Well since this 2 yr old thread was bumped I thought it might be worth looking at what the author I posted the opinion of said at the time and compare it to what has happened since.
Here are the steps
from a web article discussing them in detail. I bolded that bit because people in this thread seem to equate posting something you see value in to whatever it is being your exact opinion. I saw parallels here. Whether or not Wolf said flaky things elsewhere was irrelevant and I did not post some rant we were all headed to Nazism. I merely noted the woman's book had some merit.
* 1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy
* 2. Create a gulag
* 3. Develop a thug caste
* 4. Set up an internal surveillance system
* 5. Harass citizens' groups
* 6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release
* 7. Target key individuals
* 8. Control the press
* 9. Dissent equals treason
* 10. Suspend the rule of law
1) I think "war on terror" can certainly be said to have been used by Bush, et al, to manipulate people for political goals.
2) Perhaps one doesn't think Gitmo compares to the Gulag. It doesn't if you compare sheer size and the fact the population interred at Gitmo were not citizens of the jailer's own country. It does compare if you look at incarceration and torture without rights or a fair trial.
3) Blackwater is but one of several private mercenary armies created by Bush policies. We haven't seen private armies in the US since the
Pinkertons. The fact Blackwater turned up in New Orleans after Katrina should concern everyone.
4) Turns out, just like I said, the reason Bush didn't want FISA warrants he could have gotten
after the fact was because he was spying on people illegally. Stay tuned on this one.
5) Outing Valerie Plame, firing all the Justice Dept attorneys not cooperating in political harassment schemes
6) No fly list, Gitmo, Special Renditions
7) & 8) The massive wire surveillance targeted the press.
9) This was a common theme in Rove's political approach to dissent.
10) "If a President does it, it's not illegal." Cheney's proud of claiming the authority to authorize torture. And using Plame's outing to silence whistle blowers wasn't legal. Did they care? Of course not.
These are examples of the country my parents warned me about. Except they were describing the problems with communist totalitarianism.
Most of this was going on when Wolf wrote the piece. Now that Bush is no longer able to pardon his cronies and stop the subpoenas, we'll see what has gone on in the Justice Department and the NSA.
