Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse…http://www.downsizedc.org/blog/2007/mar/09/didnt_know_that_was_in_the_bill
Here is an excerpt from the blog:
“However, with the inclusion of a seemingly insignificant rider into the massive defense bill (the martial law section of the 591-page Defense Appropriations Act takes up just a few paragraphs), the Bush Administration has managed to weaken what the New York Times refers to as ‘two obscure but important bulwarks of liberty.’ One is posse comitatus. The other is the Insurrection Act of 1807, which limits a president’s domestic use of the military to putting down lawlessness, insurrection and rebellion where a state is violating federal law or depriving the people of their constitutional rights. Under these new provisions, the president can now use the military as a domestic police force in response to a natural disaster, disease outbreak, terrorist attack or to any ‘other condition.’ According to the new law, Bush doesn’t even have to notify Congress of his intent to use military force against the American people — he just has to notify them once he has done so.”
Posse Comitatus Act (1878) – [Short Version] It generally prohibits Federal military personnel and units of the United States National Guard under Federal authority from acting in a law enforcement capacity within the United States, except where expressly authorized by the Constitution or Congress.
Wow. The President of the United States now has the authority to institute martial law at his sole discretion.
The sad part? I would wager my yearly salary that 95% of Congress didn’t even know these riders were present when they passed this bill.
I’ve said it before, violent revolution is becoming more and more likely as more and more of our personal freedoms and liberties are discarded for “the greater good”. I think G.W. and his cronies see the writing on the wall and are simply planning ahead.