http://www.counterpunch.org/whitney08022005.htmlHomeland Security's Michael Chertoff is a busy man. In the last month alone he's arrested more than 600 gang members. There's only one problem. None of them has been charged with a crime.
No matter.
In Chertoff's world that's only a minor glitch; after all, Chertoff engineered the infamous round up of 1,100 Muslims following 9-11; tossing them all in the federal hoosegow and barring them from legal counsel.
It was quite a coup, and probably helped the public feel more secure from the looming threat of domestic terror.
As it happens, not one of Chertoff's detainees was ever convicted of a crime or connected in any way to terrorism. It turns out the whole misadventure was a bigger flop than a Bill Bennett Las Vegas vacation. . .
. . . For all practical purposes Chertoff's "Operation Community Shield" was a total bust. Oh yeah, he got his free air-time on TV and the media was quick to applaud his get-tough approach on crime, but let's face it; nothing was accomplished and the only thing the community was shielded from was justice. Just read between the lines: . .
. . . It's clear that Homeland Security is working closely with friends in the media to raise the "fear quotient" and create the sense that big-brother is preemptively dealing with "dangerous" gangs. It's a big mistake. My guess is that their ham-fisted methods will just inflame the communities and produce more open hostility to law enforcement. . . When I was young, ‘Preemption’ was referred to as ‘Paranoid Schizophrenia’; but today many seem to want to give this method credence.
And It would appear that some should be heading down to the store to pick up some Depends®, or even Molicare Super Plus Brief® & Abriform X-Plus® if they need the extra absorption; to hide the evidence of them soiling themselves in fear. And raises the question of why?
Is the Media helping to create a Culture of Fear?If so, should Liberals be campaigning that these people get therapy? Or should they use old fashion public ridicule on these wuss’s in the hope that many will rediscover their testicular sacks?
If the Media is not at fault; then why is it, that there is the appearance of fear among many people?And if there isn’t fear, how do you explain than many want to sacrifice our right for the perception of safety?
What happened to better ‘Dead than Red’? Or ‘Give me Liberty or Give me Death’? When it comes to Rule of Law and the 4th Amendment; are many turning into Surrender Monkeys™?