cannabisnews.com: Ashcroft Pushes Anti-Terror Law Expansion
Ashcroft Pushes Anti-Terror Law Expansion
Posted by CN Staff on June 05, 2003 at 18:40:42 PT
By Jesse J. Holland
Source: Associated Press
Washington -- Attorney General John Ashcroft urged Congress on Thursday to expand the new anti-terror law to permit the government to hold more suspects indefinitely and extend the death penalty to more people accused of terrorist crimes.He also said the current anti-terror law, which critics say is cramping citizens' legitimate rights, needs to be expanded to let prosecutors bring charges against anyone who helps or works with suspected terrorist groups as "material supporters."
Ashcroft held aloft what he said were copies of terrorist declarations of war against America. One quoted Nasser al-Fahd, a prominent Muslim cleric known to be sympathetic to al-Qaida, as saying it would be permissible if a bomb killed 10 million Americans.Ashcroft also read aloud the names of people killed in the Sept. 11 attacks as he defended the Justice Department's use so far of anti-terrorism powers.The USA Patriot Act has led to more than 3,000 "footsoldiers of terror" being stopped, Ashcroft said. But he also told the House Judiciary Committee the law "has several weaknesses which terrorists could exploit, undermining our defenses."The death penalty provision would allow for executions in cases where a terrorist caused "massive loss of life" by attacking a military base, nuclear plant or energy plant, the Justice Department said.Ashcroft also said some courts have said that "going and taking training, and joining up with" terrorist groups abroad could not be prosecuted under the current material support statute, and he wants that fixed."We need for the law to make it clear that it's just as much a conspiracy to aid and assist the terrorists, to join them for fighting purposes, as it is to carry them a lunch or to provide them with a weapon," the attorney general said.In addition, federal suspects in gun, drug and organized crime cases "where public safety is a concern" automatically are held indefinitely when they are arrested, Ashcroft said. "It seems as though the crime of terrorism should have the same presumption," he said.Justice officials indicated it was unclear whether the Bush administration would request any legislative proposals before the end of the congressional session.House Democrats, meanwhile, complained about the way the Justice Department has used its current anti-terrorism powers, especially considering a department inspector general report Tuesday that criticized the government's treatment of illegal immigrants held after the attacks.The inspector general found "significant problems" in the Bush administration's actions toward 762 foreigners held on immigration violations after the attacks. Only one, Zacarias Moussaoui, has been charged in the United States with a terrorism-related crime; 505 have been deported. Some were held for up to eight months and others complained of abuse.Ashcroft said department policy, "for which we do not apologize," is to detain people who are in the country illegally for as long as it takes to clear them before they are deported.But Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, said, "My fear is that we may go to the point of changing the culture of America, the First Amendment protections and the Fourth Amendment protections."Added Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif.: "Some of us find that the collateral damage is greater than it needs to be in the conduct of this war."Ashcroft said he would investigate all abuse allegations, although 14 of 18 cases referred so far already have been cleared without any charges being filed. "We do not stand for abuse," Ashcroft said.While critics complain that civil liberties are being curtailed by the anti-terrorism law, Ashcroft said without it there might have been another major attack."Our ability to prevent another catastrophic attack on American soil would be more difficult, if not impossible, without the Patriot Act," Ashcroft said. "It has been the key weapon used across America in successful counter-terrorist operations to protect innocent Americans from the deadly plans of terrorists."The tougher penalties in the law have persuaded some suspected terrorists to help the federal government root out other terrorists in exchange for lighter sentences, he suggested."One individual has given us intelligence on weapons stored here in the United States," Ashcroft said. "Another cooperator has identified locations in the U.S. being scouted or cased for potential attacks by al-Qaida."The law expires in October 2005, and while House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner praised Ashcroft's work so far, he added, "My support for this legislation is neither perpetual or unconditional.""I believe the department and Congress must be vigilant toward short-term gains which ultimately may cause long-term harm to the spirit of liberty and equality which animate the American character," the Wisconsin Republican said.On the Net:Justice Department: http://www.usdoj.govHouse Judiciary Committee: http://www.house.gov/judiciary Source: Associated PressAuthor: Jesse J. HollandPublished: Thursday, June 5, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Associated Press Related Articles:On Terror and Spying, Ashcroft Expands Reachhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15729.shtmlAshcroft's Agenda - Baltimore Sun http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15484.shtmlStates' Rights Take Back Seat in Ashcroft's Dept. http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15481.shtmlOur Big Brother, John Ashcrofthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14809.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help
Comment #8 posted by kaptinemo on June 06, 2003 at 05:10:50 PT:
I listened to Ashcroft on C-SPAN last night
I was tooling around DC last night to pick up a friend and decided to tune in to C-SPAN radio.(Standing up in a Political Anonymous meeting: "Hi, I'm Kaptinemo, and I'm a political junkie who listens to C-SPAN on his car radio every day." Other junkies: "Welcome, 'Nemo!")I caught part of the replay of the hearings in which Ashcroft testified. It wasn't so much the half-baked BS that he was shovelling that worried me. It was the hard edged, angry tone of this man as he stonewalled one questioner after another.At first, I thought it was simply because the strain of the man's job might be wearing on him. But the tone never left his voice. Even when the questions were of the 'softball' nature, the just-under-a-growl tone never left his voice.This is the voice of a very angry and dangerous man. A man for whom violence is just under the surface, waiting to explode. I know that type; I used to be one.And what's so troubling about that is that the inference was that Ashcroft resented even the necessity of the hearings. As if he wasn't supposed to be questioned by mere mortal Congressman and Senators about what steps he is taking to safeguard civil liberties while protecting the public. This man may not believe he's God, but he carries all the halmarks of a religious fanatic charged by God with a mission in his 'devotion' to his job.A seething, ticking time bomb is running the Justice Department, ready to incarcerate indefinitely or casually kill anyone who stands in the way of his 'mission'. One that resents what few constraints have been placed upon this dangerous creature.John, old boy, I'd offer you a pipe if only to save you from dying from stress-induced apoplexy, but it's obvious you'd take my life and other's lives in a heartbeat for that effrontery of human compassion. Is it any wonder why all the attacks on harm reduction/compassion centers have taken place? With Bush's chain-dog running the Justice Department?(Historical note: Hitler's Wehrmacht had special military police units that wore a fancy metal gorget around their necks; they were called 'chain-dogs' because of the insignia and their vicious attitudes.)
