"WAR ON TERROR" A Conflict Without End

[Demeter]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/opinion/17tue1.html

Osama bin Laden had been dead only a few days when House Republicans began their efforts to expand, rather than contract, the war on terror. Not content with the president’s wide-ranging powers to pursue the arch-criminals of Sept. 11, 2001, Republicans want to authorize the military to pursue virtually anyone suspected of terrorism, anywhere on earth, from now to the end of time.

This wildly expansive authorization would, in essence, make the war on terror a permanent and limitless aspect of life on earth, along with its huge potential for abuse.

The Authorization for Use of Military Force, approved by Congress a week after Sept. 11, 2001, gives the president the power to go after anyone who committed or aided in the 9/11 attacks, or who harbored such people, to prevent acts of terrorism. It was this document that authorized the war in Afghanistan and the raid on Bin Laden’s compound.

A new bill, approved last week by the House Armed Services Committee and heading for the floor this month, would go much further. It would allow military attacks against not just Al Qaeda and the Taliban but also any “associated forces that are engaged in hostilities against the United States.” That deliberately vague phrase could include anyone who doesn’t like America, even if they are not connected in any way with the 2001 attacks. It could even apply to domestic threats...

[OnyxCollie]

1. I'm sure Obama will negotiate with the Republicans

to authorize the military to pursue virtually anyone suspected of terrorism, anywhere on earth, from now until HALFWAY to the end of time.

Compromise!

[Citizen Worker]

2. Codifying perpetual war in a democracy. How's that for irony?

[pscot]

3. Between the WOT and the WOD

they've managed to militarize the whole damn country. Every 2-bit sheriff in the country has black SUV's, night vision ggoggles, body armor and Darth Vader helmets, paid for with a grant from the National Security State. Extra credit for kicking down some medical marijuana patient's door.