As usual, a conservative like you has completely missed the point and is drowing in a sea of neo-con flavored sugar water. It seems that the Big Government Conservatives running the show today have handily accomplished what the USSR and their allies could not throughout the entire Cold War – kill liberty in America.

The PATRIOT Act, domestic surveillance, no-knock warrants, locking up individuals without charge and attempts to nullify attorney-client privilege, brought to us courtesy of the Bush Administration, all bear striking resemblance to similar practices in the Soviet Union. This is not a “rediculas, baseless tirade” but the simple, honest truth as observed by this libertarian veteran.

It seems that our nation has gone down a different path than wished for by any terrorist. Our “leaders” have chosen to give up on liberty and emulate the tactics of defeated enemies in favor of endless wars on tactics and political favors to corporate buddies. In short, create more enemies so we have to fight them and curtail more liberties in the process. And, of course, don’t forget to help your buddies line their pockets as well through no-bid contracts worth billions of dollars.

Shameful. When you get a chance, take a gander at Randolph Bourne’s “War is the Health of the State” and Major General Smedley Butler’s War Is a Racket.

Both are available for free online at this link:

http://jameslandrith.com/content/category/7/101/58/

Sergeant James Landrith
USMC/USMCR/Gulf War I

If you haven’t read “The Long Emergency” I think you ought to consider doing so. Being a Canadian liberal (Not the party) I am enjoying Chomsky’s premise that the USA is a failed state. He defines a failed state as one where the ability or willingness to protect their citizens from violence or even destruction is lacking. the government of such a state appears to regard themselves above domestic or international law and free to carry out aggression and violence against other states or even their own citizens. Finally if such a state has democratic forms, these forms lack meaningful substance.

It seems to me that Mr. Bush, Mr. Cheney, Mr. Rumsfeld, and Ms. Rice: are leading the USA and the rest of the world down the road to hell with their rhetoric about “Freedom” , their War on Terror and their utter refusal to consider the long term implications of oil dependency.