Being election day and all, I thought I’d just make a note that I am very interested in the outcome of the many decisions made today. I wish that I could be more involved—and I’m getting better at that within my sphere of influence—but as a non-citizen, I do not have the right to vote in this country.

I recently read an open letter from Mike Krause, a war vet. He writes:

That nearly 80 million people didn’t make it to the polls that day [in 2004] was a special punch in the gut to my friends and me, because we were watching the election results from deep within Iraq’s Sunni Triangle. Some Americans heard political commentary that night- we heard mortar fire.

Our country is at war. A 60% voter turnout isn’t good enough. … Today, you can make your voice heard.

If I could vote, I’d vote for the Constitution Party. Maybe it wouldn’t make a difference immediately, but anything I could do to help send the GOP packing would be worth doing. More than ever, we need honesty and transparency in government. The Republicans under Bush have not been honest, nor have they been transparent.

Update: If you’re interested in the issue of vote fraud, or if you just want a good laugh, check out The Problem with E-voting Machines. Thank goodness for comedians. Without Jon Stewart, I might develop a tumor just thinking about all of the threats to our liberty.

There have been some great videos made available online recently regarding the World Trade Center towers. The first (which I highly recommend if you haven’t looked in to this stuff yet) is about Building 7, that 47-story building that fell in the late afternoon of September 11th. This one shows 3 or 4 different views of the building as it collapsed, with a comparison to other known demolition jobs:

WTC7 Controlled Demolition

Next up is video footage of a presentation by Kevin Ryan. Kevin is the chemist at Underwriter Labs who was fired for his making public a letter to upper management that questioned Underwriter Labs’ silence on several key points of its analysis of the World Trade Center structural steel. This video is an excellent and detailed wrap-up of the 4 government-sponsored studies of the towers’ collapses and how these studies have largely been pseudo-science up to this point. I was particularly interested to see that the 4 studies were each directed and authored by the same handful of scientists and engineers:

Kevin Ryan’s “A New Standard for Deception”

I’ve also been fascinated with a fun but instructional music video whose content is made up entirely of controlled demolition footage. Check it out:

Sonic Bomb

And finally, a newly released and never-before-seen home video of the twin towers from “Bob and Bri.” Their blog is here. They kept this video private due to the personal nature of this film:

What We Saw

Robert D. Steele, “former Marine Corps infantry and intelligence officer for twenty years and … the second-ranking civilian (GS-14) in U.S. Marine Corps Intelligence from 1988-1992,” [wikipedia] recently reviewed Webster Griffin Tarpley’s “Synthetic Terror: Made in the USA” on Amazon.com. In his review of the book, he reports:

It is with great sadness that I conclude that this book is the strongest of the 770 books I have reviewed here at Amazon, almost all non-fiction. I am forced to conclude that 9/11 was at a minimum allowed to happen as a pretext for war (see my review of Jim Bamford’s “Pretext for War”), and I am forced to conclude that there is sufficient evidence to indict (not necessarily convict) Dick Cheney, Karl Rove and others of a neo-conservative neo-Nazi coup d’etat and kick-off of the clash of civilizations (see my review of “Crossing the Rubicon” as well as “State of Denial”).

…

I sit here, a 54-year old, liberally educated, two graduate degrees, war college, a life overseas, 150 IQ or so, the number #1 Amazon reviewer for non-fiction, a former Marine Corps infantry officer, a former CIA clandestine case officer, founder of the Marine Corps Intelligence Center, and I have to tell anyone who cares to read this: I believe it. I believe it enough to want a full investigation that passes the smell test of the 9/11 families as well as objective outside observers. I believe it sufficient to indict Dick Cheney and other neo-cons. Sadly, the Executive is now in the service of corporations that benefit from high crimes and misdemeanors, rather than in the service of the American people who suffer great ill from these terrible mis-deeds.

As I’ve delved in to this new world of politics and events, I’ve become aware of some of my own shortcomings. For example, in one of my conversations with Jeff Moss the other day, I realized that I don’t know that much about PNAC, Israeli spy rings or even Dr. Steven Jones’ hypothesis about the World Trade Centers coming down by thermite.

I’m also feeling a little humbler today, having read Zach’s comment about my misunderstanding Jeff’s statement. I’m not sure how much I got right or wrong (perhaps Jeff can clarify), but I’m getting better at this “trying to understand the world” game. A lot of it starts inside, by trying to understand myself.

