SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DONALD RUMSFELD TEACHES HISTORY LESSONS
Randy L. Harrington
August 30, 2006
SALT LAKE CITY, UT—Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was giving lessons in American history yesterday to the American Legion annual convention in Salt Lake City. Rumsfeld said that those who want civil and legal rights for the American people were suffering from “moral or intellectual confusion about who or what is right or wrong.” Thank you Mr. Rumsfeld for deciding what is in my best interests.
Rumsfeld lessons were not only on American history, but also fascism—a subject that he, and the Bush administration have become experts on. Rumsfeld in a previous “lesson” to World War II veterans compared the Saddam Hussein government, and the violent resistance since it fell to the Nazis, and warned against appeasement in Iraq or in the broader campaign against terrorism. Rumsfeld did not point any fingers, but the oblique comparison was that he was comparing current war critics on the war in Iraq, as well as the “war on terrorism” as being in the same league as those who sought to appease Hitler.
The very definition of fascism is a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all law, behavior, social norms, industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing aggressive nationalism initially under the threat of fear of an outside source, and then eventually out of desire to do what he wants.
Rumsfeld lessons on history invite a look at some history.
The USA Patriot Act, House Resolution 3162 was presented to the Congress on October 24, 2001, just 42 days after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
The “Purpose” of the Patriot Act is: “To deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigative tools, and for other purposes.”
Prior to the seizure of power by Adolph Hitler he pushed for, and successfully obtained broad and sweeping changes to the individual rights of the German people. He told the Germans that he was protecting their interests against “enemies of the state”, and that the sacrifice of individual freedoms of the German people were a necessary proposal. When he was questioned about the immense control that he could assert over the German people, he responded that he could in fact legally take take control of the Government, but that this was not his goal – in other words “Trust me.”
The USA Patriot Act of 2001 made some broad and sweeping changes to the constitutional rights of American's. Forty-two days after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 American's were gripped with fear of terrorism, and the visions of jumbo jetliners crashing into the World Trade Center were fresh in everyones mind. The USA Patriot Act restricted the constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of expression, the right to be free from unreasonable and warrantless searches and seizures except upon the issuance of a warrant by a judge, the right to privacy, the right to due process, and the right to equal protection under the law if you were a “terrorist.” The Act does not define the word “terrorist” but provides vague generalities about enemies of the state being classified as terrorists.
Under the provision of the Patriot Act an individuals constitutional rights can be ignored by the government if the individual has been defined by the government as a “terrorist.” An individual under the Patriot Act doesn't have the right for a judicial determination as to his/her classification as a “terrorist” and under most provisions of the act doesn't even have the right to know that he/she is even a target of a government investigation under the Patriot Act.
Hitler played on the fears of the German people against the “enemies of the state.” Being a master manipulator, who believed that the ends justify the means, Hitler knew that he could justify any of his acts by simply playing on peoples fears of an attack against the state, by the “enemies of the state.” Hitler gained the support of the people, who wanted to fight the “enemies of the state.” His position was so popular that nobody dared to oppose popular public opinion.
Today in the United States when one speaks up in opposition to the Patriot Act, or the illegal actions of the Bush administration in detaining prisoners in violation of the due process proscriptions of the constitution, and in violation of the Geneva Conventions the response is typical. We are called “terrorist sympathizers, democrats, unpatriotic”, and in essence “enemies of the state”. Like Hitler, the ends of the usurpation of the constitution justifies the means of fighting the war on terror.
Before the ink was dried on the Constitution, the rights afforded every American were under attack. Justice Marshall gave us the decision in Marbury v. Madison in 1801. As American's we have been told what is best for all of us, and in the name of what is best for us atrocious acts have been committed in the name of freedom.
It was Abraham Lincoln who during the Civil War justified suspending the Constitutional right of Habeas Corpus. People were imprisoned by Lincoln during the duration of the Civil War because they were “enemies of the state.” Lincoln consolidated federal power in Washington, and destroyed the citizen sovereignty. He did it because he knew what was best for us.
Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s had the total and complete support of Congress in his fight against Communism. We were told by McCarthy and his cronies how dangerous Communism was. We were told of the “Big Red Menace”. McCarthy with his investigations, and committees destroyed hundreds, and maybe even thousands of lives because he knew what was good for us as a nation. McCarthy played upon our fears of communist domination of the world.
In the 1960s we saw the decimation of an entire generation because of the fear of communist domination of the world. We were told with conviction, and a straight face about the dominoe effect of communism, and how it was going to start in Southeast Asia. The President was able to get the “Gulf of Tonkin Resolution” passed which gave the president the right to decide when, and how we would enter the Vietnam war. A whole decade of Presidents, National Security Advisors, Defense Secretaries, and Secretaries of State told us that they knew what was best for us. They played upon America's fears of the threat of communist domination of the world. Even after America failed to achieve any of its objectives in Vietnam, and paid an enormous amount of money to prosecute the war, and after thousands of lives were lost- we withdrew from Vietnam. Communism never dominated the world, in fact peace was bought to war torn Vietnam who had struggled for centuries. Communism as we knew it collapsed in the 1990s.
