ConNiPtioNs

TERROR! Be Afraid!

While Dubya and Rummie fight their war in Iraq, Ashcroft continues to press for expansion of the UPA to make it easier for him to spy on Americans here on the homefront.

"The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands ... may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny."


-- James Madison, Federalist No. 47

Read this:

Fierce Fight Over Secrecy, Scope of Law

Amid Rights Debate, Law Cloaks Data on Its Impact

By Amy Goldstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 8, 2003; Page A01

In Seattle, the public library printed 3,000 bookmarks to alert patrons that the FBI could, in the name of national security, seek permission from a secret federal court to inspect their reading and computer records -- and prohibit librarians from revealing that a search had taken place.

In suburban Boston, a state legislator was stunned to discover last spring that her bank had blocked a $300 wire transfer because she is married to a naturalized U.S. citizen named Nasir Khan.

And in Hillsboro, Ore., Police Chief Ron Louie has ordered his officers to refuse to assist any federal terrorism investigations that his department believes violate state law or constitutional rights.

(read more)