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #7 posted by freedom fighter on June 05, 2003 at 22:20:47 PT
Prime
The 15th sign of facism,,This to me, seems real important, when groups that are villified by the "majority" starts to accept for what they are and actually promote the ideologly of the majority. They even join the very party that will kill them few years down in the road. This is the sad part of facism.I take any day of Anarchy over facism and tryanny!pazff
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #6 posted by The GCW on June 05, 2003 at 22:00:26 PT
FoM, & u2desire this is vital.
FoM, I understand. And further because of it, I think it allows You to do what You do, so well.u2desire, You are there.I found what I requested.It was about the KGB, NOT the Nazi...Here is the link and story... I think one of the other Green Collar Workers posted it here first.
http://www.impeach-bush-now.org/Articles/Americans/USSA.htmGet Ready for the USSA
(The United Soviet States of America)
"Behind the Scenes in the Beltway" is published regularly online at Al Martin Raw, (http://www.almartinraw.com).(March 17) You will be happy to learn that the former head of the KGB (the secret police of the former Soviet Union), General Yevgeni Primakov, has been hired as a consultant by the US Department of Homeland Security. Do you think he will share his expertise in "security" to prepare US citizens for domestic internal passports under the pretense of fighting the never-ending "War on Terrorism"?CAPPS II is the name of the new program which is technically under the auspices of the US Department of Transporation, but that's only technical and the only reaosn they did that was to use the Transportation Department's budget to buy the computer hardware and software they need.The way it works is you give them your credit card and they slide it thorough like you would in a store and then they hit a button and the monitor reads: CAPPS II, SS CTF. The SS CTF evidently stands for State Security Citizen Threat File. But it has nothing to do with the Department of Transportation. It goes directly to a division, which has been established between the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the CIA and several other federal agencies. This is a new division, referred to as the Office of Internal Security, which is coordinating the effort to establish citizen threat files on every US citizen. It will be a huge database including credit files, medical files, political and religious affiliation, military history, attendance at anti-government rallies,etc.The newsclip didn't point out what information is being accessed.The only thing they'll tell you is they're going to access your credit history, but like the guy giving the interview said they will be accessing a whole lot more. They just don't tell you what it is. When the Department of Homeland Security was asked about it, they wouldn't say but replied that it would defeat the purpose if we told you what it was we were looking for.No announcement will be made to the public about what information exactly is being accessed or exactly how much information or what type of information is going to be included in each citizen's security threat file.What I liked about this segment is that they interviewed General Yevgeni Primakov, who is now a consultant to the Department of Homeland Security along with General Alexander Karpov.Primakov was laughing about it because he's getting paid a big fee to do it. He doesn't care, of course. Primakov speaks beautiful English, as you would expect a former head of the KGB to do. When he was asked what is this CAPPS II program really about, because obviously even "terrorists" could have credit ratings.Primakov said that this is one of the steps now being employed along with NICA and new identity upgrade features which are coming to your driver's license. It is being used to get the people used to new types of documentation and carrying new types of identity cards pursuant to the United States instituting a formal policy of internal passports.And he actually used the words "internal passports."It's like he said and he was pretty knowledgeable. When the NICA (National Identity Card Act) gets passed, the Posse Comitatus Act gets overturned, a few other pieces of legislation yet to be proffered get passed, the White House will have more control over the American people than the Kremlin had over the Russian people when Stalin was alive. He said that and then he laughed.What Primakov finds funny are what he calls these "right wing flag wavers" that were so anti-communist and now they're supporting a state policy of internal passports.The irony is deafening.Old right wing farts -- turn up your hearing aids for the irony is deafening.Primakov continued by saying that he had been hired as a consultant and he was consulting on other "security" matters, an ongoing policy in various agencies of government (some of these offices haven't even been created yet) to consistently narrow the rights of the American people and to expand the power of government. He professed not to know why, the reason for all this was, other than he admitted that "it doesn't have much to do with 'fighting terrorism.'"In other words, it's funny that we need a commie to come over here and tell people the truth. And remember its not just any commie, it's the former head of the KGB, who is being (paid) for with taxpayers' money from all the (naive) flag wavers out there.If you think about it - how ironic this whole thing is. And it's not only Primakov, who was, by the way the last general of the KGB, before the KGB was changed to RFSS. Look who else was hired. There's General Primakov.Then there's General Karpov, former KGB station chief of their Washington station at their embassy and the first director of the Russian Federal Security Service.You could call this the "Sovietization of America." Primakov said he