GI SPECIAL 6H15:
[Thanks to Mark Shapiro, Military Project, who sent this in.]
Our Common Enemy, And Defending The Constitution:
“At What Point Have We Run Out Of ‘Democratic’ Options, In Trying To Peacefully Force Our Government Obey Our Constitution?”
“Will Politicians EVER Give Us Back What They Have Taken, Or Must We TAKE It Back?”
“So At What Point Does It Become Necessary To Take Up Arms Against Our Own Federal Government To Defend Our Laws?”
August 17, 2008 By Ward Reilly, Veteran
In our nation, our common enemy is anyone that violates our Constitution.
Right?
So, at what point does it become necessary to take up arms against our own federal government to defend our laws?
At what point have we run out of “democratic” options, such as lobbying, voting, writing, and marching in the streets, in trying to peacefully force our government to obey our Constitution, and its Bill of Rights?
Politicians, security workers, and soldiers, take an oath to “defend the Constitution against ALL enemies, both foreign and domestic”...which establishes the moral and legal conflict for all citizens, both veterans and non veterans alike, that being; if the Commander in Chief, and/or Congress, is violating the laws of the Constitution, and we citizens swore to defend the Constitution, what do we do when we are confronted with the problem of how to defend the Constitution against those domestic enemies?
For citizens that are thinking people, what do they do if it is apparent that the Constitution is being overtly violated, and they took an oath to defend it?
It can’t work both ways, which is where the dilemma begins; Are “mis-leading statements” lies? (Rumsfeld said: We know where the WMD’s are. They’re in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat”... Bush said “We don’t torture”)
Is torture, torture?
Is allowing no legal representation for “detainees”, legal? My Bill of Rights says “NO PERSON shall be held unless indicted by an impartial jury”
Is kidnapping and renditioning to prisons, kidnapping and rendition?
The Bill of Rights says NO PERSON shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, WITHOUT DUE PROCESS”.
How many detainees have died in our custody since 9-11? How can ANY “legal official” say that these things are legal?
“Interpretation” of the law.
Isn’t unauthorized spying against Americans illegal?
Bush, Cheney, and Pelosi authorized torture.
My copy of the “Bill of Rights” states that we are “secure against unreasonable searches”. Isn’t kidnapping illegal?
How about renditioning and imprisoning secretly?
The Bill of Rights says “and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense”. Isn’t harvesting emails and telephone calls spying? Isn’t torture illegal? (Japanese soldiers were put to death for water-boarding, by our country after WWII)
As citizens, or as veterans, how long can we allow obvious interpretation of the laws of the Constitution to be violated, before we must FORCE real change?
If we don’t defend the Constitution, then we must face the reality that we don’t really believe in, or truly care to defend, that Constitution.
How long can we accept the fact that Constitutional laws are broken overtly, and then new laws are written and passed, to make the (already-committed) crimes to be “legal”, before we are forced to confront our federal politicians with force?
At what point have we run out of “democratic” options to create enforcement of our Constitutional laws, before we give up trying?
After citizens have written, spoken, lobbied, marched in the streets, voted, and gained a majority in opinion, and still gotten nothing from federal politicians, what are the remaining options we have besides force, or the surrender of our beliefs?
At what point will the citizens of this country understand the implications, and the shared criminal guilt, of killing more than 1 million innocent people, because our federal government relies on “oops” for a policy to send us to a war in Iraq? (“Oops, we were wrong about WMD’s”...Oops, we lied about Saddam’s ties to Al Qaida)
Do we wrongly occupy Afghanistan and Iraq (oops) because our government says that “we are going to track down Osama bin Laden?”. (Puhhhleeeze).
We are bombing Pakistan, and are responsible for covert military actions against Iran, a nation that hasn’t invaded another country for hundreds of years. Are any of these acts’ Constitutionally legal?
The legal reality, in my eyes, is that we have kidnapped, imprisoned , tortured, invaded and killed MANY legally innocent people. The reality is that a million+ people are dead, and 5 million are destitute and homeless because of our criminal occupations. All that is legal?
ALL Constitutional crimes that are committed by soldiers and the CIC, are the crimes of every U.S. citizen, because we are ruled by “we the people”. Dead is dead, kidnapped is kidnapped, and tortured is tortured...I, nor any other citizen, should EVER accept some appointed lawyer or judge’s “legal opinion” that interprets torture as not being torture.
Dead is dead. Innocent is innocent.
One typical example of what we have done: Sami El Hajj, a journalist, was released last week, after being imprisoned and tortured for 6-1/2 years. He was never charged with any crime, and never allowed contact with any legal representation. How is that NOT a Constitutional crime, by ANY “legal” interpretation?
And that is one example of thousands, that we are collectively responsible for. Kidnapped and tortured by EVERY U.S. citizen, period.