It seems to me that as we learn new things and try to teach others about what we’ve learned, a very powerful process takes place. I’ll call it the “maturity of influence”. Basically, what I’m finding is that we all have a strong drive to be “right”. Why? Well, one reason seems to be that we perceive our social influence to be directly proportional to our ability to make accurate predictions. We want others to trust us, and we know that they’re less likely to trust our predictions if past predictions have turned out to be false. In other words, we fight to be “right” because we perceive our social value and influence to be dependent on our “rightness”.

As everyone admits, however, we don’t know everything. As a consequence, inaccurate predictions by the best of us are inevitable. When such a failure occurs, we have two choices: admit it and move on, or deny it and try to protect our image. So far, I’m in the “admit it” category, and trying to remain there. I also feel strongly, however, that I’m in the “face it” category when it comes to truth. I have a deep desire to know what’s real, true, trustworthy, accurate etc. For this reason, I question a lot of issues of faith as well. Likewise, I’ve questioned a lot of issues related to contemporary American history. So far, I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited to continue.

With regard to my recent vigilant posts regarding 9/11, human rights and government responsibility, I hope you will continue to learn what you can from me. My promise is that I will try to synthesize what I can, report accurately and truthfully at all times, and most of all, admit I’m wrong when I know I’m wrong. God bless you all.

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?” — Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775, in a speech delivered before the First Continental Congress.

A friend of mine, Jeff Moss, with reference to the Military Commissions Act, recently made the following comment on my post, “Agree to Disagree, Even with that ‘Nutcase’“:

“Or is awaiting such determination” would only mean that anybody who claims to be a citizen but cannot (will not) present proof should be held until it can be determined whether or not they are a citizen. The feds could determine citizenship of a cooperative suspect in a matter of minutes. The alternative of releasing a dangerous person is more of a concern to me.

I could not disagree more with my friend.

Jeff is making a subtle assertion that non-citizens are to be considered guilty until proven innocent, while US citizens deserve proper trial by law. As a Canadian and lawful permanent resident of the United States, I find this logic to be absurd. As if my being born on the other side of the 49th parallel diminishes my rights as a human being, or has somehow tainted my nature so as to make me more deserving of criminal suspicion! Not only does this argument carve out an artificial and false sense of safety for American citizens, but it dilutes the very principles upon which America was founded.

Tyrany is much worse than terrorism. By a single act of violence, a terrorist can kill thousands. By a single act of law, a tyrant can enslave millions. Our forefathers demonstrated that they understood this when they signed the seditious Declaration of Independence. They were, in effect, rebels and terrorists to the state of Britain. And in the context of liberty, truth, and love of God, they acted bravely–even nobly.

It is for this same cause that I stand up to voice my concern and express my fears. If ever a day should come when Americans ask themselves, “How did we get here? How did we, the greatest nation on earth, fall from our lofty heights to become the most despised, most depraved of nations?” I hope in that day I will not be asking the same questions. I hope I will be wise enough to see now the danger as it rises. I hope, as always, that my choices in this moment can make a better world for my family and my community. I will serve no good purpose by keeping my eyes wide shut.

I’m sorry, Jeff, but your interpretation of the law does not reassure me in the least. And the American Civil Liberties Union also thinks your interpretation of the law is incorrect.

I’ve seen a lot of people smeared lately for making statements about 9/11 being an inside job, or for believing the United States is in a constitutional crisis–possibly on the brink of disaster. It seems that anyone who holds these views is fodder for the “nutcase” campaign–whether on Fox News, or in online forums and blogs.

The world is a complicated place. There is no doubt that I have some wrong notions. My instinct, for example, has been wrong on several occasions–whether in judging a person’s character, or in ascertaining the veracity of historical documents. Sometimes I wish it were different, but it’s clear that my perspective of the world as a whole is incomplete. I assume that this is the case for everyone else, too.

I respect people’s point of view, however, even though I know we all see incompletes. In fact, for those whose view of current affairs sustains America as the zenith of freedom and liberty in the world, I honestly hope they see something I don’t. I hope the government is not as corrupt as it seems to me. I hope September 11th was not, somehow, allowed or made to happen by our government. I hope that President Bush is a good man who will use his new-found powers of secret imprisonment, secret torture, secret trial and secret execution only to protect America, its people, and its values.

