is the US sliding into Fascism? Evidence for and against

Do you think that the Patriot Act would have passed at any other time than right after 9/11?

We live in a post 911 world.

Do you think that the Patriot Act would have passed at any other time than right after 9/11?

Schraf writes:Monk, you have done pretty much nothing substantive in this discussion about the PA.Why do you keep ignoring my questions?

Monk again asks the question he has asked on numerous occasions. Schraffy dodges, still, with perseverance he forges ahead and so he writes: Am I to assume you prefer the status of pre 911 legislation as it pertains to terrorism?

Is it OK that Americans no longer have the right of habeas corpus?

(1) Enemy Combatant (EC). Although they do not fall under the provisions of the Geneva Convention, they are still entitled to be treated humanely, subject to military necessity, consistent with the principles of GC, and without any adverse distinction based on race, color, religion, gender, birth, wealth, or any similar criteria, and afforded adequate food, drinking water, shelter, clothing, and medical treatment; allowed the free exercise of religion consistent with the requirements of such detention. There is a comprehensive list of terrorists and terrorist groups identified under Executive Order 13224, located at Office of Foreign Assets Control - Sanctions Programs and Information | U.S. Department of the Treasury. Anyone detained that is affiliated with these organizations will be classified as EC. Furthermore, there are individuals that may not be affiliated with the listed organizations that may be classified as an EC. On these specific individuals, guidance should be obtained from higher headquarters. As defined by the Deputy Secretary of Defense, an EC is defined as:?Any person that US or allied forces could properly detain under the laws and customs of war. For purposes of the war on terror an enemy combatant includes, but is not necessarily limited to, a member or agent of Al Qaeda, Taliban, or another international terrorist organization against which United States is engaged in an armed conflict. This may include those individuals or entities designated in accordance with references E or G, as identified in applicable Executive Orders approved by the Secretary of Defense.?Deputy Secretary of Defense global screening criteria, Feb 20, 2004Reference E ? Comprehensive List of Terrorists and Terrorist Groups Identified Under Executive Order 13224 (updates at Office of Foreign Assets Control - Sanctions Programs and Information | U.S. Department of the Treasury)Reference G Patterns of Global Terrorism. Department of State, 2002 (updates at We apologize for the inconvenience... - United States Department of State).(2) Enemy combatants may be identified into the following sub-categories: (a) Low Level Enemy Combatant (LLEC). Detainees who are not a threat beyond the immediate battlefield or that do not have high operational or strategic intelligence or law enforcement value that requires the specialized type of exploitation capability available at a Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center.(b) High Value Detainee (HVD). A detainee who possesses extensive and/or high level information of value to operational commanders, strategic intelligence or law enforcement agencies and organizations.(c) Criminal Detainee. A person detained because he is reasonably suspected of having committed a crime against local nationals or their property or a crime not against US or coalition forces. Excludes crimes against humanity or atrocities. (Note: this sub-category may also be applied to CIs).(d) High Value Criminal (HVC). A detainee who meets the criteria of a HVD and is reasonably suspected of having committed crimes against humanity or committed atrocities, a breach of humanitarian law that is an inhumane act committed against any person.(e) Security Detainee. A civilian interned during a conflict or occupation for his or her own protection.

For the purpose of the Order, ?terrorism? is defined to be an activity that (1) involves a violent act or an act dangerous to human life, property, or infrastructure; and (2) appears to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, kidnapping, or hostage-taking.

So, this looks very much like an extremely broad definition of "enemy combatant" that could be applied to very nearly anyone.