Shenali Waduge

If eyebrows are raised as to 9/11 bombing being an inside job having nothing to do with Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden or Afghanistan then the 342 page, ten titled document called the US Patriot Act which amends 15 statues and signed on 26 October 2001, clearly shows that the document had to have been prepared well before 9/11 took place and 9/11 was an excuse to immediately enforce it. The Patriot Act unaware to Americans have made them prisoners inside their own country brainwashed by media into thinking the US Governments are protecting their interests against ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-terroristsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. The US Govt is certainly protecting ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-theirƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ interests but it is certainly not that of the Americans. US Govts have turned the US into a police state. There is no democratically elected Govt that has strangulated peopleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s freedoms and rights as the US has done.

The authorization of the National Defense Authorization Act means nothing more than turning America into a police state where American citizens can be arrested, imprisoned and tortured by the US military without due process of any kind! This Act enables US Govt to spy on its citizens, intimidate them, brand anyone a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-terroristƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, ignore the Bill of Rights, arrest, imprison and torture AMERICAN CITIZENS. Is this the free, democratic society that the US is boasting off? Now can America speak about freedoms and rights?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What exactly is the US Patriot Act?

1.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Enhancing Domestic Security against Terrorism

• Establishing a counter terrorism fund
• Reimburses branches of Govt for funds spent on anti-terrorism activities.
• Condemns discrimination against Muslims & Arab Americans
• Allows Dept of Defense to share information with the Dept of Justice during emergency situations.
• Expands National Electronic Crime Task Force Initiative.
• Expands Presidential authority ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” allows the President to seize property belonging to foreign nationals connected with terrorism. If the seizure is based on classified evidence, then the judge reviewing the case cannot share that evidence with the defense attorneys.

2.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Enhanced Surveillance Procedures

• Authority to share criminal investigation information ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” any information collected by police or presented to a Federal grand jury may be shared with intelligence agencies (terrorist activities).
• Permits a wiretap on an individual, rather than a specific phone line
• Allows for disclosure of electronic communications by service providers
• Permits a delay in notification of a search warrant.
• Prohibits court action against communication companies who provide information to the Govt about terrorist related actions

3.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act 2001

• Allows Secretary of Treasury certain powers over financial institutions.
• Increased record keeping and reporting of transactions involving institutions outside the US.
• Encourages financial institutions, Govt and law enforcement to share information on money laundering and terrorist activities.
• Limits liability of financial institutions to any person for submitting reports of suspicious activity.
• Requires brokers and dealers to submit reports of suspicious activity, similar to financial institutions

4.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Protecting the Border

• Triples the number of personnel stationed on US borders.
• Expands list of those who can be deported for terrorist activity.
• Attorney General can detail aliens believed to be part of terrorist activity without giving evidence or reason.

5.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Removing Obstacles to investigating Terrorism

• Requires DNA samples of terrorists to be collected and put on file in a database of violent criminals.
• Coordinates federal agents and law enforcement officers in conducting surveillance to acquire foreign intelligence
• Allows Govt officials access to educational records without a court order

6.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Providing for victims of terrorism, public safety officers and their families

• Public safety officers, involved after an act of terrorism, are provided benefit programs and given official expedited payments.
• Gives compensation and assistance to victims of acts of terrorism.
• This provision gives compensation and aid to those who are affected by terrorism in and outside US

7.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Increased information sharing for critical infrastructure protection

• Allows ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” federal, state, local law enforcement agencies to share information that enhances the investigation and prosecution abilities against terrorist conspiracies and activities (authorizes appropriations)

8.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Strengthening the criminal laws against terrorism

• Creates new crime of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-domestic terrorismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
• Terrorist acts against mass transportation vehicles, ferries, employees, passengers or operating systems
• Expands and clarifies the crimes of harboring or providing material support for terrorists
• Expands maximum penalties for terrorist crimes, attempts and conspiracies
• Allows for wiretaps on anyone suspected of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-exceeding the authorityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
• Penalties for persons knowingly possessing biological agents, toxins or delivery systems

9.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Improved intelligence

• Permits sharing of information from the CIA to the Justice Dept
• Makes officers and employers of intelligence community ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-mini-CIAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to investigate terrorism
• Permits sharing of information from the Justice Dept and similar agencies to the CIA
• Creates a cross-training program for government and law enforcement agencies to recognize foreign intelligence materials and other information pertaining to their investigations.

