It looks like the White House is once again flexing its political muscles to squash any opponents. This time, though, the victims are civil rights, environmental, and similar advocacy groups. A recent CNN report shows that the FBI possesses thousands of papers on record — upwards of 3,500 to be precise – which monitor the targeted organizations. Crying foul (and rightfully so), groups such as the ACLU and Greenpeace are claiming that they are being scrutinized by task forces used to combat terrorism.
Although infuriating, this information isn’t necessarily a surprise. The Bush administration has a proven track record of arrogant unilateralism, irresponsibility, and political bullying. Ranging from the current scandal implicating Karl Rove in the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame to the atrocities committed at Guantanamo Bay, the play-by-play of this administration is anything but compassionate. The monitoring and censoring of groups such as the ACLU and Greenpeace is simply another example of the White House using its powers against its peaceful critics. Apparently, the President is attempting to re-write the constitution — this time without the first amendment. All of this, of course, begs an obvious question: when will Bush start listening to his critics, as opposed to shutting them up?
- Grant Ginder
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