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Militia: Justifiable Demonization - If You're the Enemy
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Militia: Justifiable Demonization - If You're the Enemy by J.J. Johnson - Sierra Times Editor & Chief 10.18.01
And from the other side of the world come not one, but two reports suspecting that U.S. Militia groups could be behind the anthrax attacks on U.S. Soil. Then CNN begins to make hints about it on some talk show. Okay Real America - Let's Roll. The India Times reported via French Press (AFP) that Clive Williams, a specialist in terrorism at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, believes the evidence points to right-wing US militia. "I think the first instances of it, the ones involving media, were more likely to have been caused by extremist militia in the US who have shown an interest in anthrax in the past and tried to acquire it," he told AFP. Of course, neither the AFP or the India Times gave any information stating Williams knew a thing about the U.S. Militia. The more damning report came from Ian Bruce of the London Herald stating, "THE FBI's domestic terrorism unit is investigating the possible role of illegal militia groups in the spate of anthrax outbreaks in Florida and New York." He went on to claim, "Others have threatened to use biological weapons, including anthrax, botulism, and ricin, in their struggle against what they see as a global conspiracy between the US administration and the United Nations to disarm and enslave them." Every state has its own 'patriot' group of disaffected right-wing Christian radicals opposed to central government and federal regulations. Most are organized along paramilitary lines. The FBI estimates their numbers at up to 40,000, with the larger militias in backwoods country areas. They claim they are mobilizing to fight the 'New World Order'". Both reports reek of left-wing propaganda, fueled by the anger that the September 11 hijackers didn't use guns to take over the four aircraft. In case these foreigners didn't know, America has been stockpiling enough firearms and supplies that, by a so-called terrorism expert's standard, about 80% of the American public could be considered a militia member. If this is not propaganda from the left, it might be a well-crafted attempt at psychological warfare against the United States as a whole - something common in a time of war, and something to which we suspect here.Let's say for a moment that this so-called FBI source is correct, and the American public began falling for it. The result would be the FBI putting less focus on where it should be (foreign operatives on U.S. soil), and more focus on persons who are actively signing up for homeland defense, lobbying to make sure pilots are armed to prevent further hijackings, and providing the American public with more information about common defense than any government agency or media affiliate at this time. At a time that America is more unified than ever, this type of information can be only meant to breakdown that unity. Pointing the finger at other Americans would cause them not to trust one another, and lose focus on the objective.What both reports fail to say is something that U.S. Militia groups have been saying for years: In the United States, the militia is comprised of ALL U.S. citizens between the ages of 17 and 45 (65 if prior military service). This makes no matter to the propaganda peddlers since they have their great scapegoat - Timothy McVeigh.If McVeigh (executed for the 1995 OKC bombing) is their reason for pointing a finger at the militia movement, it should be noted that McVeigh was given a dishonorable discharge from his one and only militia meeting in Michigan while he was given an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army after 4 years of military service. If we really wanted to point fingers based on mindless assumptions, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and all other reports show that the anthrax sent to Washington and New York were not listed as "militia grade", but "military grade".When investigating a criminal case, one always looks for motive. As militia groups (according to their public statements and web sites) support the U.S. Constitution, rail against a police state, and Presidents ruling by Executive Orders, why would they engage in such criminal acts that would cause more police powers to investigate, Congress forcing to shut down, and disrupt one of the oldest services of the U.S government outlined by the Constitution - the United States Postal Service. The London Herald reported among other things that, "Despite their redneck reputation, they have developed a sophisticated communications network using computer e-mail, shortwave radio, and fax. The North American Patriots, a group with members from California to Kansas, publish a newsletter entitled Firearms and Freedom."As this report assumes that a "newsletter" is sophisticated communication, why would a "militia group" (who all use the same mail system) put their own "sophisticated communication" at risk?No motive.The Washington Post reported that senior government officials also disclosed that the letter sent to Daschle bears striking similarities -- including references to Allah and a warning that the envelope contained anthrax -- to another contaminated envelope sent to NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw. There has been no known case of any militia member making references to "Allah", either publicly or privately - except to help send bad guys to 'Allah' when requested.The letter that reached the Reno, Nevada office that tested positive for Anthrax had a Malaysia postmark. There are no known U.S. Militia groups operating out of Malaysia.A careful reading of the text of both news articles laying blame on the militia reveals evidence of foreign journalists(?) who mis-profiled the American