10.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Miscellaneous

• Creates grants to aid in first responder assistance
• Sets up protections of our critical infrastructures

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ US Constitution (Bill of Rights) ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” How have American civil rights been denied?

Amendment IV: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

[The Patriot Act gives the freedom for the US Govt to search and seize Americans’ papers and effects without probable cause to assist terror investigation]

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Amendment VI: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

[The Patriot Act gives the freedom for the US Govt to jail Americans indefinitely without a trial. Americans may be jailed without being charged or being able to confront witnesses against them. US citizens (labeled “unlawful combatants”) have been held incommunicado and refused attorneys.]

Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

[The Patriot Act gives the freedom for the US Govt to assist terror investigation, the government may monitor religious and political institutions without suspecting criminal activity.]

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Amendment VI: … to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

[The Patriot Act gives the freedom for the US Govt to monitor conversations between attorneys and clients in federal prisons and deny lawyers to Americans accused of crimes]

Amendment I: Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech …

[The Patriot Act gives the freedom for the US Govt to prosecute librarians or keepers of any other records if they tell anyone the government subpoenaed information related to a terror investigation]

Prior to 2001, FBI had to first obtain evidence of criminal activity before it could carry out searches. Now the FBI is able to create files on anyone they feel is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-suspiciousƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, investigate, people, organizations, websites, chat rooms, forumsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.for no reason other than a feeling of simple ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-suspicionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚! Agents can enter oneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s home at any time of the day without a warrant even if no one is present at home! The files they create end up in a national database open to all agencies under the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-US Homeland SecurityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. Then there are the surveillance television cameras all over US cities (not just at traffic lights) watching every move Americans make.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

It is really interesting to see exactly how many terrorists the US has been able to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-catchƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ though thousands are perhaps in secret detention centers without access to justice and no one knows what is happening to them.

Moreover under the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-civil disturbance planningƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ the US military is training troops and police to suppress Americans who decide to go against the system ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” yesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦the Occupy Wall Street Protestors and we know how they were treated. Which means the US Governments have obviously figured that they cannot fool the people all of the time and when millions of Americans finally begin to realize how they had been duped for centuries they are certainly going to rise and demand answers ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” so the US Govts are gearing up with counter strategies.

A lot of Americans donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t seem to know the lies they had been fed ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Spanish American War was started with the excuse of sinking the battleship Maine in 1898. World War 1 was started with the excuse of sinking ocean liner Lusitania in 1915. Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 was the excuse to start World War 2. The Gulf of Tonkin was the excuse to start Vietnam War in 1964. The 9/11 was the excuse that triggered the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-War on TerrorismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in 2001 and the fictitious WMDs was the excuse given to invade Iraq in 2003. Where is ACCOUNTABILITY FOR US WAR CRIMES? Do Americans know what its Govts have been doing to innocent people around the world?

Thus, the Americans have been made to believe that a national catastrophe gives enough grounds for the US to kill thousands of non-US citizens, for the US to strike countries, invade countries and for the US to send unmanned drones just because they suspect a terrorist is in the vicinity. The US Govt has not stopped with that they have even denied and destroyed the freedom and liberties of its own citizens through the US Patriot Act and other laws enacted by a Congress who had not even read its contents!

