Department creates the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS)
These capabilities and procedures include adequate planning mechanisms for stabilization and reconstruction operations, efficient interagency coordination structures and procedures in carrying out such tasks, and appropriate civilian personnel for many of the non-military tasks required.
June, 2004 - State Department awards Blackwater a sole-source contract. Blackwater was ultimately paid $488 million.
January 14, 2005 - Army Regulation 210–35
Installations Civilian Inmate Labor Program SUMMARY of CHANGE - This rapid action revision dated 14 January 2005-- o Assigns responsibilities to Headquarters, Installation Management Agency (para 1-4j). o Makes administrative and editorial changes (throughout). This new regulation dated 9 December 1997 o Provides Army policy and guidance for establishing civilian inmate labor programs and civilian prison camps on Army installations. o Discusses sources of Federal and State civilian inmate labor.
February 2005, General Richard B. Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, cited the creation of S/CRS as “an important step” in helping “post- conflict nations achieve peace, democracy, and a sustainable market economy.” June 2005 report of the
Congressionally-mandated Task Force on the United Nations, chaired by former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich and former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, recommended that the United States strengthen S/CRS and that Congress provide it with the necessary resources to coordinate with the United Nations. (ibid)
December 7, 2005,
President Bush issued a presidential directive intended to improve conflict-response coordination among executive branch agencies. This document, National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD) 44, is entitled “Management of Interagency Efforts Concerning Reconstruction and Stabilization.” NSPD-44 supersedes PDD-56 (Ibid)
January, 2007 - State of the Union address, President Bush
called for Congress to work with his Administration “to design and establish a volunteer Civilian Reserve Corps.” Included in the Administration’s February 4, 2008, budget request for FY2009 is a $248.6 million Civilian Stabilization Initiative that seeks to establish that corps.
August, 2007 - U.S. Police in Peace and Stability Operations Report. What we are learning is that "What is invented in Iraq comes home." We will see this unfold. However, it seems that a need for a National Police Force trained for crowd and riot control was expressed in 2007, interestingly as the economy is collapsing.
• The United States lacks civilian constabulary (gendarmes) or other national police forces specially trained for crowd and riot control. Instead the U.S. relies on civil police provided by commercial contractors that do not perform this function. • Fortunately the U.S. government is taking steps to address this deficiency. Current State Department plans call for creation of a Civilian Reserve Corps that would have a police component.
February, 2008 the Bush Administration
requested $248.6 million for its “Civilian Stabilization Initiative” (CSI), which rolled into one its request for funds for continued operations of S/CRS, funds for a 250-member interagency Active Response Corps and a 2,000-member Standby Response Corps, and a 2,000-member Civilian Reserve Corps, and money for deployment of experts.
September 30, 2008 - Brigade homeland tours start Oct. 1
But this new mission marks the first time an active unit has been given a dedicated assignment to NorthCom, a joint command established in 2002 to provide command and control for federal homeland defense efforts and coordinate defense support of civil authorities. They may be called upon to help with civil unrest and crowd control or to deal with potentially horrific scenarios such as massive poisoning and chaos in response to a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high-yield explosive, or CBRNE, attack. October 1, 2008 - NON-LETHAL weapons training began. (Same article)
June 11, 2009 - The Global Peace Operations Initiative: Background and Issues for Congress June 18, 2009 - CERFP: Remember the name in a disaster
“It was actually developed after a capability gap was looked into years ago on a national level,” she said. “That gap was that we needed to provide mass decon and extraction capabilities for both military and civilian populations in the event of a (use of Weapons of Mass Destruction) or a natural disaster. That’s the void that this team fills.”