Several days after the 9/11 attacks the Bush White House had a full, and complete plan to invade Iraq. There was no evidence that Iraq had contributed to the terrorist acts of 9/11, despite this we had plans to invade Iraq. The invasion of Iraq was necessary as part of the “war on terror” despite the fact that Iran, Pakistan, and other countries were actively developing nuclear, and biological weapons.
Why did the United States invade Iraq? In a State of the Union Address by President Bush we were told that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. This was confirmed by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, the Vice President, as well as the entire Joint Chiefs of Staff. We invaded Iraq, deposed Saddam Husein (which was a great idea). The United States has found no credible evidence that Iraq had any Weapons of Mass Destruction. We have repeated the same mistakes that we made in Vietnam. We are in a war that has no end in sight.
I agree Mr. Rumsfeld that American's should look at history for lessons, instead of listening to your bald face lies, and fascist propaganda. Let's not revise history, and let's stop lying to the American people. If you are for the total and complete rescission of the Constitution, or for that matter just the Bill of Rights then say so. Let the American people decide. But you better do it soon, because under the present form of government—under the terms of the Patriot Act the next freedom that you lose may be the First Amendment rights that would allow you to speak your mind.
You can't be truthful with the American people, because that's not the fascist way. You can't gain control of the government through honesty, because your version of freedom is actually detrimental to the American people.
You can reason, and conjole, and manipulate all that you want Mr. Rumsfeld, but don't presume for a minute to believe that you are even remotely qualified to tell me what is in my best interests, or play on my fears to justify the usurpation of my constitutional rights. I fear you more than I fear facing a terrorist in the streets. At least with a terrorist in the streets I have a fighting chance. With you Mr. Rumsfeld I am defenseless.
I agree with Rumsfeld. We should look to history, and the actions of Hitler for the purpose of learning from our past mistakes. Let's start by looking at the noble purposes of the USA Patriot act that says: (1) To fight terrorism in the United States, and around the world; (2) To give law enforcement the tools that they need to fight terrorism; and what should be a wake up call to all American's is (3) “For other purposes.” What “other purposes” could this be?
SOURCES/CONTRIBUTORS: AP
Copyright 2006 Randy L. Harrington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Republication or redistribution of this Article, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Randy L. Harrington.
Rumsfeld lessons were not only on American history, but also fascism—a subject that he, and the Bush administration have become experts on. Rumsfeld in a previous “lesson” to World War II veterans compared the Saddam Hussein government, and the violent resistance since it fell to the Nazis, and warned against appeasement in Iraq or in the broader campaign against terrorism. Rumsfeld did not point any fingers, but the oblique comparison was that he was comparing current war critics on the war in Iraq, as well as the “war on terrorism” as being in the same league as those who sought to appease Hitler.
The very definition of fascism is a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all law, behavior, social norms, industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing aggressive nationalism initially under the threat of fear of an outside source, and then eventually out of desire to do what he wants.
Rumsfeld lessons on history invite a look at some history.
The USA Patriot Act, House Resolution 3162 was presented to the Congress on October 24, 2001, just 42 days after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
The “Purpose” of the Patriot Act is: “To deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigative tools, and for other purposes.”
Prior to the seizure of power by Adolph Hitler he pushed for, and successfully obtained broad and sweeping changes to the individual rights of the German people. He told the Germans that he was protecting their interests against “enemies of the state”, and that the sacrifice of individual freedoms of the German people were a necessary proposal. When he was questioned about the immense control that he could assert over the German people, he responded that he could in fact legally take take control of the Government, but that this was not his goal – in other words “Trust me.”
The USA Patriot Act of 2001 made some broad and sweeping changes to the constitutional rights of American's. Forty-two days after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 American's were gripped with fear of terrorism, and the visions of jumbo jetliners crashing into the World Trade Center were fresh in everyones mind. The USA Patriot Act restricted the constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of expression, the right to be free from unreasonable and warrantless searches and seizures except upon the issuance of a warrant by a judge, the right to privacy, the right to due process, and the right to equal protection under the law if you were a “terrorist.” The Act does not define the word “terrorist” but provides vague generalities about enemies of the state being classified as terrorists.
Under the provision of the Patriot Act an individuals constitutional rights can be ignored by the government if the individual has been defined by the government as a “terrorist.” An individual under the Patriot Act doesn't have the right for a judicial determination as to his/her classification as a “terrorist” and under most provisions of the act doesn't even have the right to know that he/she is even a target of a government investigation under the Patriot Act.
