Media & Government: I Can't Take It Anymore

Sierra Times ^ | 10.24.01 | J.J. Johnson

[Movemout]

Are We At War, or just a ratings bonanza for the media? Something has been bothering me all week, and I think I've put my finger on it. All we've been hearing about is the latest confirmed Anthrax test and stray bombs in Afghanistan. With this kind of information, there is no way we are going to win this war. And I am fed up with it.

Vice President Dick Cheney, who spoke at a charity dinner at New York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel in a rare public appearance on Thursday (10.18.01), told Americans to expect "permanent" changes in domestic security, "at least in the lifetime of most of us." In a fight against "evil people" who lack regard for human life, he warned: "For the first time in our history, we will probably suffer more casualties here at home in America than with our troops overseas."

George Stephanopolus commented on ABC's Good Morning America the following morning by saying, "...This in effect, makes every citizen a soldier in this war."

Let that sink in real good.

So, why the heck are we talking about stray bombs 5000 miles away, and negotiating to talk to Osama bin Ladin?

Media & Government: Here is what we need: Since George Stephanopolus stated, , "...This in effect, makes every citizen a soldier in this war", we soldiers need some damn good intelligence if we have to go into battle and defend this country.

Releasing the contents of the first anthrax letters were a good start. Now, at least we have a better idea of what to look for. But here's more: You say bin Laden has a network in over 60 countries. How about detailing how this network is organized? That should not violate any national security. Just don't drop names of our guys. And if I hear from anyone in government that "we can't tell you about a threat because we're conducting an investigation", that'll just be one more reason to be convinced that we will loose this war.

There was reportedly a book found in the home or car of the hijackers about how to blend in, and where to live in America. How about making the complete text of that book public so the rest of us know what to look for?

Recently, and Turkish Man was picked up in Germany with a bio/chem suit, and other little nasty things. Among them, A CD-ROM was also discovered that included a training program for "God's warriors" with detailed instructions for joining the "holy war". Any chance of making this available for public view?

To the government and media: If you know of an attack - tell us. I don't want to hear this, 'live you life as normal, and stay calm'. That went out the window on September 11. If you would like Americans to 'feel' safe, here are some things you can do:

1) Close the borders - don't tell us it can't be done. It magically happened on Sept 11.
2) Pull every foreign tourist visa from the Middle East
3) Start deportation proceedings
4) Start Vaccination programs or start selling antidotes on the open market.

These are just a few things that should be done IMMEDIATELY.

We should be having government briefings once a week about how things are going - not just about the latest anthrax scare. Frankly, I really don't care what the military is up to over there. We are concerned about here.

This is where our war is.

You told us that if we see a suspicious letter, we should not touch it - just call the police. The Postal service say there are over 300 million pieces of mail a day. There are about 300,000 total law enforcement. They cannot watch everything. Americans have to be the eyes and ears on the ground here. Tell us what to look for, and stop talking in general themes.

And lastly, this so-called Patriot Act of 2001. Please explain how this piece of legislation fits in with the Bill of Rights. Silly me, I thought we were fighting to defend freedom, not extinguish it.

Just a few thoughts.

[sonjay]

George Stephanopolus commented on ABC's Good Morning America the following morning by saying, "...This in effect, makes every citizen a soldier in this war."

So..... when are we all going to get our government-issue sidearms?

[Lion's Cub]

Excellent post.

This "we-parent-you-child;-go-out-and-play-while-the-adults-take-care-of-things" attitude needs to end. The fact is they are the employees and we, the people, are the employer. If our relationship is going to work, both Washington, D.C. and the media complex are going to have to take note of that. Otherwise, we may have to start handing out pink slips.

[Movemout]

Here are some answers to your questions--->Pictures of Anthrax Letters and Envelopes - FYI - FYI...

[DooDahhhh]

I think that it is very disturbing that we have known cells here of terrorists and that we have not heard from our government about deporting every middle easterner with no right to be here. What is the Homeland Defense dude doing about this..00000

[Movemout]

Governor Ridge hasn't done anything that I can perceive as yet.

[Lucky]

The government's nonaction is very telling. By not protecting our borders and not booting out every ME person here on vistor or student visas, they're telling us that a few American lives are not as important as globization.

[Zviadist]

Sorry, J.J. This is a "new kind of war." The government does whatever it wants and you just shut up and pay your taxes. Any questions will be considered unpatriotic -- after all, if you are not with us you are with THEM (and they are everywhere, maybe even under your bed) -- and you will be charged accordingly. In short, it's a brave new world, J.J., and in the name of a global war against an idea instead of a specific enemy, we now have totalitarianism on our own shores. Get used to it, because it is going to be around for a while.

[Movemout]

Totalitarian? Not yet, but we seem to be drifting in that direction. It is a different kind of war for sure. But JJ Johnson's point of view is one that I have reiterated a number of times on FR. Any government approach that doesn't use the capabilities of the human beings who live in the USA is shortsighted and wasteful.

[Lion's Cub]

The government's nonaction is very telling. By not protecting our borders and not booting out every ME person here on vistor or student visas, they're telling us that a few American lives are not as important as globization.

I agree, except it won't be a few American lives. And they are intent on destroying the American culture so it no longer stands in the way of their NWO.

What I'm saying, though, is that Americans are much hardier breed than they think. If we have to go into survival mode, we'll manage in spite of their obstruction. We'll not only protect ourselves and our families, we'll issue pink slips to all who get in the way.

[Lucky]

But, are there enough of us to make a difference?

[gjenkins]

"Governor Ridge hasn't done anything that I can perceive as yet." by Movemout
...
"a few American lives are not as important as globization." by Lucky

Sad and angry Bump.

[Lucky]

This grand (choke) idea of combining capilotism and socialism does not work. The United States should stay as indepentent as possible. We have oil,coal, nuclear power, solar power, etc. We need to stay out of other countries. We can't reason with communists and Arabs. Make our country the best it can be and the others can fight it out with each other. Back to basics, God, family, country.

[SLB]

So, why the heck are we talking about stray bombs 5000 miles away, and negotiating to talk to Osama bin Ladin?

I have been asking the same. All it serves to do is undermine the war effort. The PC media at it again. When will they learn? We need to truck every last one of them off to Afghanistan and let them serve as negotiators.

[harpseal]

We need to truck every last one of them off to Afghanistan and let them serve as negotiators.I think we should invest in a few C17 flights and they can be the pioneers for a new insertion method High Altitude No Opening jumps.

Stay well - stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[Lucky]

Ain't that the truth.

[monkeywrench]

"When will they learn?" http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/pdd/pdd-68.htm (this is on clintons PDD#68) "According to the IPIG Chater, IPI activities "are overt and address foreign audiences only" while domestic information should be "deconflicted" and "synchronized" to avoid contradictory messages."