Reply #3: Jack, what do you think? [View All]

[Martin Eden]

Ray McGovern is raising a serious alarm in his analysis. He suggests that if there is another terrorist attack in America, the Bush administration will be able to -- as Tommy Franks put it last November -- "discard ... the Constitution ... in favor of a military form of government."

I concur with McGovern that there is no moral line this administration won't cross, and that they will do everything in their power to hold on to power.

But even in the event of another 9/11 or worse, could they succeed in declaring martial law and cancelling the election? Such a move could be very difficult to pull off; a terrorist attack is the work of a small group -- not an invading force against which our military could act. The afflicted area may need martial law, but imposing it nationwide and discarding the constitution is a step that even a considerable number of Republicans may be hesitant to take.

I understand the climate of fear and hysteria which could follow a devastating attack -- and given what has happened here in the wake of 9/11, I must certainly accept the possibility of what McGovern suggests.

I agree with him that Bush and/or some high ranking officials in his administration violated the War Crimes Act of 1996, but what is the likelihood they will be indicted if they lose the election? If a poll was taken asking whether Bush should be indicted for war crimes, how many Americans would respond in the affirmative? Of course, this doesn't mean that charges couldn't be brought; but what is the likelihood?

I don't know. These are important questions. The answers could spell the fate of our nation.

What do you think?