Hitler played on the fears of the German people against the “enemies of the state.” Being a master manipulator, who believed that the ends justify the means, Hitler knew that he could justify any of his acts by simply playing on peoples fears of an attack against the state, by the “enemies of the state.” Hitler gained the support of the people, who wanted to fight the “enemies of the state.” His position was so popular that nobody dared to oppose popular public opinion.
Today in the United States when one speaks up in opposition to the Patriot Act, or the illegal actions of the Bush administration in detaining prisoners in violation of the due process proscriptions of the constitution, and in violation of the Geneva Conventions the response is typical. We are called “terrorist sympathizers, democrats, unpatriotic”, and in essence “enemies of the state”. Like Hitler, the ends of the usurpation of the constitution justifies the means of fighting the war on terror.
Before the ink was dried on the Constitution, the rights afforded every American were under attack. Justice Marshall gave us the decision in Marbury v. Madison in 1801. As American's we have been told what is best for all of us, and in the name of what is best for us atrocious acts have been committed in the name of freedom.
It was Abraham Lincoln who during the Civil War justified suspending the Constitutional right of Habeas Corpus. People were imprisoned by Lincoln during the duration of the Civil War because they were “enemies of the state.” Lincoln consolidated federal power in Washington, and destroyed the citizen sovereignty. He did it because he knew what was best for us.
Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s had the total and complete support of Congress in his fight against Communism. We were told by McCarthy and his cronies how dangerous Communism was. We were told of the “Big Red Menace”. McCarthy with his investigations, and committees destroyed hundreds, and maybe even thousands of lives because he knew what was good for us as a nation. McCarthy played upon our fears of communist domination of the world.
In the 1960s we saw the decimation of an entire generation because of the fear of communist domination of the world. We were told with conviction, and a straight face about the dominoe effect of communism, and how it was going to start in Southeast Asia. The President was able to get the “Gulf of Tonkin Resolution” passed which gave the president the right to decide when, and how we would enter the Vietnam war. A whole decade of Presidents, National Security Advisors, Defense Secretaries, and Secretaries of State told us that they knew what was best for us. They played upon America's fears of the threat of communist domination of the world. Even after America failed to achieve any of its objectives in Vietnam, and paid an enormous amount of money to prosecute the war, and after thousands of lives were lost- we withdrew from Vietnam. Communism never dominated the world, in fact peace was bought to war torn Vietnam who had struggled for centuries. Communism as we knew it collapsed in the 1990s.
Several days after the 9/11 attacks the Bush White House had a full, and complete plan to invade Iraq. There was no evidence that Iraq had contributed to the terrorist acts of 9/11, despite this we had plans to invade Iraq. The invasion of Iraq was necessary as part of the “war on terror” despite the fact that Iran, Pakistan, and other countries were actively developing nuclear, and biological weapons.
Why did the United States invade Iraq? In a State of the Union Address by President Bush we were told that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. This was confirmed by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, the Vice President, as well as the entire Joint Chiefs of Staff. We invaded Iraq, deposed Saddam Husein (which was a great idea). The United States has found no credible evidence that Iraq had any Weapons of Mass Destruction. We have repeated the same mistakes that we made in Vietnam. We are in a war that has no end in sight.
I agree Mr. Rumsfeld that American's should look at history for lessons, instead of listening to your bald face lies, and fascist propaganda. Let's not revise history, and let's stop lying to the American people. If you are for the total and complete rescission of the Constitution, or for that matter just the Bill of Rights then say so. Let the American people decide. But you better do it soon, because under the present form of government—under the terms of the Patriot Act the next freedom that you lose may be the First Amendment rights that would allow you to speak your mind.
You can't be truthful with the American people, because that's not the fascist way. You can't gain control of the government through honesty, because your version of freedom is actually detrimental to the American people.
You can reason, and conjole, and manipulate all that you want Mr. Rumsfeld, but don't presume for a minute to believe that you are even remotely qualified to tell me what is in my best interests, or play on my fears to justify the usurpation of my constitutional rights. I fear you more than I fear facing a terrorist in the streets. At least with a terrorist in the streets I have a fighting chance. With you Mr. Rumsfeld I am defenseless.
I agree with Rumsfeld. We should look to history, and the actions of Hitler for the purpose of learning from our past mistakes. Let's start by looking at the noble purposes of the USA Patriot act that says: (1) To fight terrorism in the United States, and around the world; (2) To give law enforcement the tools that they need to fight terrorism; and what should be a wake up call to all American's is (3) “For other purposes.” What “other purposes” could this be?
SOURCES/CONTRIBUTORS: AP
Copyright 2006 Randy L. Harrington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Republication or redistribution of this Article, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Randy L. Harrington.