WHOSE "National Security"?

By: Matilda Lipscomb

The explanation we are being given for all these new secret measures being taken by the Bush administration is "national security". And we are further being told that these measures are needed because we are "at war".

Let's try to shed a little healing light on these premises by examining the real definitions of the terms:

War: Most dictionaries define war as an armed conflict between two nations. Surely what is happening today does not fit this dictionary definition.

Afghanistan is not at war with the United States. They have the misfortune of having as a resident a man who (if not the architect of the terrorism) is at least openly rejoicing at the havoc that was wreaked. If he were hiding out somewhere in Great Britain or France or Germany, would the United States be bombing these countries?? We would surely have Scotland Yard and Interpol and the CIA hunting him down and bringing him to justice in a World Court.

And if he were hiding in his native land of Saudi Arabia, would we be bombing that country??? Certainly NOT, despite the fact that we already know that at least 15 of the suicide terrorists were Saudis. If the September attacks had been conducted by Mafiosi who were hiding out in Sicily, would we be bombing that beautiful island? Hardly!!

National: pertaining to a nation. But We the People ARE the nation! We are being told by a man who has usurped the power of the presidency that he is abrogating the rights guaranteed us by our Constitution in order to "protect" us!! We will not be permitted to examine the presidential papers of the Reagan and Bush presidencies (nor will we see the records of George W. Bush's governorship in Texas). And this too, in the name of "national security"!! Is anyone asking WHY???

Security: This is the most diabolical claim of all. Just how secure can we feel when our freedoms are being kidnapped one by one in the name of security... and when we are being stripped of our constitutional rights?

And now we are hearing veiled threats of plans to start bombing Iraq. We had been told that the "war" against Afghanistan would be long and difficult, but it appears that this "war" is may not be lasting long enough... How to prolong it? Simple... Iraq had better let us get back in there to make sure they're not producing weapons of mass destruction. And if they don't, then what? Bush's answer: "They'll find out!!" Of course it's just possible that Iraq may say, "Come ahead... have a look". What then can this administration think up to protect our "national security"? Surely there must be some other countries that are hiding the "evil doers". And so it goes...

But the word from Washington is "Laugh and Play, America... fly those flags... sing 'God Bless America'... do your Christmas shopping.... Trust us", we are being told, "What you don't know won't hurt you... everything we do is to protect your security in time of war". As Hamlet said... "The time is out of joint!!" And who will put it right? The media, for the most part, has not been of much help (although we're beginning to see some glimmers of hope). Our Democratic representatives are, again for the most part, less courageous than we would hope. But it's We the People who will have to stand and answer for our failure to make our voices heard. History will not judge us kindly if we allow this dangerous situation to continue.

So before things get completely beyond repair, we will have to find a way to unite and to make our voices loudly heard. We cannot wait for some "tooth fairy" to come to our rescue. It's OUR national security that is in the balance.