- The Economic And Social Crisis
-
- The financial meltdown has unleashed a latent and emergent
social crisis across the United States.
-
- What is at stake is the fraudulent confiscation of lifelong
savings and pension funds, the appropriation of tax revenues to finance
the trillion dollar "bank bailouts", which ultimately serve to
line the pockets of the richest people in America.
-
- This economic crisis is in large part the result of financial
manipulation and outright fraud to the detriment of entire populations, to
a renewed wave of corporate bankruptcies, mass unemployment and poverty.
-
- The criminalization of the global financial system, characterized
by a "Shadow Banking" network has resulted in the centralization
of bank power and an unprecedented concentration of private wealth.
-
- Obama's "economic stimulus" package and budget
proposals contribute to a further process of concentration and centralization
of bank power, the cumulative effects of which will eventually resul in
large scale corporate, bankruptcies, a new wave of foreclosures not to
mention fiscal collapse and the downfall of State social programs. (For
further details see Michel Chossudovsky, <http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=12517>America's
Fiscal Collapse, Global Research, March 2, 2009).
-
- The cumulative decline of real economic activity backlashes
on employment and wages, which in turn leads to a collapse in purchaisng
power. The proposed "solution" under the Obama administration
contributes to exacerbating rather than alleviating social inequalities
and the process of wealth concentration.
-
- The Protest Movement
-
- When people across America, whose lives have been shattered
and destroyed, come to realize the true face of the global "free market"
system, the legitimacy of the Wall Street, the Federal Reserve and the
US administration will be challenged.
-
- A latent protest movement directed against the seat of
economic and political power is unfolding.
-
- How this process will occur is hard to predict. All sectors
of American society are potentially affected: wage earners, small, medium
and even large businesses, farmers, professionals, federal, State and municipal
employees, students, teachers, health workers, and unemployed. Protests
will initially emerge from these various sectors. There is, however, at
this stage, no organized national resistance movement directed against
the administration's economic and financial agenda.
-
- Obama's populist rhetoric conceals the true nature of
macro-economic policy. Acting on behalf of Wall Street, the administration's
economic package, which includes close to a trillion dollar "aid"
package for the financial services industry, coupled with massive austerity
measures, contributes to precipitating America into a bottomless crisis.
-
- "Orwellian Solution" to the Great Depression:
Curbing Civil Unrest
-
- At this particular juncture, there is no economic recovery
program in sight. The Washington-Wall Street consensus prevails. There
are no policies, no alternatives formulated from within the political and
economic system. .
-
- What is the way out? How will the US government face
an impending social catastrophe?
-
- The solution is to curb social unrest. The chosen avenue,
inherited from the outgoing Bush administration is the reinforcement of
the Homeland Security apparatus and the militarization of civilian
State institutions.
-
- The outgoing administration has laid the groundwork.
Various pieces of "anti-terrorist" legislation (including the
Patriot Acts) and presidential directives have been put in place since
2001, largely using the pretext of the "Global War on Terrorism."
-
- Homeland Security's Internment Camps
-
- Directly related to the issue of curbing social unrest,
cohesive system of detention camps is also envisaged, under the jurisdiction
of the Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon.
-
- A bill entitled the National Emergency Centers Establishment
Act (HR 645) was introduced in the US Congress in January. It calls
for the establishment of six national emergency centers in major regions
in the US to be located on existing military installations. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-645
-
- The stated purpose of the "national emergency centers"
is to provide "temporary housing, medical, and humanitarian assistance
to individuals and families dislocated due to an emergency or major disaster."
In actuality, what we are dealing with are FEMA internment camps. HR 645
states that the camps can be used to "meet other appropriate needs,
as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security."
-
- There has been virtually no press coverage of HR 645.
-
- These "civilian facilities" on US military
bases are to be established in cooperation with the US Military. Modeled
on Guantanamo, what we are dealing with is the militarization of FEMA internment
facilities.
-
- Once a person is arrested and interned in a FEMA camp
located on a military base, that person would in all likelihood, under
a national emergency, fall under the de facto jurisdiction of the Military:
civilian justice and law enforcement including habeas corpus would no longer
apply.
-
- HR 645 bears a direct relationship to the economic crisis
and the likelihood of mass protests across America. It constitutes a further
move to militarize civilian law enforcement, repealing the Posse Comitatus
Act.
