From the wires:

Vermont National Guard specialist Christopher Merchant was killed in Iraq, the National Guard says.

He was the 21st U.S. service member with Vermont ties to be killed in action in Iraq.

Merchant was a member of C Company of the 1st Battalion of the 172nd Armor Regiment based in Morrisville.

Although its been said many times, it always bears repeating: however one may feel about this war — or even wars in general — the courage and committment it takes to put ones life on the line as Christopher Merchant did is the very definition of heroism. Although our state is unquestionably diminished by his passing, we are honored by his life and sacrifice. Our thoughts go to his family, friends, and community.

From Aristotle to Harry Truman: never truer than today —

“It is also in the interests of a tyrant to keep his people poor, so that they may not be able to afford the cost of protecting themselves by arms and be so occupied with their daily tasks that they have no time for rebellion.” – Aristotle

“Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.” – Harry S. Truman

In January the Army Corps of Engineers awarded Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root $385 million dollars to construct detention centers  in the United States to deal with “an emergency influx of immigrants into the U.S., or to support the rapid development of new programs,” KBR said.  The New York Times reported these centers will each hold 5,000 people, but focussed on Halliburton’s reputation for overcharging,  missing the real news.

Check out new ‘homeland security’ rules, posted at the U.S. Army website, (http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r210_35.pdf)  about the Pentagon’s Civilian Inmate Labor Program. This program “provides Army policy and guidance for establishing civilian inmate labor programs and civilian prison camps on Army installations,” and was revised 1/14/05.

A DOD database includes at least 20 references to U.S. citizens or U.S. persons, including Vermont protesters.  Senator Leahy complained to Cheney months ago, but I have not heard of a reply..  This pResident can claim wartime powers and override any laws.  All he has to do is claim someone as an ‘enemy of the people’ and that person is arrested, losing all rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

Doug Thompson of Capitol Hill Blue reported on a GOP meeting at the White House when Bush was told his hardcore push to renew the more onerous provisions of the Patriot Act could alienate conservatives.  “I don’t give a goddamn,” Bush retorted. “I’m the President and the Commander-in-Chief.  Do it my way.”

“Mr. President,” one aide in the meeting said. “There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution.”

“Stop throwing the Constitution in my face,” Bush screamed back. “It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!”

Thompson said, “I’ve talked to three people present that day and they all confirm that the President of the United States called the Constitution “a goddamned piece of paper.”  (The White House has not denied it).

Draw your own conclusions.  Is martial law closerthanwethink? 

Barbara