Congress inched us further along toward the security state with the passage of the HR 5695, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act (Lungren, R-Calif) (source- the “Capitol Connection”). Though the bill was supposedly watered down, it still provides DHS with latitude to impose regulations.

Nobody wants an act of terror involving a chemical facility. Obviously. But we must be careful not to dismantle the chemical industry with hand-waving mandates that will choke innovation and US competitiveness. I predict that the only people who will benefit from this law are the security consultants who will peddle their PowerPoint deliverables to frightened management MBA’s like flu shots to the Wal-Mart elderly. Maybe Halliburton is in this business already? Ya Think?

We Americans need to ask ourselves- do we want to be like the Romans or the Greeks? Both are extinct cultures, so perhaps it is a funny comparison (or prescient). Do we spend our resources to advance the cause of empire or enlightenment? Do we automatically relent to incursions into our civil liberties because the Executive Branch says that it is required for them to do their job? When you’re a hammer, everything looks like a nail. I’m guessing that once you experience the thrill of commanding the most advanced forces in the history of the world, you are a changed person. It must influence your perception of conflict. I know it would for me. The fact of power is the act of power.

Stalin’s little buddy, that Gilligan of the communist world, Kim Jung Il, has the power thing figured out. Wave it around & watch everybody scatter. Nobody has to know that your nuke was a dud. Strut around like a rooster and state your case. He must watch the poker channel.

Here is a threat for you. What about the opium crop in Afganistan? You know, if Monsanto had made bigger contributions to the RNC, they’d be shipping tankers of Roundup(R) to Afganistan right now for the “War on the Poppy”! Somebody wasn’t thinkin’.

And, what about Afganistan? Weren’t we on a bug-hunt to find that Saudi guy, what’s his name, O’Laden? No, Bin Laden. C’mon, George, keep your eye on the ball. Good lord.

(*End Rant*)