In reminiscent of King George III sending troops into the American Colonies to enforce his personal rule, the Bush Administration speared headed by President Bush and VP Dick Chaney, contemplated employing troops on U.S. soil as a means to enforce their own agenda. Recently the New York Times reported about a proposal by the Bush Administration to send U.S. troops into Buffalo. N.Y. to arrest suspected terrorists. It seems the Bush administration in 2002 considered sending U.S. troops into a Buffalo, N.Y., suburb to arrest a group of terror suspects in what would have been a nearly unprecedented use of the military within our own borders.
The proposal which was never implemented but it was highly supported by President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and several other Bush advisers. The plan, which advanced enough to be included in several administrations meeting, called for use of the U.S. military to apprehend individuals suspected of plotting with al Qaida. It was finally dropped after objections were raised by Condoleezza Rice other high level Bush advisors.
The U.S. Constitution restricts the military from being used to conduct domestic raids and seize property. But the Bush Administration felt that the Patriot Act justified and gave President the authority to deploy our military domestically.
Since cooler heads prevailed, we were spared the sight of seeing troops marching down our city streets. We still have to deal with 9/11 and the consequences that followed. The Patriot Act gives our government broad powers to spy on our movements, from the books we check out to the movies we rent. But that is a far cry from having to deal with the fear of some jackbooted storm trooper breaking down our house doors and arresting us in the dead of night.
Yes we did duck the bullet this time and I guess Grandfather Bush’s dream of taking over the government has to wait for another day.
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 8
The fact that it even reached the talking stage means that it was being seriously considered and in the days following 9/11 there would have been few brave enough to stand up to the Commander in Chief had he issued such orders.
On the other hand I do support what Karl said. We may not have wanted a military invasion on our home turf, but not enough of us stood up and objected to destroying other people's homes, schools, businesses, towns, and lives in Afghanistan and Iraq. That is a mistake we'll have to live with for a long time to come. Hopefully we've learned enough to keep from making the same mistake again.