July 14, 2010 - DoD, Guard establish eight Homeland Response Force units What's a HOMELAND RESPONSE FORCE UNIT? This is spelled out here by Homeland Security. However, what isn't made clear is that Homeland Response Force Units will be directed by DOD's Northern Command (NorthCom). So, in essence, Posse Comitatus can be sidestepped by a name change from CERFP to Homeland Response Force Units which are defined by a string of additional acronyms. Department of Defense Homeland Response Force (HRF) Fact Sheet An exploration of all the acronyms within the above DHS Fact Sheet can fill another diary. Will update later. How do we know that Homeland Response Force Units will probably be under the control of NorthCom and not the State Governors? It is stated in PUBLIC LAW 111–383—JAN. 7, 2011 124 STAT. 4137, Subtitle E—Homeland Defense and Civil Support, SEC. 1041. LIMITATION ON DEACTIVATION OF EXISTING CON- SEQUENCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSE FORCES, Subsection (c) REPORT REQUIRED.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on plans of the Department of Defense to establish Homeland Response Forces for domestic emergency response to incidents involving weapons of mass destruction. (2) ELEMENTS OF REPORT.—The report required by this subsection shall include the following: (E) A description of the command and control arrange- ments proposed for the Homeland Response Forces, including a description of the degree to which the Homeland Response Forces would be subject to the direction and control of the Department of Defense, as compared to the Governor of the State in which they are located.
December 29, 2010 = Department of Defense DIRECTIVE NUMBER 3025.18 - Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA)
This support includes loans of arms; vessels or aircraft; or ammunition. It also includes assistance under section 382 of Reference (d) and section 831 of title 18, U.S.C. (Reference (ab)); all support to counterterrorism operations; and all support to civilian law enforcement authorities in situations where a confrontation between civilian law enforcement and civilian individuals or groups is reasonably anticipated www.esd.whs.mil/...
. March 4, 2011 - Peacekeeping/Stabilization and Conflict Transitions: Background and Congressional Action on the Civilian Response/Reserve Corps and other Civilian Stabilization and Reconstruction Capabilities
Because that pace stressed the U.S. military, many policymakers believed that the United States must create and enhance civilian capabilities to carry out the peacebuilding tasks that are widely viewed as necessary for stability and reconstruction in fragile, conflict-prone, and post-conflict states.
This is from the White House, Office of the President August 3, 2011 President Obama
Sadly, the threat of violent extremism in America is nothing new. Throughout our history, misguided groups—including international and domestic terrorist organizations, neo- Nazis and anti-Semitic hate groups—have engaged in horrific violence to kill our citizens and threaten our way of life. Most recently, al-Qa’ida and its affiliates have attempted to recruit and radicalize people to terrorism here in the United States, as we have seen in several plots and attacks, including the deadly attack 2 years ago on our service members at Fort Hood. As a government, we are working to prevent all types of extremism that leads to violence, regardless of who inspires it.
December, 2011 - "Strategic Implementation Plan for Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States"
A complex issue like violent extremist radicalization and recruitment requires a nuanced path to guide a whole-of-government approach. The SIP outlines this path and facilitates a division of labor by assign- ing responsibilities between Federal Government departments, agencies, and components focused on law enforcement and national security and those whose efforts support, but do not directly lie within, these areas.
MEANWHILE, The Military Industrial Complex, financed by Bank of America has been really busy since 2005. Wall Street now has its own armies, etc. Chronology: 2005 - 2009 General Tommy Franks, who led coalition into Afghanistan and Iraq, sat on the board of Bank of America.
"Tommy Franks' experience managing large, very complex operations and logistics will be invaluable," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ken Lewis. "This, coupled with his ability to develop strategy and lead others, makes him an ideal director for a corporation of our size and complexity."
As we all know, the Military and the Federal Government use lots of private contractors. The potential for profits was not lost on private equity firms. The following PRIVATE CONTRACTOR TRANSACTIONS have transpired in 2010: 2010 Bank of America finances sale Blackwater/Xe, Xe's Aviation Division, and Dyncorp. All three are military contractors on a large, even controversial scale. March, 2010 Blackwater/Xe Sells Aviation Division for $200,000,000
That division has a fleet of 58 aircraft, many of which are used under U.S. government contract in Afghanistan. AAR Chairman and CEO David P. Storch said in a statement that the market for government aviation "represents a tremendous growth opportunity."
August, 2010 - Eric Prince moves his family to Abu Dhabi
“He needs a break from America,” said one colleague, speaking only on the condition of anonymity about Mr. Prince’s long-rumored move.
