Random politically motivated blog

I'm starting to worry what this world is coming to.

Last night I watched a program on BBC news 24 about how America is getting paranoid about terrorist attacks, and heard of shocking abuses of power by the government all in the name of preventing terror attacks. Wooden bullets being fired at peaceful protesters against the iraq war. Peace activists getting on FBI 'no-fly' lists, and only being able to get on planes after repeated searching and humiliating questioning. Apparently the patriot act rushed through after the incidents of 11th of September 2001 (i refuse to call it 9/11 anymore) means that people on this list are not told why, how, when or even who maintains this list, understandably these people are taking the government to court. More worryingly, the patriot act II which is under construction, will mean that people are encouraged to spy on their neighbours, and also people can be detained without being told why, additionally, relatives will not be allowed to know if or why that person is detained.. is this the land of the free?

As the commentator they had brought in said, "the sort of police state America that will help prevent terrorism will not be the sort of america that americans want to live in."

And here, across the water, I feel that we are slipping the same way, and are not immune to the abuses of power by the US police/government. This morning i was reading Richard Stallman's website (not normally a man that i aggree with as he has quite wacky ideas about free software, and quite frankly i think he's a nut) and he had a link to the following article about shocking treatment of Innocent BRITISH nationals so much for President Blair and Prime Minister Bush's special relationship. (did I get that the wrong way around? not sure...)

To quote stallman:
"The choice of citizens of various allies as the first batch to be threatened with execution seems to be a calculated gesture of contempt towards those countries, a demonstration to them that they have to take a kick in the teeth from the US. I hope that the pressure in the UK builds up to the point that Blair will be unable to keep supporting Bush. "

Chilling stuff.

And now, from my view it looks as if the suspicious death of someone involved with the Iraq dossier "sexing up" has been brushed under the carpet by Blair with what amounts to him saying "I'm your prime minister how dare you question my rule"

Fatherland security... Homeland security.... what's the difference?