| This thread is going in a lot of different directions so instead of trying to quote and reply, I'm just going to line up some points spurred by several different posts.
The will to promote a war isn't the same as the will to participate in a war. Our elected officials, and the passive support of a majority of Americans, allowed the administration to promote a war, that support wouldn't have extended to burying their kids.
I agree, hiring mercenaries is a bad precedent.
The problem with Blackwater and similar contractors has been the lack of oversight, transparency and accountability. From a US perspective, a military force must be accountable to the civilians.. the executive, but ultimately the people.
Frankly, we also want a better breed of people. If we're going to heavily arm and target military units, we want them indoctrinated into our values so that atrocities remain the exception, and are prosecuted to the fullest.
As Cindy has correctly pointed out, this is not the first time the military has been deployed within our borders. I didn't see her mention the most recent that I'm aware of, the addition of Army personnel to patrol the Mexico-US border.
There is cause for concern considering the Bush administration's concentration of power within the executive and now is the time to rein that in --- on multiple fronts. I want the Patriot Act repealed across the board and if Obama is elected, I intend to be one of the people harassing my elected officials for it's repeal.
Is it time to don the tinfoil hat and do the zOMG dance? I don't think so. Despite all attempts to create a fearful population, there is still a great deal of native resistance to a naked show of force by the government - from both ends. The military and national guard units are not the plastic cut-out waiting instrument of oppression that some seem to view them as. They're fellow Americans, with family and friends here.
Do we need to re-balance the federal government and bring our system of checks and balances back into balance... fuck yes.
Does the potential exist that another 9/11 type event could lead to a police state. Maybe.
OK.. I have a pounding headache now. Going to suck down some Advil and get flat. |