Whi are the real terrorists?

It has just been reported in the newspapers that the Bush Administration backs the policy of issuing press releases disguised as news stories, because the Justice Department is of the opinion that such actions are legal and do not violate provisions of the annual appropriations law that ban covert propaganda.

I think it is time to look back upon the record of the Administration of George Bush. To date it is responsible for the following:

• An invasion of a foreign nation for false and contrived reasons.

• Passage of a Patriotic Act that nullifies our Bill of Rights.

• Establishing policies that encouraged the torture of prisoners of war.

• Arresting and detaining foreign nationals indefinitely and denying them legal council or a trial.

• Aiding and abetting the torture of American citizen’s by foreign nations.

• Promoting people to high government positions who advocate torture, who have no problem with waging war for contrived reasons, and who willingly lie to Congress and the American People.

• Awarding the Medal of Freedom to a subordinate who bears responsibility for building the false case to go to war.

And now it is reported that Bush and his cohorts have no problem with creating news stories and masquerading them as legitimate, because the Justice Department claims this practice is legal, when it is not. Why does this come as no surprise?

Irrespective of the legal concerns, the position of the Bush Administration in this matter is shocking. Essentially, what Bush and his cohorts are saying is that, as a matter of routine policy, it is permissible and morally acceptable for government officials to mislead and fool the American people. The Founders are turning over in their graves on this one. In contrast, far too many Americans think that the most important thing that they should be concerned with is which channel to watch on television.

Terrorism is a despicable crime against humanity and we certainly need to do all we can to fight it. However, I am beginning to wonder who we should fear most, the terrorists or those we have entrusted to lead the war on terrorism.