US at Nadir, Nader & Panel Claim

America again in jeopardy, Ralph Nader says

There is huge lesson for the USA from the fall of the Roman Empire, according to legendary consumer activist Ralph Nader - a lesson best captured in the words of noted historian Edward Gibbons. "The Romans wanted freedom, but more than freedom they wanted security and they lost both," Gibbons wrote of Rome's destruction.

Nader, who last week wrote article published in USA Today concerning lessons from 9/11, was the anchor on a 4-member panel which discussed the deleterious and ongoing impacts of American decisions made after the 9/11 attacks in a session held today at the Busboys and Poets Bookstore.  Joining Nader on the panel were:

• Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powel
• Bruce Fein, attorney and former executive editor of World Intelligence Review and
• Mike German, a former FBI agent who is now policy counsel  on National Security, Privacy, and Immigration at the ACLU

Although the 2-hour presentation was both bleak and chilling, Wilkerson did inject some humor in opening remarks when he noted that "when I was in the military, it never crossed my mind that I would be sitting on a podium with Ralph Nader."  However, he felt it was his duty to speak out about his belief that America was in jeopardy for horrendous decisions being made by an elite handful in government.

"Where is it written that the American empire will not expire?" Wilkerson asked. "In fact, the signs are legion today that we will expire."

Wilkerson continued to detail a litany of wrong decisions made in the wake of 9/11. Using the false claim of Saddam Husein's Weapons of Mass Destructions and other examples, Wilkerson said the information presented to the military and other government leaders was "at best flawed, and, at worst, a complete lie. Everything that flowed from that was destructive to the United States." Wilkerson added that in his military leadership career he received "not one piece of credible info from the CIA."

Gen. Powell's former assistant said that unwarranted and unwise military actions were producing a huge drain on American taxpayers and further hastening the country's demise. "Bin Laden spent about $500,000 total for his operation, and we've spent more than $2 trillion trying to counter him."

Wilkerson said he is most fearful that a small band of wrong thinkers could propel America into a war with Iran, an action that has virtually no, if any, support in the military.

German said he had seen a dramatic dropping of essential American rights since 9/11. "Surveilance laws have been turned on their head and the weapons of war are now being used against the American people," German said. "The ratchet only turns in one direction. It's difficult to get rights back again."

The ACLU counselor said a shroud of secrecy surrounded unconstitutional moves undertaken by the Bush regime and, for the most part, continued by President Obama. "Even some Senators have said that there are secret and ongoing operations that if Americans knew about them they would be shocked, but they can't say anything because of national security claims," German said, contending that improperly classifying information as secret leaves workers (even workers as powerful as US Senators) fearful of losing their jobs or facing severe retaliation.

Fein, probably the most impassioned in his remarks, contended that "illegality in the executive branch is chronic, institutionalized, and recurrent."

"They are ignoring 200 years of legal framework," Fein said, adding that he feared even the threat of a 9/11 or worse attack could find America on the verge of despotism. "There are people in the executive branch that believe the Constitution is outmoded. You just need to trust us to keep you safe."

"These are violations that go to the substance of who we are as an American people," Fein said. "We are in a struggle for the soul of the United States."

Traveler's Tip:
If you travel, there is always a chance you will bump into someone who is famous.  Most people, myself included, never really know what to say nwhen that happens. Today, before the panel discussion, I was sitting at the bar at Busboys and Poets with my wife, sipping an iced tea, when I felt someone bump into my elbow. I turned and was face-to-face with Mr. Nader. Since he was talking to someone else, I didn't say anything.  However, after the talk, I saw him standing alone in the room and went up to him. He looked and said, "hey, what did you think?  That went well ..." showing that even the most famous are human and need affirmation, too.