Bush administration is at war with us
Tova Gabrielle, Online Journal Guest Writer


Apr 26, 2006


The Bush administration's insane and aggressive war against the Middle East is not something remote like a bad dream that fades in the morning: If we do not unite and protest, this administration will come for us as well, as it already has with its unwarranted aggression against peaceful resistance and marches, undocumented immigrants (of which some of us are descendents), free speech, and, most recently, our individual privacy.

Administration members seem to believe themselves unstoppable; to be laughing at us for allowing them to get away with wiretapping, torture, and murder. While we might be tempted to attribute much of their behavior to stupidity, we might also consider that they know exactly what they are doing in their outrageous blundering and plundering. Perhaps their blatant bullying and arrogant lack of concern for the planet and its inhabitants is meant to terrorize, "shock and awe" with their outrageous cruelty and unleashed power. It is as if they are laughing at us and saying, "Nyahh, nyaah, if you think that trick was scary, watch this!"

Our so-called leaders are flexing their muscles at the world in as many terrorizing ways as possible. This is why they torture, eavesdrop on, "make disappear," and jail citizens without due process; why they commit rape and murder, and why they blame others for their own horrific actions. This behavior is meant to intimidate the entire world, to say to it, "Here are examples of what we can do to you if you oppose us."

The administration is not just at war in the Middle East; it is at war with us.

The ACLU notes that "Bush broke the law when he authorized the National Security Agency to spy on American citizens. S.2455 would severely weaken our rights by allowing the National Security Agency to secretly monitor telephone and email communications without the court approval required by federal law and the Constitution. It authorizes broader spying than the president has admitted, and would guarantee that Congress and the American people never know all the facts about this unlawful wiretapping."

What will administration members do with this power? It is obvious to me that by they will seek to blackmail conscientious citizens, in order to suppress the enormous protests that they know will arise in response to their aggressive and intimidating bullying. However, they are like a cult in their isolation and in being out of touch with the American people.

We were raised on democracy (amidst all it’s aberrations, we still had greater access to our basic freedoms). If enough people raise their bodies and voices in protest how can they arrest us all? Just as they underestimated the Iraqis’ and international reaction to their war in Iraq, they will underestimate the resistance they will face as we organize in order to exercise our democratic right to free speech and resistance before our democracy is completely lost. Even if we don't win right away or in full, we will know that we did our part for our consciences and in some way this will make ripples. We will not be helpless victims. It is not how we were raised.

"First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me." -Pastor Martin Niemöller

[Their next trick is planned for June Second when they will detonate over 700 tons of nuclear explosives as a test for their next target, Iran in Nevada. See http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/ops/divine-strake.htm]
Tova Gabrielle's articles, short stories and poetry have appeared in numerous publications. She also has worked as a psychotherapist and substance abuse counselor.