Similar to how the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accords were passed, how the famous Cease Fire Agreement of 2001 was passed, US representatives and senators were given 2-3 page compendium from the White House and no one had time to read the provisions of the act. They had to sign because they did not want to be labeled ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-unpatrioticƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and truth is made to appear ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-treasonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

When Americans thought the Patriot Act was to be for aliensƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦it has turned out to be actually to curb dissent amongst Americans. Though AmericaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s pastime is to go preaching about democracy and in the case of Sri Lanka demanding quick trials to the LTTE terrorists in prison, to release them etcƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦when former US Attorney General Ashcroft says that terrorists donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t deserve constitutional protections, all they deserve are ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-courtsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ of conviction not justice. Is it only the US that can brand terrorism?

Besides what better life has the US Govts given the American people by its neo-liberal and dictatorial foreign policies. America is plagued with unemployment, health insurance issues, homelessness, families breaking apart, worlds largest prison populationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.can the Americans finally wake up?

What has national security really meant? HasnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t it been nothing more than selling off AmericansƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ civil rights to the American Govt?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What freedom does US media really have?

American diplomats are constantly pointing fingers accusing other nations of denying freedom of speech and freedom of the media when its own reporters/journalists in essence are gagged themselves. Bush had directed Attorney General Gonzales to use ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-whatever means at your disposalƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to wiretap, follow, harass and investigate journalists who published stories about the administrations illegal use of warrantless wiretapsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦anything that was ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-detrimental to the war on terrorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. Which means anything! While media is free to report on most things the US media is not free to report on any of the policies of its Govt. So in comparison to other countries how free is the US media really?

Whatever people say about the Patriot Act it has lasted over a decade ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” there are no terrorists actually caught, but massive amount of funds is being disbursed to agencies to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-fight terrorismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. No one exactly knows what they are going after or who they are going afterƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦they are just programmed like zombies to work towards a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-war on terrorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ unleashed by capitalists.

It is because of neo-liberal/capitalist agendas that thousands of children die due to malnutrition and hunger (8m deaths a year), that US/NATO soldiers commit suicide (more than the numbers that have died in battle). Are the West not guilty of killing 1.3m Iraqis, over 4000 Afghan civilians, 15m in World War 1, 45m in World War 2 and murdering Third World through lethal vaccinations and drugs? Is this not part of a gameplan to depopulate the world by millions?

So while US journalists and media are busy bashing foreign governments accusing them of being dictators, tyrants and what notƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.the US Govt gives them enough of freedom to keep up the momentum in fact they are even given incentives and remunerations for such. They are kept busy by indulging them in covering wars and other issuesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦but they are not allowed to criticize anything to do with the US administration. Now can we call this freedom of speech?

Similarly, the American citizens are brainwashed through controlled media into thinking that other than their Govt all others are useless and deny and suppress human rights. They have been conditioned to think so. The American citizens have lost their ability to think apart from a few who have travelled or sensibly use their inquisitiveness to question. But they are unlikely to get anywhere because the Patriotic Act is there to gag even American citizens.

What do we call a country wherein the President and his Govt can brand a non-US citizen or a US citizen as a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-terroristƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, bring him before a secret military tribunal and the person looses whatever rights he/she has? WasnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t this what Hitler did in Germany?

The real ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-enemyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ is not the US Govt, other Govts, terrorists or any otherƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.it is ourselves because we have been reacting to what we have been conditioned to react to and not what we should be reacting to. We prefer not to question, not to allow our minds to wonder how things happened, why things happened and whether they were triggered to happen. In the case of the US, the US Govt has practically a carte blanche to do whatever they like by simply excusing their actions to just one word ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-terrorismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. None of the hidden agenda that prompted attacks on Iraq and Afghanistan, invasion of Kosovo were ever revealed to the American people.

Thus, the US using ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-democracyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ as an excuse takes the liberty to invade nations in a global gameplan by a few to take over the natural resources and land of Third World Nations whilst the US using ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-terrorismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ is making sure that 311m US population does not wake up to demand explanations from its Govt.

How long will Americans take to wake up to the truth?

Shenali Waduge