-
- In the words of Rep. Ron Paul:
-
- "...the fusion centers, militarized police, surveillance
cameras and a domestic military command is not enough... Even though we
know that detention facilities are already in place, they now want
to legalize the construction of FEMA camps on military installations using
the ever popular excuse that the facilities are for the purposes of a national
emergency. With the phony debt-based economy getting worse and worse
by the day, the possibility of civil unrest is becoming a greater threat
to the establishment. One need only look at Iceland, Greece and other nations
for what might happen in the United States next." (<http://www.dailypaul.com/node/80801>Daily
Paul, September 2008, emphasis added)
-
- The proposed internment camps should be seen in relation
to the broader process of militarization of civilian institutions. The
construction of internment camps predates the introduction of HR 645 (Establishment
of Emergency Centers) in January 2009. There are, according to various
(unconfirmed) reports, some 800 FEMA prison camps in different regions
of the U.S. Moreover, since the 1980s, the US military has developed
"tactics, techniques and procedures" to suppress civilian dissent,
to be used in the eventuality of mass protests (United States Army Field
Manual 19-15 under Operation Garden Plot, entitled "Civil Disturbances"
was issued in 1985)
-
- In early 2006, tax revenues were allocated to building
modern internment camp facilities. In January 2006, Kellogg Brown and
Roots, which at the time was a subsidiary of Halliburton, received a $385
million contract from the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE):
-
- "The contract, which is effective immediately [January
2006], provides for establishing temporary detention and processing capabilities
to augment existing ICE Detention and Removal Operations (DRO) Program
facilities in the event of an emergency influx of immigrants into
the U.S., or to support the rapid development of new programs...
-
- The contract may also provide migrant detention support
to other U.S. Government organizations in the event of an immigration emergency,
as well as the development of a plan to react to a national emergency,
such as a natural disaster. (<http://www.kbr.com/news/2006/govnews_060124.aspx>KBR,
24 January 2006, emphasis added)
-
- The stated objectives of <http://www.ice.gov/>U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are to:
-
- "protect national security and uphold public safety
by targeting criminal networks and terrorist organizations that seek to
exploit vulnerabilities in our immigration system, in our financial networks,
along our border, at federal facilities and elsewhere in order to do harm
to the United States. The end result is a safer, more secure America"
(<http://www.ice.gov/>ICE homepage)
-
- The US media is mum on the issue of the internment camps
on US soil. While casually acknowledging the multimillion dollar contract
granted to Halliburton's subsidiary, the news reports largely focused their
attention on possible "cost overruns" (similar to those which
occurred with KBR in Iraq).
-
- What is the political intent and purpose of these camps?
The potential use of these internment facilities to detain American citizens
under a martial law situation are not an object of media debate or discussion.
-
- Combat Units Assigned to the Homeland
-
- In the last months of the Bush administration, prior
to the November 2008 presidential elections, the Department of Defense
ordered the recall of the 3rd Infantry's 1st Brigade Combat Team from Iraq.
The relocation of a combat unit from the war theater to domestic front
is an integral part of the Homeland Security agenda. The BCT was assigned
to assist in law enforcement activities within the US.
-
- The BCT combat unit was attached to US Army North, the
Army's component of US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). The 1st BCT and other
combat units would be called upon to perform specific military functions
in the case of civil unrest:
-
- The 1st BCT's soldiers also will learn how to use "the
first ever nonlethal package that the Army has fielded," 1st BCT commander
Col. Roger Cloutier said, referring to crowd and traffic control equipment
and nonlethal weapons designed to subdue unruly or dangerous individuals
without killing them.(
-
- (See Gina Cavallaro, Brigade homeland tours start Oct.
1, Army Times, September 8, 2008).
-
- Under the proposed withdrawal of US forces from Iraq
under the Obama administration, one expects that other combat units will
be brought home from the war theater and reassigned in the United States.
-
- The evolving national security scenario is characterized
by a mesh of civilian and military institutions:
-
- -Army combat units working with civilian law enforcement,
with the stated mission to curb "social unrest".
-
- - the establishment of new internment camps under civilian
jurisdiction located on US military facilities.
-
- The FEMA internment camps are part of the Continuity
of Government (COG), which would be put in place in the case of martial
law.
