Jose Padilla, a US citizen, was held in indefinite detention at the
order of President Bush for three and a half years. He
was declared an “enemy combatant” and accused of a “dirty bomb” plot.
Finally, Padilla was charged with a crime that has nothing to do with
this alleged “dirty bomb” plot. In federal appeals court Friday, the
Justice Department argued that Padilla had no right to complain about
being held as an “enemy combatant” now that he has been charged, even
though the charges have nothing to do with the justification given for
holding him in detention. In essence, they are saying it doesn’t matter
what they charge you with, they can imprison you on Bush’s
order, and you have no right to complain about it.
At the same time, Bush is urging Congress to renew the Patriot Act
without even any debate or changes. And the terms of debate in Congress
anyway are over how far and how fast to go in implementing a police
state, not whether to do so. Adding to the pressure for more fascistic
laws, FBI agents raised complaints that they are too hamstrung in
spying on whoever they want. One email from an FBI agent said “While
radical militant librarians kick us around, true terrorists
benefit from OIPR’s failure to let us use the tools given to us.” So
the argument is being made that the problem with the Patriot Act is it
doesn’t give enough of a free hand for the Bush regime to do whatever
it wants. These are the terms of debate being set while fascistic laws
go into effect.
The World Can’t Wait! Drive Out the Bush Regime!