In San Francisco on Wednesday, Chinese paramilitaries lent a hand to policing the streets. Is this just the beginning? by Gary R. Carter
(libertarian)
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Majora Carter was relieved of her torch-bearing duties in San Francisco on Wednesday. It seems the Chinese paramilitary members policing San Francisco streets weren't too pleased with her political stunt of quietly wielding a Tibetan flag in protest. At the behest of the Chinese Olympic Torch Squad, San Francisco police reprimanded her and pushed her to the sidewalk. While Carter was under the impression that the 1st Amendment still existed in the United States,2 of her fellow torch-bearers and fellow New Yorkers found her attempt to exercise that archaic amendment "disgusting and appalling". While the San Francisco portion of the torch-carrying ceremony failed to create the coverage and headlines of the London segment last week, one has to wonder if there is any hope for the 1st amendment and how long before we are conditioned to accept foreign troops giving us orders.
After all, on February 14th 2008, the US and Canada entered into a military agreement that would allow foreign troops on to US soil in the case of a domestic emergency, and vice-versa. Dubbed a "Civil Assistance" plan, this agreement was never brought before Congress, debated in Congress or approved by Congress. It's no wonder we have all those crazies running around out there, babbling incoherently about some conspiracy to undermine the separation of powers and create a North American Union. However, I am not sure what gives NORAD Commander and Commander of USNORTHCOM Air Force General Gene Renuart the authority to sign such an agreement, and to what extent it will be implemented in the event that the US suffers from civil strife in the form of a health epidemic, terrorist attack, rioting or general unrest.
A similar agreement was made by the Security and Prosperity Partnership in August 2007, and will bring UN troops to the US in the event of an avian flu pandemic. Titled North America Plan, this 53 page document seems to contradict all reassurances that the SPP is not a policy creating body. Still, though this independent body exercises beyond Congressional oversight, they have engaged in agreements that severely undermine our system of government. It appears that Congress intervened to cut funding from the SPP budget shortly after the Montebello summit last summer. Unfortunately, with another summit to take place April 21st-22nd in New Orleans, it doesn't appear the SPP has been too distracted by any opposition, as President Bush audaciously announced this next meeting in has last State of the Union address.
With all this creative negotiating taking place, the haunting specter of National Directive NSPD 51 is all the more real. This directive, signed by Bush in May of last year, will give the Executive branch ultimate power in the event of a national security crisis. As with the "Civil Assistance" plan previously discussed, the definitions of what constitute a national emergency are vague and general. With power flowing directly to the Executive branch, it is only a matter of time before a president decides to use all of the new toys at his or her disposal.
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The times they are "not" a changin'. They have already changed.
It's too late to get it back. There is no "us" in the US anymore. There are too many factions. No one thing to blame really. It's just natural that with so many people we would not be able to come to some sort of consensus as to who we are and what we stand for.
Saying I'm concerned about the future would be a gross understatement.
Why is it ok for the US to police the streets when a big whig American shows up, but not when a foriegner shows up here? Didn't Ahkmadinijiahd have police in NYC? Have you seen the UN? Your national sovergnty lost people need to get off your high horses of fear and paranoia.
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