2006 begins with Bush aggressively defending his spy network, which keeps revealing itself as more vast and Orwellian.
It has recently come to light that the NSA shared information
gathered from its warrantless spying operations with the Defense
Intelligence Agency, FBI, CIA, and Homeland Security. In other words,
there is a vast web of surveillance inside the US conducted by various
intelligence agencies, using illegal and Orwellian practices. From the
NSA spying in secret without warrants, to the FBI and DIA spying on
protest groups, to the military playing an increasing role in
surveillance, all this is part of the scaffolding of a police state
being imposed inside the US.
Bush has launched the new year defending his secret order, wrapping
all this in the need to defend America from terrorism. This he touts as
if it’s a free pass to carry out whatever he wants, whether its
torture, spying, or more unjust war. Even when Bush is caught in a lie,
he still won’t back off. In a 2004, Bush stated “Any time you hear the
United States government talking about
wiretap,a wiretap requires a court order. Nothing has changed, by the
way. When we’re talking about
chasing down terrorists, we’re talking about getting a court order
before we do so.” When recently asked about this quote, Bush claimed he
was only talking about roving wiretaps. Please. A regime that spies,
lies, and defies public opinion, legality, and any shred of moral
descency cannot be permitted to continue presiding over the most
powerful country with the most powerful military at its disposal.
The World Can’t Wait! Drive Out the Bush Regime!
(sources: “NSA Gave Other Agencies Surveillance Data”, Washington Post , 1/1; “Bush Defends Spy Program and Denies Misleading Public”, NY Times, 1/2)