Sigh. I’ll repeat this again, as I’ve said on numerous sites throughout the Internet and in real life.

The next 12 months are crucial! We do not risk “threat” externally as we risk threat internally, in our own “civil war.”

We have a society, at least four generations of voters, who were raised to believe in the Constitution, the democratic form of government.

Summer months are coming. More people are moving about, the heat of the summer commonly shortens tempers, etc.

It will only take ONE incident to trigger a domino effect nationally or internationally. The twig has his finger on the nuclear button. And the other countries, foes and allies both, are prepared for it.

With a National Guard so “not prepared” only violence in the streets can happen, as there are more and more incidents reflecting those already happening as reported in The Agitator and Bad Cop News (just to name two).

I see the problems that are coming too clearly. I see the violence and other horrors coming. I see the twig even possibly attempting to manipulate his remaining in office by creating a “crisis” as the 2008 elections draw closer. And I see no one standing up ... the politicians or the courts ... to say it STOPS now, we change direction even if that change is a mistake. Because to remain on this path will surely destroy us forever. I personally would prefer a short-term loss of internal civil war in the U.S. of citizens against government versus triggering the use of nuclear or biological weapons involving other countries as well.

Citizens may, indeed, need to take to the streets against this administration. I dread it. Yet I remind everyone that Benjamin Franklin struggled himself, attempting to negotiate with England, until he realized that it would never happen and finally committed to the Revolution.

Who will our leader of the people be? and when?

With a National Guard ready to shoot American citizens because they are under-manned and lack resources, how fast will the American people revolt if there is an event that “triggers” such action.

I recall, and remind others, of Ohio State as well.

As I concluded in “Part One: Where Are the Lawyers?” (http://www.civilgideon.com/portal/index.php/site/comm ents/part_one_where_are_the_lawyers/):

“The battle against injustice begins with a whisper, quiet, alone, and perhaps with the pain of awareness, seeking response from the representatives accountable. And this is the time that the most rational and equitable response can easily be heard, not only by the one whispering, but by all around them.

If the whisper is ignored and not responded to by those responsible to correct the injustice, then more whispers will follow until, in very little time, the joining voices create a shout of protest by many more ... not just individuals, but groups as well, calling for the action of representatives of those groups. And a response will require a loud voice in return, to guide them to a rational and sensible solution for all.

However, if the shouts of the groups are still ignored, then the shouts can and will only evolve to that of a roar! And then there can be almost no response possible, because very little ... even a rational and sensible response ... can be heard above the roar of an angry crowd outraged by the injustice.

And the tide will turn, yet still there is no hope, because the cycle will merely begin again, until responsibility and accountability are held to true measure.”

And I wonder, how can you convince people that they DO have the power to stop this, and give them ideas of the ways to do so ... any way BUT violence ... the commitment to do so ... so that we can save ourselves and the democratic principles this country was founded on.

I wish for the wisdom and intelligence of those men who wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence, then led our people to the beginning of a nation of democracy.

Just hope that nothing happens at home because it looks as though this country is not safe from another attack, calling up the Guard will not help because they are all over in Iraq, fighting a civil war, I think that the Democrats should think about the country instead of the prospect of winning in 08, after all the American people expect their government to protect the people, not the corporations and the politically connected, after all wall street might be doing o.k. but the working people are striving just to keep their heads above water, while those who needed this so called tax relief really are not so bad off, I think that if this country goes down, the well off will surrive anywhere, after all the rich of any country do not suffer as much as the people further down the economic trail.

Margaret from Vancouver, Washington

Saying things like “our troops are not ill-prepared” evokes emotional responses ranging from calls to increase funding to finger-pointing blame for this politician or that one.

Whenever I hear a report like this, the same questions come to my mind.  Ready for what?  How are they defining ready?

The commission report abstract on the GAO site includes the following statement:  “The types and quantities of equipment the National Guard needs to respond to large-scale terrorist events and natural disasters have not been fully identified because the multiple federal and state agencies that would have roles in responding to such events have not completed and integrated their plans.” In plain English, this means that the National Guard is not ready, because no one yet knows what ready should look like.

The GAO abstract is here:  http://www.gao.gov/docsearch/abstract.php?rptno=GAO-07-60

No doubt about it. Everything under Bush/Cheney is bad to worst. 90 per cent is still to high. It must be 101 per cent !

Bush, Cheney and their neocon and war-profiteer associates seem to be determined to “break” the Army’s active-duty component and reserve component (including the National Guard).

What are their goals? One stated goal is to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps to accomodate further wars and expanded conflict.

The “D” word, military draft, has been raised but often discounted. However, considering the history of the Bush-Cheney administration, this should not be ruled out.

For more information on this, the two articles referenced below may be of interest:

“Military Draft Needed for War With Iran and Syria?”

By Steve Hammons
Columnist, PopulistAmerica.com
Populist Party of America
September 28, 2006

http://www.populistamerica.com/military_draft_needed_f or_war_with_iran_and_syria

- - -

“Another view of military waivers: Flexible recruiting avoids draft”

By Steve Hammons
Columnist, PopulistAmerica.com
Populist Party of America
February 17, 2007

http://www.populistamerica.com/another_view_of_militar y_waivers