-
- The internment camps are intended to "protect the
government" against its citizens, by locking up protesters as well
as political activists who might challenge the legitimacy of the Administration's
national security, economic or military agenda.
-
- Spying on Americans: The Big Brother Data Bank
-
- Related to the issue of internment and mass protests,
how will data on American citizens be collected?
-
- How will individuals across America be categorized?
-
- What are the criteria of the Department of Homeland Security?
-
- In a 2004 report of the Homeland Security Council entitled <http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/report/2004/
hsc-planning-scenarios-jul04.htm>Planning Scenarios, pertaining to the
defense of the Homeland, the following categories of potential "conspirators"
were identified:
-
- "foreign [Islamic] terrorists" ,
-
- "domestic radical groups", [antiwar and civil
rights groups]
-
- "state sponsored adversaries" ["rogue
states", "unstable nations"]
-
- "disgruntled employees" [labor and union activists].
-
- In June of last year, the Bush administration issued
a National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD 59- HSPD 24) entitled <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080605-8.html>Biometrics
for Identification and Screening to Enhance National Security (For
Further details see Michel Chossudovsky, <http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=9296>"Big
Brother" Presidential Directive: "Biometrics for Identification
and Screening to Enhance National Security", Global Research, June
2008)
-
- Adopted without public debate or Congressional approval,
its relevant procedures are far-reaching. They are related to the
issue of civil unrest. They are also part of the logic behind the establishment
of FEMA internment camps under HR 645. .
-
- NSPD 59 (Biometrics for Identification and Screening
to Enhance National Security) goes far beyond the narrow issue of biometric
identification, it recommends the collection and storage of "associated
biographic" information, meaning information on the private lives
of US citizens, in minute detail, all of which will be "accomplished
within the law":
-
- "The contextual data that accompanies biometric
data includes information on date and place of birth, citizenship, current
address and address history, current employment and employment history,
current phone numbers and phone number history, use of government services
and tax filings. Other contextual data may include bank account and credit
card histories, plus criminal database records on a local, state and federal
level. The database also could include legal judgments or other public
records documenting involvement in legal disputes, child custody records
and marriage or divorce records."(<http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=66795>See
Jerome Corsi, June 2008)
-
- The directive uses 9/11 and the "Global War on Terrorism"
as an all encompassing justification to wage a witch hunt against dissenting
citizens, establishing at the same time an atmosphere of fear and intimidation
across the land.
-
- It also calls for the integration of various data banks
as well as inter-agency cooperation in the sharing of information, with
a view to eventually centralizing the information on American citizens.
-
- In a carefully worded text, NSPD 59 "establishes
a framework" to enable the Federal government and its various
police and intelligence agencies to:
-
- "use mutually compatible methods and procedures
in the collection, storage, use, analysis, and sharing of biometric and
associated biographic and contextual information of individuals in a lawful and
appropriate manner, while respecting their information privacy and other
legal rights under United States law."
-
- The NSPD 59 Directive recommends: "actions and
associated timelines for enhancing the existing terrorist-oriented identification
and screening processes by expanding the use of biometrics".
-
- The procedures under NSPD 59 are consistent with an earlier
June 2005 decision which consisted increating a <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4636117.stm>"domestic
spy service", under the auspices of the FBI. (For further details
see Michel Chossudovsky, <http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=601>Bush
Administration creates "Secret State Police", June 30, 2005)
-
- Working hand in glove with Homeland Security (DHS), the
proposed "domestic intelligence department" would combine FBI
counterterrorism, intelligence and espionage operations into a single service.
-
- The new department operating under the auspices of the
FBI would have the authority to "seize the property of people deemed
to be helping the spread of WMD": They would be able to "spy
on people in America suspected of terrorism or having critical intelligence
information, even if they are not suspected of committing a crime."
(NBC Tonight, 29 June 2005).\
-
-
-
- ANNEX
-
-
- Text of H.R. 645: National Emergency Centers Establishment
Act
-
- This version: Introduced in House.
-
- This is the original text of the bill as it was written
by its sponsor and submitted to the House for consideration. This is the
latest version of the bill available on this website.
-
- [SOURCE: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-645]
-
-
-
- HR 645 IH
-
- 111th CONGRESS
-
- 1st Session
-
- H. R. 645
-
- To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish
national emergency centers on military installations.
