On the Horizon

In October of last year, Bush signed into law the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act, which is set to begin in 2007 fiscal year (October 1, 2007). This act greatly expands the power the executive branch has over the military. In effect the president can declare martial law without the need to inform congress. The article entitled “Bush paves the way for Martial Law”, explains the details behind the act, as well as some possible consequences.

The act alters some precedents set two hundred years ago by the insurrection act of 1807. In addition to the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act, an interior command known as Northcom was set up in 2002 and marks the first time the military has been given operational status inside the country since the civil war. Finally spying by the military on civilian populations has increased.

In 2005, the Washington Post reported that Northcom had developed battle plans for martial law in the U.S. One secret document, CONPLAN 2005, envisions 15 different scenarios where these plans could go into effect.

The article I cited earlier concludes by comparing Bush’s extreme agenda to the 1933 burning of the Reichstag in which Hitler took power. While I hardly agree with this analogy (when you have to go as far as comparing Bush to Nazis your just grasping at straws), I do believe it is important to maintain proper channels for extreme decisions such as declaring martial law. Giving any branch of the government unchecked power is a recipe for disaster (anyone remember the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?). When the people of a democratic country cannot be properly represented, like oh I don’t know let’s say, by a body of elected leaders (as opposed to one), you’re headed straight for more despotic form of government.