The Counterforce Speaks!

[Toby G Levy]

excerpts from:

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=12477

[The following is a speech that Dennis Kucinich, U.S. Congressman from
Cleveland, Ohio, gave this past weekend at the University of Southern
California. Rep. Kucinich is the leader of the Progressive Caucus and a
longtime defender of free speech, civil liberties and international
peace. This speech makes him the first member of the United States
Congress to openly repudiate President Bush's war rationale.]

<snip>

Let us pray that our nation will remember that the unfolding of the
promise of democracy in our nation paralleled the striving for civil
rights. That is why we must challenge the rationale of the Patriot Act.
We must ask, why should America put aside guarantees of constitutional
justice?

<snip>

How can we justify in effect canceling the First Amendment and the right
of free speech, the right to peaceably assemble?

How can we justify in effect canceling the Fourth Amendment, probable
cause, the prohibitions against unreasonable search and seizure?

How can we justify in effect canceling the Fifth Amendment, nullifying
due process, and allowing for indefinite incarceration without a trial?

How can we justify in effect canceling the Sixth Amendment, the right to
prompt and public trial?

How can we justify in effect canceling the Eighth Amendment which
protects against cruel and unusual punishment?

<snip>

The trappings of a state of siege trap us in a state of fear, ill
equipped to deal with the Patriot Games, the Mind Games, the War Games
of an unelected President and his unelected Vice President.

<snip>

We licensed a response to those who helped bring the terror of September
the Eleventh. But we the people and our elected representatives must
reserve the right to measure the response, to proportion the response,
to challenge the response, and to correct the response.

Because we did not authorize the invasion of Iraq.
We did not authorize the invasion of Iran.
We did not authorize the invasion of North Korea.
We did not authorize the bombing of civilians in Afghanistan.
We did not authorize permanent detainees in Guantanamo Bay.
We did not authorize the withdrawal from the Geneva Convention.
We did not authorize military tribunals suspending due process and
habeas corpus.
We did not authorize assassination squads.
We did not authorize the resurrection of COINTELPRO.
We did not authorize the repeal of the Bill of Rights.
We did not authorize the revocation of the Constitution.
We did not authorize national identity cards.
We did not authorize the eye of Big Brother to peer from cameras
throughout our cities.
We did not authorize an eye for an eye. Nor did we ask that the blood of
innocent people, who perished on September 11, be avenged with the blood
of innocent villagers in Afghanistan.
We did not authorize the administration to wage war anytime, anywhere,
anyhow it pleases.
We did not authorize war without end.
We did not authorize a permanent war economy.

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