Bush proposes using military in bird flu pandemic
Bush proposes using military in bird flu pandemic [originally from Reuters]
“He noted that some governors may object to the federal government commandeering the National Guard, which is under state command in most circumstances.
“‘But Congress needs to take a look at circumstances that may need to vest the capacity of the president to move beyond that debate. And one such catastrophe or one such challenge could be an avian flu outbreak,’ Bush said.
“[…] ‘And I think the president ought to have all options on the table to understand what the consequences are — all assets on the table, not options — assets on the table to be able to deal with something this significant,’ he said.
Why does this make me think of Emperor Palpatine’s “emergency powers” in the face of the trade rebellion? Why is it so not difficult to imagine a scenario where martial law becomes the norm under a state of semipermanent “emergency” — be the threat microbes or terrorists? Why do I imagine an armed American uprising after several years of subjugation to this?
At the very least, I’m waiting for someone in this Administration to float the idea of suspending Presidential term limits, under the pretext of the War on Terror…
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:14 am
Military fighting bird-flu…by passing out Korean pickled cabbage? …Better than fighting other wars.