can't wait to get on the payroll (he called it the "pay corps," referring to the Heritage Foundation, the PNAC and all the other right wing foundations in the United States) He cant get over how many ex-KGB generals and colonels still want to come over to the United States and become consultants to get on the pay corps.It has been reported that Nikita Krushchev Jr works for the Heritage Foundation. Another right wing foundation has Elena Stalin. The Old Soviet Brand names are all coming to Washington to get on the gravy train and teach the Bush administration how to further restrict the rights of the American people.And Primakov is waiting for the USSA, The United Soviet States of America. It'll probably make him feel right at home.AL MARTIN is America's foremost expert on corporate and government fraud. A relentless whistleblower, he has written a book called, "The Conspirators: Secrets of an Iran Contra Insider," which chronicles his adventures with the Bush Cabal (National Liberty Press, Order Line: 866-317-1390). This detailed account of government criminal operations, namely State-sanctioned fraud, drug trafficking and illicit weapons sales, is unprecedented in publishing history. Al Martin is also well known for his great charm and profound insights into world events, and he is frequently interviewed on many talk radio shows across the nation. His weekly column "Behind the Scenes in the Beltway" is published regularly online at Al Martin Raw, (http://www.almartinraw.com).
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #5 posted by Prime on June 05, 2003 at 21:45:36 PT
14 signs your nation is facist...
I copied this from another board. Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each:
1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of
prisoners, etc.3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause -The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military
service are glamorized.5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the
family institution.6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposedto the government's policies or actions.9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed. 11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with
virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes
for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #4 posted by FoM on June 05, 2003 at 20:34:27 PT
The GCW
I really don't know anything about George Bush or his administration. If I see him on the news I quick change the channel. If I see a news article about him I make sure I don't read it. I avoid politics as much as possible. I keep my eyes on cannabis issues and don't think outside that area. I believe it is important for me to stay neutral. I know that the Govenror of Maryland is a Republican and Kucinich is a Democrat. There are good people in all the parties. Politics are very volatile issue. That's why I try hard to avoid talking about them here on CNews. I talk to friends about how I feel but not on line. I hope you understand.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #3 posted by u2desire on June 05, 2003 at 20:20:38 PT
Slippery slope
Before you know it the DEA will be charging drug users as being "material supporters" because as far as U.S. government sees it all drug money goes to terrorists.
Next expansion on the terrorists law will be to make the war on drugs a part of the war on terrorists.
Countries that legalise pot will be considered terrist nations and a threat to the U.S. I urge the citizens of the United States to stand up against your ever increasing tyranical government before it is to late.When will the personal I.D. chips become required by law? Anyone without a I.D. chip will not be able to get a job, cash a check, cross state lines, go to school, or receive medical treatment. The mark of the beast is not that far off if the U.S. keeps moving in the current direction. If you haven't figured it out "the beast" has always been a tyranical government that will use alterior motives (war on drugs and terrorism) to trample on you civil liberties. Those nations that do not conform will be label as terrorists remember Bush saying "your either with us or against us"?Furthermore, a false prophet will always accuse others who are not the perfect citizen or group as being evil. Remember the "axes of evil"?I'm not all the religous but one only needs to examine the past few years closely to see similarities with the book of Revelations.Trevor
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #2 posted by The GCW on June 05, 2003 at 20:09:21 PT
FoM & friends, please help me find
the stories that exposed the old Nazi types that the Bush administration hired to help create this mire.Does anyone remember the names of Nazi types hired by Bush to confront the squeeze that only the Nazi could produce?I think it had to do with building some sort of surveillance type stuff... and has occured more than on one facet. I would like to gather this info to present to the next Democratic meeting, because the last one had Dems. refering to the present climate like Nazi tactics. It would be good to expose one of the reasons why it feels like Naziville.And while the Dems may finally be realizing the Repub's are like Nazi's utilizing Nazi tactics, We Green Collar Workers have known this for years.Please help.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #1 posted by The GCW on June 05, 2003 at 19:57:37 PT
Ashcroft nurtures the spirit of error as His baby.
Attorney General John Ashcroft could not win an election against a dead man in Missouri.So how did this Nazi get His job?From a coke / election thief.Now this man influenced by the spirit of error, wants to attack "material supporters." And We are plant- "material supporters." Perhaps Ashcroft ("wants that fixed.")needs to be fixed, (neutered) to keep this walking disease from spreading.
[ Post Comment ]
Post Comment