December, 2010 Blackwater/Xe Sold for about $200,000,000
Dean Bosacki, Managing Partner of Manhattan, said, “Xe is an absolutely unique asset, and is recognized as ‘best in class’ by many of the Company’s elite customers. We are excited to complement the Company’s management team who are committed to professionalism and ethical conduct wherever the Company operates.” This change of ownership does not affect the previously announced Consent Agreement between Xe and the U.S. Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. As part of the agreement, Wendy Wysong, a partner at Clifford Chance LLP, will continue to serve as Special Compliance Officer for the Company and will oversee the export compliance program at Xe. Bingham McCutchen acted as legal counsel to USTC Holdings and the Chertoff Group in collaboration with Avascent Group performed strategic due diligence on USTC Holdings’ behalf. Financing for the transaction was led by Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
Bank of America helps finance sale of Dyncorp DynCorp was sold by one Private Equity Firm to Another Private Equity firm, financed by Bank of America, CitiBank, Barclays, and Deutsche. Veritas sold DynCorp to Cerberus. Check. Done. April, 2010 For fun, Cerberus was a ‘mythological’ giant dog that guarded the gates of Hades. No one escapes him. May 4, 2011 - Blackwater’s New Ethics Chief: John Ashcroft SO, WHAT IS A TERRORIST? Who is capable of making sure Congress, in the unfathomable complexities of law making regarding Homeland Security, doesn't make it possible for a Protester or Blogger to be swept up in an INDEFINITE DETENTION situation. It can happen here! It happened to Bradley Manning. Ok, he was in the military but his treatment has been very harsh. Which is another reason I am very concerned. We are on a very slippery slope, if history is prescient. There are trust issues. Do we trust our government and our rule of law? Additional Agencies that are watching for terrorists: Infragard INFRAGARD started as a FBI pilot program in OHIO (1996)
At its most basic level, InfraGard is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the private sector. InfraGard is an association of businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the United States.
<
a href="http://www.infragardphl.org/resources/InfraGard_History.pdf">After September 11, 2001 NIPC expanded its efforts to include physical as well as cyber threats to critical infrastructures. InfraGard’s mission expanded accordingly. In March 2003, NIPC was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which now has responsibility for Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) matters.
May, 2007 - USIP Options for Police in a U.S. Civilian Reserve Corps COPS - Justice Department
COPS — the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services is the office of the U.S. Department of Justice that advances the practice of community policing in America’s state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies. COPS does its work principally by sharing information and making grants to police departments around the United States.
NOW HEDGE FUND MILLIONAIRES are Funding Online Primary For 'Independent' White House Run What could possibly go wrong? Apparently, many in Congress are concerned. They wrote and submitted this letter of concern regarding NDAA. CISPA SOPA And heaven knows what else is hidden in laws and executive orders. WAKE UP EVERYONE. _________________________________ Bob Sloan has researched and written extensively about the exploitation of Prison Labor. Dogemporer has exposed the infiltration of dominionism, coercive Christian movement, into our military, etc. American Theocracy by Steve Harvey FINALLY, Proof that Christian Theocracy is being used to DESTROY US DEMOCRACY, but be not fooled. GREED is the sponsor. Corporations want to run the world. That is called FASCISM by definition. FASCISTS can only rule under a cruel, ideological premise that can be used to justify the inhuman behavior of its enforcers. The ORGANS of fascism are THE KEY component for successful fascism. Without thousands of men, women, even children willing to view "others as evil and/or unworthy of humane treatment" fascism cannot succeed. So, the burning question is: ARE THERE ENOUGH men, women, even children willing to view "others as evil and/or unworthy of humane treatment" SO THAT FASCISM CAN SUCCEED IN THE USA? DETAILS IN THIS ARTICLE 80 Years of Planning: The Kochs + The Family + Birchers ________________________ Infragard
At its most basic level, InfraGard is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the private sector. InfraGard is an association of businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the United States.
FBI S.W.A.T
The FBI maintains SWAT teams at each of its 56 field offices throughout the country varying in size up to about 42 members
Crowd Control Weapons