public.From the London Herald:"They range in outlook from Pat Robertson, a failed 1988 presidential candidate, with his vision of a 'Christian America' to the sinister Posse Comitatus, Aryan Nations and Minnesota Patriots' Council, who favour armed insurrection. All have links with the National Rifle Association, the influential lobby group which represents weapons' manufacturers, hunters, gun clubs, and campaigns for the right of all Americans 'to own and bear arms'False: The NRA nor Pat Robertson is associated with none of these groups or individuals.According to the Herald, "There is some doubt as to whether this right is enshrined legally in the American constitution but the NRA has powerful supporters in both senate and congress and no-one has yet managed successfully to challenge the all-pervasive nationwide gun culture.."Some doubt? Here's the exact text:"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."This right was recognized by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft this year to the United Nations, recently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, and enshrined legally in the American Constitution for only 210 years. And, in all the above cases, it took little help from the NRA. This reporter did little to no homework. At first, we suspected typical left-wing propaganda, but then we remembered: The left-wing in America are buying guns, gas masks, and etc. So, why take a cheap shot at the NRA?The India Times report was an even more pathetic example of journalism. Williams stated that, "In the United States there has only been one instance in which it was alleged there was an airborne spore, but that could have been because somebody touched anthrax and then picked their nose. I'm not convinced that any of the instances in the US involved the weaponized variety." But Williams missed the U.S. Senate Briefing. The Washington Post reported Senators came away from yesterday's briefing with the strong impression that the anthrax was, as Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle suggested, of a potent and concentrated nature. One senator, asking not to be named, said it was characterized as "weapon-grade." Another, also requesting anonymity, said it was described as "high-quality."Which brings us finally to the Cable News Network (CNN) who believes giving aid and comfort to America's enemies during a time of war is their duty under the First Amendment. There is no use commenting on the only media on U.S. soil that would give these accusations air time. But then again, this is CNN - the Communist News Network.Tom Ridge, the new director of the White House Office of Homeland Security, said Tuesday he suspects the anthrax contamination is linked to the September 11 attacks and bin Laden's al Qaeda network. "To me, it's just beyond coincidence," Ridge told the Associated Press. "It's more than coincidence, and we don't have the credible evidence. It's somewhere in between." Ridge said he gets regular intelligence, as well as law enforcement and military briefings. "As the evidence unwinds, there may end up being a formal tie between the anthrax case and bin Laden", he said.Frankly, I'd put my money on Iraq, but that's just me.As a matter of record, all known militia persons who spoke to any media in the United States has spoken out against the acts of September 11, and to unify to stand against such aggression - which is more than I can say for certain foreign governments, and terrorist networks, etc - who do posses weapons grade anthrax, we are told. Demonize the U.S. militia, and give free air time to Osama bin Laden on global media. Go figure.Now, to give the world audience a true glimpse at the militia in the United States. It is not organized among paramilitary lines. To a degree, there are few, if any, militia "groups" left in the United States at all. Here, the militia is a mindset; an attitude. They are the people who say, "this is my country, dammit, and you'll have to kill all of us to take it away."It was built in to the American fabric as the last line of defense against invasion, tyranny and yes - terrorism. They are not just a bunch of camouflaged wearing folks in the backwoods. Most Americans with that "militia mindset" don't even know they have it, and if they did, most wouldn't admit it anyway. The world witnessed the American Militia in action on September 11 in New York, Washington, and over the skies of Pennsylvania on Flight 93. They were the firefighters, the police, and the volunteers who help folks escape the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. They are the people watching the mail. They are the airline pilots, the flight attendants, the baggage handlers.They are the farmer, the rancher, the trucker, the millworker, the doctors and nurses.They are the people giving the tips to police, and keeping their eyes and ears open. They are the people defending the rights of peace protestors to protest. They are the people fighting to protect the constitutional rights of each person in this country today. They are the last line of defense. They are America's true Homeland Security Force.And, as our military began its fights overseas on Octber 7, that unorganized militia of the several states was activated here - 250 million strong on September 11, 2001; the same one that prevented the Japanese from invading the mainland - the one preparing and actively defending against all enemies - foreign and domestic, here. They are all those people arming themselves, and waving their flags proudly today. They have been activated not by any Chain of Command, but by their duty as Real Americans on their own, to protect, preserve and defend their homeland - long before anyone knew of Tom Ridge. And, they are everywhere. They are Americans. It's their duty. Deal with it.I must admit, if I were an enemy or at war with the United States of America, I'd want to demonized the U.S. Militia, too. Because, if you can't defeat them, you can't defeat America.Let's Roll!http://www.sierratimes.com/archive/files/oct/18/jjjohnson.htm
