Early drafts are leaking of the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003, a/k/a Patriot Act II.
Yeesh.
Double yeesh.
More Freedom of Information Act restrictions. DNA databases of "suspected" terrorists, defined all too broadly. Removal of judicial restrictions on state law enforcement activities. Citizenship removal if the DoJ infers that, by associating with suspected terrorist organization, a person doesn't really want to be a citizen any more (with, thus, all the additional leverage that the DoJ's wangled for itself against non-citizens). And more.
Of course, this is just a draft. It's not formal legislation. It's talking points. It's a trial balloon. It's running something up the flagpole to see if folks reflexively salute it. It's just something to think about.
During our internal deliberations, many ideas are considered, some are discarded and new ideas emerge in the process along with numerous discussion drafts. Department staff have not presented any final proposals to either the Attorney General or the White House. It would be premature to speculate on any future decisions, particularly ideas or proposals that are still being discussed at staff levels.
It doesn't bear thinking about, or discussing. And, frankly, that someone would even draft something like this is pretty dismaying.
Yeah, there's a war on. But let's remember what we're fighting for.
Hey, guys -- if I wanted to live in a nice country with no Constitutional guarantee of rights, I'd stay in Britain.
Filed under :: Homeland Security