Which brings us back to this:
As citizens, veterans or not, how long can we allow the obvious interpretation of the law to be violated, before we must FORCE real change, or face the reality that we don’t really believe in our own Constitution?
How long can we accept the fact that Constitutional laws are broken overtly, and then new laws are written and passed, to make the (already-committed) crime(s), to be legal, and before we are forced to confront our federal politicians, with force?
Will “we the people” ever enforce the law, if our federal politicians and justices simply won’t, in spite of the wishes of the majority?
Or will political correctness allow the abuse of our laws to continue, because we are afraid to truly effect change with force, if, and when, it becomes necessary?
In our nation, our common enemy is anyone that violates our Constitution, and it’s our job to “protect and defend” the Constitution. That’s what every soldier that ever died for our country, died for.
So at what point does it become necessary to take up arms against our own federal government to defend our laws?
At what point have we run out of “democratic” options, in trying to peacefully force our government obey our Constitution?
It’s time we all face this very-real question.
Will politicians EVER give us back what they have taken, or must we TAKE it back?
Troops Invited:
What do you think? Comments from service men and women, and veterans, are especially welcome. Write to Box 126, 2576 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10025-5657 or send email : Name, I.D., withheld unless you request publication. Replies confidential. Same address to unsubscribe. Phone: 917.677.8057
MORE:
“Should I Keep Back My Opinions At Such A Time, Through Fear Of Giving Offense, I Should Consider Myself As Guilty Of Treason Towards My Country”
“The Millions Of People, Armed In The Holy Cause Of Liberty, And In Such A Country As That Which We Possess, Are Invincible By Any Force Which Our Enemy Can Send Against Us”
“Shall We Acquire The Means Of Effectual Resistance By Lying Supinely On Our Backs And Hugging The Delusive Phantom Of Hope?”
“There IsNo Retreat But In Submission And Slavery!”
Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne!
Mar. 23, 1775, By Patrick Henry, House of Burgesses, Williamsburg, Va.
No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve.
This is no time for ceremony. The questing before the House is one of awful moment to this country.
For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate.
It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country.
Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope.
We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts.
Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?
For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience.
I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past.
And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House.
Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet.
Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss.
Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love?
Let us not deceive ourselves, sir.
These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort.
I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies?
No, sir, she has none.
They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other.
They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging.
And what have we to oppose to them?
Shall we try argument?
Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing.
We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain.
Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted?
Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves.
Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on.
We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament.
Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne!
In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation.
There is no longer any room for hope.
If we wish to be free-- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight!
I repeat it, sir, we must fight!
An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!
They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary.
But when shall we be stronger?
Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house?
Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?
Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?
Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power.
The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us.
Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.
The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election.
If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery!
Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston!
The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter.
Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun!
The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!
Our brethren are already in the field!
Why stand we here idle?
What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have?
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?
Forbid it, Almighty God!
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
ACTION REPORTS
Austin Texas Veterans For Peace Care Enough To GoBeyond Mere Words
July 2008, Chapter 66, Austin, TX, Veterans For Peace Newsletter
VFP Chapter 66 is active at Fort Hood, distributing packages that include “Ground Truth”, the GI Rights Hotline card, Appeal for Redress petitions, and applications for VFP
and IVAW membership.
On “Mission Accomplished Day”, we joined IVAW members at Fort Hood at 5am.
We have returned to Fort Hood several times for personal encounters with soldiers.
IRAQ WAR REPORTS
U.S. Soldier Killed By Amarah Rocket Attack
August 19, 2008 Multi National Corps Iraq Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory RELEASE No. 20080819-04
BAGHDAD – A Multi-National Division – Center Soldier was killed as a result of a rocket attack on a forward operating base near Amarah Aug. 19.
U.S. Helicopter Down North Of Baghdad
Aug 18 (KUNA)
A US military helicopter crashed on Monday in a village in Salahdin province located north of the capital, witnesses said.
The witnesses told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the helicopter crashed in Shuwaikh, north of Baghdad.
A US-Iraqi military force cordoned off the scene of the incident and prevented people and reporters from approaching, thus further details about the chopper crash were not possible, the witnesses said.
US forces maintain an air base in the town of Balad in the province.
Clever Maliki Regime Attacks U.S. Funded Diyala “Awakening Council” Militias:
Pissed Off Officer Says “We Are An Experienced Armed Group”
“We Are Fully Capable Of Bringing The House Down”
[Thanks to Pham Binh, Traveling Soldier & Military Project, who sent this in.]
Aug 18, 2008 By Hamza Hendawi, The Associated Press
BAGHDAD — The Shiite-led government is cracking down on U.S.-backed Sunni Arab fighters in one of Iraq’s most turbulent regions, arresting some leaders, disarming dozens of men and banning them from manning checkpoints except alongside official security forces.