Not that George W. Bush needs much encouragement, but Sen. Lindsey Graham suggested to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales a new target for the administration’s domestic operations -- Fifth Columnists, supposedly disloyal Americans who sympathize and collaborate with the enemy.

“The administration has not only the right, but the duty, in my opinion, to pursue Fifth Column movements,” Graham, R-S.C., told Gonzales during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on Feb. 6.

“I stand by this President’s ability, inherent to being Commander in Chief, to find out about Fifth Column movements, and I don’t think you need a warrant to do that,” Graham added, volunteering to work with the administration to draft guidelines for how best to neutralize this alleged threat.

“Senator,” a smiling Gonzales responded, “the President already said we’d be happy to listen to your ideas.”

In less paranoid times, Graham’s comments might be viewed by many Americans as a Republican trying to have it both ways – ingratiating himself to an administration of his own party while seeking some credit from Washington centrists for suggesting Congress should have at least a tiny say in how Bush runs the War on Terror.

But recent developments suggest that the Bush administration may already be contemplating what to do with Americans who are deemed insufficiently loyal or who disseminate information that may be considered helpful to the enemy.

Top U.S. officials have cited the need to challenge news that undercuts Bush’s actions as a key front in defeating the terrorists, who are aided by “news informers” in the words of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. [For details, see Consortiumnews.com “Upside-Down Media” or below.]

Detention Centers

Plus, there was that curious development in January when the Army Corps of Engineers awarded Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root a $385 million contract to construct detention centers somewhere 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. [Market Watch, Jan. 26, 2006]

Later, the New York Times reported that “KBR would build the centers for the Homeland Security Department for an unexpected influx of immigrants, to house people in the event of a natural disaster or for new programs that require additional detention space.” [Feb. 4, 2006]

Like most news stories on the KBR contract, the Times focused on concerns about Halliburton’s reputation for bilking U.S. taxpayers by overcharging for sub-par services.

“It’s hard to believe that the administration has decided to entrust Halliburton with even more taxpayer dollars,” remarked Rep. Henry Waxman, D-California.

Less attention centered on the phrase “rapid development of new programs” and what kind of programs would require a major expansion of detention centers, each capable of holding 5,000 people. Jamie Zuieback, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, declined to elaborate on what these “new programs” might be.

Only a few independent journalists, such as Peter Dale Scott and Maureen Farrell, have pursued what the Bush administration might actually be thinking.

Scott speculated that the “detention centers could be used to detain American citizens if the Bush administration were to declare martial law.” He recalled that during the Reagan administration, National Security Council aide Oliver North organized Rex-84 “readiness exercise,” which contemplated the Federal Emergency Management Agency rounding up and detaining 400,000 “refugees,” in the event of “uncontrolled population movements” over the Mexican border into the United States.

Farrell pointed out that because “another terror attack is all but certain, it seems far more likely that the centers would be used for post-911-type detentions of immigrants rather than a sudden deluge” of immigrants flooding across the border.

Vietnam-era whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg said, “Almost certainly this is preparation for a roundup after the next 9/11 for Mid-Easterners, Muslims and possibly dissenters. They’ve already done this on a smaller scale, with the ‘special registration’ detentions of immigrant men from Muslim countries, and with Guantanamo.”

Labor Camps

There also was another little-noticed item posted at the U.S. Army Web site, 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.”

The Army document, first drafted in 1997, underwent a “rapid action revision” on Jan. 14, 2005. The revision provides a “template for developing agreements” between the Army and corrections facilities for the use of civilian inmate labor on Army installations.

On its face, the Army’s labor program refers to inmates housed in federal, state and local jails. The Army also cites various federal laws that govern the use of civilian labor and provide for the establishment of prison camps in the United States, including a federal statute that authorizes the Attorney General to “establish, equip, and maintain camps upon sites selected by him” and “make available … the services of United States prisoners” to various government departments, including the Department of Defense.

Though the timing of the document’s posting – within the past few weeks –may just be a coincidence, the reference to a “rapid action revision” and the KBR contract’s contemplation of “rapid development of new programs” have raised eyebrows about why this sudden need for urgency.

These developments also are drawing more attention now because of earlier Bush administration policies to involve the Pentagon in “counter-terrorism” operations inside the United States.

Read more @ http://www.consortiumnews.com/2006/022106a.html

Whatever the term...traitor is traitor and yeah, we have them in our midst. Sympathizing and collaborating with the enemy in a time of war is Treason.

