Should a terrorist attack the US, Trump reaction could spell the end of USA as we know it.

[rgbecker]

http://www.newyorker.com/news/ryan-lizza/how-president-trump-could-seize-more-power-after-a-terrorist-attack

This New Yorker Magazine article spells out some scenarios that turn my stomach.

“I do believe the world faces a serious and growing terrorist threat,” Evan McMullin, the former C.I.A. officer and Republican who ran for President as an independent candidate against Trump, said. “But Trump, either by ignorance or malice, is distorting the nature of that threat by targeting very well-vetted immigrants, including legal permanent residents and refugees. He simply does not have a strong national-security case to make against these people, which is why it is reasonable to wonder if he has some ulterior motive for taking such extreme steps against them.”

Yesterday, Trump’s campaign to highlight this threat took a bizarre turn when he accused the media of burying coverage of terror attacks. “It’s gotten to a point where it’s not even being reported,” he said in remarks to troops at MacDill Air Force Base, in Tampa. “In many cases, the very, very dishonest press doesn’t want to report it. They have their reasons.” The White House later released a list of attacks since 2014 that it insisted had not received enough attention.

Matt Olsen, the former head of the National Counterterrorism Center, told me that he didn’t agree with Goldsmith’s suggestion that Trump actually wants the executive order overturned, but he said that he thought Trump was laying the groundwork for arguments he might make after an attack. “This is a win-win for Trump,” Olsen said. “We can assume there will be another terrorist attack in the U.S. If the executive order is in place, he will point to the attack as support for the executive order and the need to expand it to other countries with bad dudes (Muslims). If the executive order has been struck down, Trump will blame judges and Democrats for the attack.”

Olsen was also concerned that Trump might undo many of the changes that Barack Obama put in place to rein in the excesses of the Bush era. “As for other options in a post-attack scenario, just look back to 9/11,” he said. “C.I.A. black sites, enhanced interrogations, Gitmo, and warrantless surveillance will all be on the table. In addition, regardless of nationality, there will be changes to immigration and refugee policies.” He added that he could also imagine an effort to loosen restrictions on surveillance inside the United States.

Many more experts quoted by author, Ryan Lizza.

[Salviati]

1. I hope the Democratic leadership has plans ready to go the second something like this happens...

Because you can be sure as hell the republicans do, and if we aren't ready we're gonna get knocked on our asses.

[Initech]

7. I'd rather it didn't happen in the first place.

[Salviati]

9. Well, so do I...

... but hoping something won't happen won't make it not happen. After all trump is now president, and I sure as hell would rather that didn't happen.

[rgbecker]

2. I'm kicking this myself, as you should read the article when you get a chance.

Only 143 views, so maybe it needs another ride from the top of the list.

[treestar]

3. He can't blame it on the order being held unconstitutional

he doesn't get to do unconstitutional things no matter what the excuse. And unless it is one of the lawful permanent residents or visa holders that did the attack, the order had no relevance. He's just a moron. We can't just let him blame anything willy nilly without pushback. It's not a win-win for Orange Disaster - why let him blame anything that is not to blame and let it take hold?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. Enhanced InterrogationTORTURE!!

n/t

[bdamomma]

5. K&R

[Initech]

6. That's their wet dream.

Those assholes are actively salivating over this idea so they can bring back torture and declare martial law. I wouldn't put it past these scumbags.

[moondust]

8. The U.S. cannot be hermetically sealed.

Only a "germophobe" might think it could be.

There will be more terror attacks in the U.S., whether done by an illegal immigrant, a first-generation immigrant, or a tenth-generation immigrant. There were at least six mass shootings in 2016 and at least seven in 2015. Blame the NRA and their puppets in government that have enabled the American wild west culture of deadly violence.