But at the same time, I can’t quiet my conscience on these matters. I can’t permit myself, knowing what I do, to turn a blind eye to politics and history. My father taught me that “absolute power corrupts absolutely.” When I see the executive branch of government gaining power at the expense of the people, I call it corruption. When I read articles whose headlines summarize: “Supreme Court Trims Whistleblower Rights,” “Innocent People Placed on ‘Watch List’ to Meet Quota,” and “Senate Rejects Habeas Corpus in Interrogation Bill,” I feel indignation rise up in my soul. Like Nazi Germany, all that America’s government requires of us is that we do nothing while it changes the foundations upon which we were built.

Degree by degree, from my perspective, this nation is changing. According to Milton Mayer’s “They Thought They Were Free“, that’s exactly what happened to Germans. From my perspective, I have only one choice. Finem respice. Consider the end. Principiis obsta. Resist the beginnings.

The effects of government-sponsored deception and terror are starting to affect me personally now.

The Military Commissions Act that was passed by congress yesterday, and which is about to be passed—without ammendment—by the Senate today or tomorrow will strip me of what I thought were inalienable rights to me in this country, the United States of America. In the words of Senator Patrick Leahy, who tried valiantly to strike out the offending section 7:

Imagine that you are a law-abiding, lawful permanent resident. In your spare time, you do charitable fundraising for international relief agencies that lend a hand in disasters. You send money abroad to those in need. You are selective in the charities you support, but you do not discriminate on grounds of religion. Then one day there is a knock on your door. The Government thinks that the Muslim charity you sent money to may be funneling money to terrorists, and it thinks you may be involved. And perhaps an overzealous neighbor who saw a group of Muslims come to your house has reported “suspicious behavior.” You are brought in for questioning.

Initially, you are not too worried. This is America, you are innocent, and you have faith in American justice. You know your rights, and you ask for a lawyer. But no lawyer comes. Once again, since you know your rights, you refuse to answer further questions. Then the interrogators get angry. Then comes solitary confinement, then fierce dogs, then freezing cold that induces hypothermia, then waterboarding, then threats of being sent to a country famous for its torture techniques, then Guantanamo. And then nothing, for years, for decades, for the rest of your life.

This is the New America. I am a “law-abiding, lawful permanent resident” of the United States. Do you suspect me of being a terrorist? If so, your inalienable rights are better than my inalienable rights—the law still upholds yours.

Have you noticed the decline in academic freedom since September 11th, 2001? Have you observed that America exhibits or is beginning to exhibit the historical 14 characteristics of fascist states? Is it really possible we’re becoming a fascist state?

Certainly.

Update: Here’s an opinion article published in the New York Times that brings the dangers of this bill in to the light, point by point. In addition, there is an article in the Washington Post about a Canadian who was whisked away and tortured by the CIA in secret off-shore prisons. He was later able to prove his innocence in Canada.

Update #2: Another article from a progressive newspaper, Habeas Corpus, R.I.P. (1215 - 2006).

It appears that Christopher Hood, a Diebold consultant during the 2002 Georgia election, has blown the whistle with regard to massive election fraud (on the order of 5000 machines patched with potentially unlawful software).

The booman tribune has a nice write-up on the significance of this.

Kristen Breitweiser, Patty Casazza, Lorie Van Auken, and Mindy Kleinberg. I hadn’t heard of the Jersey Girls until watching the 9/11 Press for Truth documentary released today–and yet, I now count them as heroes among women.

This is the story of 4 courageous widows of 9/11 who would not take “just so” for an answer. They pressed hard for truth, and were instrumental in applying the pressure that was necessary to get us the 9/11 Commission. And after having been sleighted by that commission, and their questions sometimes wholly ignored, they are still fighting for truth. God bless these patriotic women.

If you haven’t seen this hour-and-a-half documentary yet, you might be missing out on one of the biggest truth bombs to hit America since Watergate. Watch it at Google Video, visit a participating theatre, or download the torrent here.

After reading and later listening to a speech by Keith Olbermann on MSNBC, I felt for a brief moment a feeling that had lain dormant within me for a long time–a sense of the greatness of America’s foundation.

What inspired this “special comment” from Keith was a speech by Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, in which Rumsfeld implies that his administration’s critics suffer from “moral or intellectual confusion about who or what is right or wrong”.

In a truly inspiring turn-around, Keith warns of leaders like Rumsfeld who expect everyone to “fall in line” without thoughtful dissent.

Here is Keith’s speech, straight from YouTube.