Yea like Bush. Hes doing treason too. Handing over our ports to Dubai Port Co. and UAE. I dont give a sh** they are fighting terror and helping us. They have a history of associating themselves with terrorists in the past. What makes you think they can still be trusted? You nvr know we might get back stabbed. They might let terrorists put bombs of all sorts in the containers and not tell anyone they are aware of a bomb inside. And I can assure you there are over 10 million disloyal americans out there that are against bush and his admin and policies. Just because they are disloyal doesnt mean they feel for the enemies. So Bush is the traitor if your looking for one.

Makes me laugh , i get a lot of criticism for being anti American as i'm a Brit , but what i see is more Americans critising there own Goverment. What a screwed up Nation.

Well I aint critisizing you Billy. I dont think I ever have. I feel the same way you do and all the people on this planet who oppose our Gov, our Pres and his policies. Yea I guess you can say we are a screwed up nation.

Nearly 300 million people in the US, I can't see all of them supporting everything the US does.

Sometimes I wish I were thirteen again....but even at thirteen I had a fairly analytical mind...what passes for education these days is appalling.

Hah 13. LMAO. OK w/e you say.......... About being 48 with no life? I seem to see you on this like every hour of the day. Don't u have a family to feed? Oh wait your wife probably divorced cause your so ugly and such a mean father probably. Theres a life out there calling you.

I have a life...and an education...and a family which is being fed quite well...life called...I accepted....and you?

Ahhh yes. Life. Heard of College? Still in it fool. Third year in it. I'll have a life in just a few years. Yea I'm suppose to answer the call right now without a degree. Psh! I dont want to grad college with a bach but with a Masters and Ph.D.

we must be cautious here, this thread will soon be shut if a lighter tone isn't reached...just pointing that out. I agree with Kratos, not everyone is expected to agree, no society agrees 100% with their government. otherwise voting would be unnecessary...

k i'm with glacies. I dont like holding grudges. I'll lay off if he does. I guess we just dont agree on some things. I dont hate you or anything joc. I dont hate anybody. I just get in confrontations sometimes unfortunetly. Should of respect my elders more. Agree with kratos to. Not everyone will agree with what the gov does. Pce.

Like I care if SoulMatrix's America hating threads get shut down.

That would mean violating my freedom of speech. Which isnt a good thing for anyone. And besides it aint that bad. I'm sure some non-americans want to see those articels. If you disagree dont read it or dont comment. Otherwise continue to shut your piehole.

I just wish you would tone down the criticism of America. Bash Bush all you want...he isn't going to be here but for a short while....but it just gets under my skin when Americans especially bash this wonderful country. Or am I just confusing your hatred with Bush and seeing it as hatred toward America?

Believe me theres no other place I would live on this planet than America. America is great. I get to do lots of things I wouldn't be able to do in other countries and get to say stuff that I would get hanged for or jailed for in other countries. I just think that America lost its beauty, dignity, and compassion somewhere along the line in history. Maybe when Bush came in in 2000? I dont know go ahead correct me. I'm sure you feel the same way. I also just think the American Working class and all other classes under aristocracy and rich deserve better than this. We all know he cheated in that 2000 election with his dumb bro in florida. But I also agree when most ppl say "Having Gore would of been worse". Well lets move to 2004. Now it was a close race till Kerry gave up and backed out. Think Kerry would of fared better than Gore. But anyways I just think that the gov is giving us(the whole country as a whole) the reputation of being evil. Which is not true. American Citizens are not evil its the Gov that is. Like I said before "Our death lies in the Gov hands." God Speed all.

let's just hope YOU are on the traitor list... 'freedom of speech'... ain't it wonderful!!

This is the interweb.net.

Last time I checked the internet wasn't included in our bill of rights.

When you joined this forum, you clicked and agreed to the rules of this forum. Meaning the Mods can do whatever they want, regardless of your so called "freedom of speech".

Not that you require such freedom of speech seeing as how you just spew the same filth of all other bush haters.

Don't like him? Fine, your entitled to your opinion. You dont however need to spam this forum with your constant hate filled threads against Americans and Bush. I suppose you just need SOMEONE to pout to since you cant find any real friends to talk to.

And in college? You should have 40's in your hands, not your mouse and a limp dick.

Evidently it appears SoulMatrix doesn't care for this topic to continue, since it's only here for him to flame other members anyway it seems.

As such, there's only one logical action.

Freedom of speech to say whatever you want may exist outside this forum, but here you will respect the rules of the board, or you will not be allowed to participate. And that, as they say, is that.