And from the other side of the world come not one, but two reports suspecting that U.S. Militia groups could be behind the anthrax attacks on U.S. Soil. Then CNN begins to make hints about it on some talk show. Okay Real America - Let's Roll. The India Times reported via French Press (AFP) that Clive Williams, a specialist in terrorism at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, believes the evidence points to right-wing US militia. "I think the first instances of it, the ones involving media, were more likely to have been caused by extremist militia in the US who have shown an interest in anthrax in the past and tried to acquire it," he told AFP. Of course, neither the AFP or the India Times gave any information stating Williams knew a thing about the U.S. Militia. The more damning report came from Ian Bruce of the London Herald stating, "THE FBI's domestic terrorism unit is investigating the possible role of illegal militia groups in the spate of anthrax outbreaks in Florida and New York." He went on to claim, "Others have threatened to use biological weapons, including anthrax, botulism, and ricin, in their struggle against what they see as a global conspiracy between the US administration and the United Nations to disarm and enslave them." Every state has its own 'patriot' group of disaffected right-wing Christian radicals opposed to central government and federal regulations. Most are organized along paramilitary lines. The FBI estimates their numbers at up to 40,000, with the larger militias in backwoods country areas. They claim they are mobilizing to fight the 'New World Order'". Both reports reek of left-wing propaganda, fueled by the anger that the September 11 hijackers didn't use guns to take over the four aircraft. In case these foreigners didn't know, America has been stockpiling enough firearms and supplies that, by a so-called terrorism expert's standard, about 80% of the American public could be considered a militia member. If this is not propaganda from the left, it might be a well-crafted attempt at psychological warfare against the United States as a whole - something common in a time of war, and something to which we suspect here.Let's say for a moment that this so-called FBI source is correct, and the American public began falling for it. The result would be the FBI putting less focus on where it should be (foreign operatives on U.S. soil), and more focus on persons who are actively signing up for homeland defense, lobbying to make sure pilots are armed to prevent further hijackings, and providing the American public with more information about common defense than any government agency or media affiliate at this time. At a time that America is more unified than ever, this type of information can be only meant to breakdown that unity. Pointing the finger at other Americans would cause them not to trust one another, and lose focus on the objective.What both reports fail to say is something that U.S. Militia groups have been saying for years: In the United States, the militia is comprised of ALL U.S. citizens between the ages of 17 and 45 (65 if prior military service). This makes no matter to the propaganda peddlers since they have their great scapegoat - Timothy McVeigh.If McVeigh (executed for the 1995 OKC bombing) is their reason for pointing a finger at the militia movement, it should be noted that McVeigh was given a dishonorable discharge from his one and only militia meeting in Michigan while he was given an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army after 4 years of military service. If we really wanted to point fingers based on mindless assumptions, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and all other reports show that the anthrax sent to Washington and New York were not listed as "militia grade", but "military grade".When investigating a criminal case, one always looks for motive. As militia groups (according to their public statements and web sites) support the U.S. Constitution, rail against a police state, and Presidents ruling by Executive Orders, why would they engage in such criminal acts that would cause more police powers to investigate, Congress forcing to shut down, and disrupt one of the oldest services of the U.S government outlined by the Constitution - the United States Postal Service. The London Herald reported among other things that, "Despite their redneck reputation, they have developed a sophisticated communications network using computer e-mail, shortwave radio, and fax. The North American Patriots, a group with members from California to Kansas, publish a newsletter entitled Firearms and Freedom."As this report assumes that a "newsletter" is sophisticated communication, why would a "militia group" (who all use the same mail system) put their own "sophisticated communication" at risk?No motive.The Washington Post reported that senior government officials also disclosed that the letter sent to Daschle bears striking similarities -- including references to Allah and a warning that the envelope contained anthrax -- to another contaminated envelope sent to NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw. There has been no known case of any militia member making references to "Allah", either publicly or privately - except to help send bad guys to 'Allah' when requested.The letter that reached the Reno, Nevada office that tested positive for Anthrax had a Malaysia postmark. There are no known U.S. Militia groups operating out of Malaysia.A careful reading of the text of both news articles laying blame on the militia reveals evidence of foreign journalists(?) who mis-profiled the American public.From the London Herald:"They range in outlook from Pat Robertson, a failed 1988 presidential candidate, with his vision of a 