-
- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
-
- January 22, 2009
-
- Mr. HASTINGS of Florida introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- A BILL
-
- To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish
national emergency centers on military installations.
-
- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
-
- SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
-
- This Act may be cited as the 'National Emergency Centers
Establishment Act'.
-
- SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY CENTERS.
-
- (a) In General- In accordance with the requirements of
this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish not fewer
than 6 national emergency centers on military installations.
-
- (b) Purpose of National Emergency Centers- The purpose
of a national emergency center shall be to use existing infrastructure--
-
- (1) to provide temporary housing, medical, and humanitarian
assistance to individuals and families dislocated due to an emergency or
major disaster;
-
- (2) to provide centralized locations for the purposes
of training and ensuring the coordination of Federal, State, and local
first responders;
-
- (3) to provide centralized locations to improve the coordination
of preparedness, response, and recovery efforts of government, private,
and not-for-profit entities and faith-based organizations; and
-
- (4) to meet other appropriate needs, as determined by
the Secretary of Homeland Security.
-
- SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AS NATIONAL
EMERGENCY CENTERS.
-
- (a) In General- Not later than 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation
with the Secretary of Defense, shall designate not fewer than 6 military
installations as sites for the establishment of national emergency centers.
-
- (b) Minimum Requirements- A site designated as a national
emergency center shall be--
-
- (1) capable of meeting for an extended period of time
the housing, health, transportation, education, public works, humanitarian
and other transition needs of a large number of individuals affected by
an emergency or major disaster;
-
- (2) environmentally safe and shall not pose a health
risk to individuals who may use the center;
-
- (3) capable of being scaled up or down to accommodate
major disaster preparedness and response drills, operations, and procedures;
-
- (4) capable of housing existing permanent structures
necessary to meet training and first responders coordination requirements
during nondisaster periods;
-
- (5) capable of hosting the infrastructure necessary to
rapidly adjust to temporary housing, medical, and humanitarian assistance
needs;
-
- (6) required to consist of a complete operations command
center, including 2 state-of-the art command and control centers that will
comprise a 24/7 operations watch center as follows:
-
- (A) one of the command and control centers shall be in
full ready mode; and
-
- (B) the other shall be used daily for training; and
-
- (7) easily accessible at all times and be able to facilitate
handicapped and medical facilities, including during an emergency or major
disaster.
-
- (c) Location of National Emergency Centers- There shall
be established not fewer than one national emergency center in each of
the following areas:
-
- (1) The area consisting of Federal Emergency Management
Agency Regions I, II, and III.
-
- (2) The area consisting of Federal Emergency Management
Agency Region IV.
-
- (3) The area consisting of Federal Emergency Management
Agency Regions V and VII.
-
- (4) The area consisting of Federal Emergency Management
Agency Region VI.
-
- (5) The area consisting of Federal Emergency Management
Agency Regions VIII and X.
-
- (6) The area consisting of Federal Emergency Management
Agency Region IX.
-
- (d) Preference for Designation of Closed Military Installations-
Wherever possible, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation
with the Secretary of Defense, shall designate a closed military installation
as a site for a national emergency center. If the Secretaries of Homeland
Security and Defense jointly determine that there is not a sufficient number
of closed military installations that meet the requirements of subsections
(b) and (c), the Secretaries shall jointly designate portions of existing
military installations other than closed military installations as national
emergency centers.
-
- (e) Transfer of Control of Closed Military Installations-
If a closed military installation is designated as a national emergency
center, not later than 180 days after the date of designation, the Secretary
of Defense shall transfer to the Secretary of Homeland Security administrative
jurisdiction over such closed military installation.
-
- (f) Cooperative Agreement for Joint Use of Existing Military
Installations- If an existing military installation other than a closed
military installation is designated as a national emergency center, not
later than 180 days after the date of designation, the Secretary of Homeland
Security and the Secretary of Defense shall enter into a cooperative agreement
to provide for the establishment of the national emergency center.
-
- (g) Reports-
-
- (1) PRELIMINARY REPORT- Not later than 90 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security,
acting jointly with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to Congress
a report that contains for each designated site--
-
- (A) an outline of the reasons why the site was selected;
-
- (B) an outline of the need to construct, repair, or update
any existing infrastructure at the site;
|