Progressive Dissent Is in the FBI's Crosshairs

[marmar]

via AlterNet:




Catalyst / By Lydia Howell

Progressive Dissent Is in the FBI's Crosshairs
After the September 26 FBI raids on peace activists’ homes across the nation, it appears that free speech depends on who's speaking and what they're saying.

October 6, 2010 |


Is free speech worth the constitutional paper it’s written on?

After the September 26 FBI raids on peace activists’ homes in Minneapolis, Chicago and North Carolina, it appears to depend on who’s speaking and what they’re saying.

The pretext for the raids was investigating “material aide to terrorists”, resulting in grand jury subpoenas and confiscation of computers, books, music CDs and from one home, a Martin Luther King poster. The targeted Minneapolis activists have openly protested US military policy since the 1980s. The FBI certainly knows they have nothing to do with terrorism. These activists simply have the audacity to challenge bi-partisan US invasions, occupations and support for dictatorships and human rights abusers. Dissent on the left has long been seen as ‘criminal behavior’. Where once “the communist threat" was the argument for such repression, now, “terrorism” is.

When it comes to war, US government sees three roles for the American people: 1. Pay hundreds of billions for the largest military on Earth 2. Kill and possibly die or be maimed for US military and corporate dominance of other countries 3. Cheerlead war. The US government -- bought and paid for by weapons-makers and mercenaries (‘contractors’) -- does not think that We The People have the right to even question, much less challenge and resist permanent war, which is bankrupting our country and civilian deaths ignite more violence. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/rights/148428/progressive_dissent_is_in_the_fbi%27s_crosshairs/

[old mark]

1. Mr. Obama, are you really a Democrat? Why are you promoting this? nt

[marmar]

2. I think it's just the office of the presidency, period, regardless of what party occupies it.

There's a lot of inherent paranoia.

[old mark]

4. He could at least share some of the paranoia with the right wingers -

they are the real threat to America, not anti war leftists.


mark

[icnorth]

3. Ain't that the truth...

material aid to terrorists...body searches...digital strip searches...full body scans. Look! Al Qaeda here, Al Qaeda there, Al Aaeda everywhere. Terror! Terror! Terror! And the M.I.C. marches on.

[Enthusiast]

5. The FBI is simply ramping up

in preparation for the invasion of Iran. They know there will be a massive push back against this third front. Might as well face up to it right now.

[marmar]

6. You know, that's been in the back of my mind......with this sudden rash of terror warnings.

We've seen this movie before, and the ending is really crappy.

[Enthusiast]

7. As insane as it sounds

the MIC and related corporations are running the country. If they want to invade Iran it will be done. If not under an Obama Administration it will happen under the next Republican one and it might come sooner than we think.