'Christian America' to the sinister Posse Comitatus, Aryan Nations and Minnesota Patriots' Council, who favour armed insurrection. All have links with the National Rifle Association, the influential lobby group which represents weapons' manufacturers, hunters, gun clubs, and campaigns for the right of all Americans 'to own and bear arms'False: The NRA nor Pat Robertson is associated with none of these groups or individuals.According to the Herald, "There is some doubt as to whether this right is enshrined legally in the American constitution but the NRA has powerful supporters in both senate and congress and no-one has yet managed successfully to challenge the all-pervasive nationwide gun culture.."Some doubt? Here's the exact text:"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."This right was recognized by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft this year to the United Nations, recently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, and enshrined legally in the American Constitution for only 210 years. And, in all the above cases, it took little help from the NRA. This reporter did little to no homework. At first, we suspected typical left-wing propaganda, but then we remembered: The left-wing in America are buying guns, gas masks, and etc. So, why take a cheap shot at the NRA?The India Times report was an even more pathetic example of journalism. Williams stated that, "In the United States there has only been one instance in which it was alleged there was an airborne spore, but that could have been because somebody touched anthrax and then picked their nose. I'm not convinced that any of the instances in the US involved the weaponized variety." But Williams missed the U.S. Senate Briefing. The Washington Post reported Senators came away from yesterday's briefing with the strong impression that the anthrax was, as Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle suggested, of a potent and concentrated nature. One senator, asking not to be named, said it was characterized as "weapon-grade." Another, also requesting anonymity, said it was described as "high-quality."Which brings us finally to the Cable News Network (CNN) who believes giving aid and comfort to America's enemies during a time of war is their duty under the First Amendment. There is no use commenting on the only media on U.S. soil that would give these accusations air time. But then again, this is CNN - the Communist News Network.Tom Ridge, the new director of the White House Office of Homeland Security, said Tuesday he suspects the anthrax contamination is linked to the September 11 attacks and bin Laden's al Qaeda network. "To me, it's just beyond coincidence," Ridge told the Associated Press. "It's more than coincidence, and we don't have the credible evidence. It's somewhere in between." Ridge said he gets regular intelligence, as well as law enforcement and military briefings. "As the evidence unwinds, there may end up being a formal tie between the anthrax case and bin Laden", he said.Frankly, I'd put my money on Iraq, but that's just me.As a matter of record, all known militia persons who spoke to any media in the United States has spoken out against the acts of September 11, and to unify to stand against such aggression - which is more than I can say for certain foreign governments, and terrorist networks, etc - who do posses weapons grade anthrax, we are told. Demonize the U.S. militia, and give free air time to Osama bin Laden on global media. Go figure.Now, to give the world audience a true glimpse at the militia in the United States. It is not organized among paramilitary lines. To a degree, there are few, if any, militia "groups" left in the United States at all. Here, the militia is a mindset; an attitude. They are the people who say, "this is my country, dammit, and you'll have to kill all of us to take it away."It was built in to the American fabric as the last line of defense against invasion, tyranny and yes - terrorism. They are not just a bunch of camouflaged wearing folks in the backwoods. Most Americans with that "militia mindset" don't even know they have it, and if they did, most wouldn't admit it anyway. The world witnessed the American Militia in action on September 11 in New York, Washington, and over the skies of Pennsylvania on Flight 93. They were the firefighters, the police, and the volunteers who help folks escape the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. They are the people watching the mail. They are the airline pilots, the flight attendants, the baggage handlers.They are the farmer, the rancher, the trucker, the millworker, the doctors and nurses.They are the people giving the tips to police, and keeping their eyes and ears open. They are the people defending the rights of peace protestors to protest. They are the people fighting to protect the constitutional rights of each person in this country today. They are the last line of defense. They are America's true Homeland Security Force.And, as our military began its fights overseas on Octber 7, that unorganized militia of the several states was activated here - 250 million strong on September 11, 2001; the same one that prevented the Japanese from invading the mainland - the one preparing and actively defending against all enemies - foreign and domestic, here. They are all those people arming themselves, and waving their flags proudly today. They have been activated not by any Chain of Command, but by their duty as Real Americans on their own, to protect, preserve and defend their homeland - long before anyone knew of Tom Ridge. And, they are everywhere. They are Americans. It's their duty. Deal with it.I must admit, if I were an enemy or at war with the United States of America, I'd want to demonized the U.S. Militia, too. Because, if you can't defeat them, you can't defeat America.Let's Roll!http://www.sierratimes.com/archive/files/oct/18/jjjohnson.htm