Wednesday, October 05, 2005

GWB Has One Ace--and He Plays It Again

The President, having taken a few punches to the head over his MysteryMiers nomination, has now suggested that the US military be used to help fight the potential consequences of the Avian Flu.

Bush asserted aggressive action could be needed to prevent a potentially crippling U.S. outbreak of a bird flu strain that is sweeping through Asian poultry and causing experts to fear it could become the next deadly pandemic. Citing concern that state and local authorities might be unable to contain and deal with such an outbreak, Bush asked Congress to give him the authority to call in the military.

The President is evidently charmed by the concept of using the Pentagon as a one-stop "problem solving" organization. Although Bill Clinton was reviled for using the military as a "meals-on-wheels" provider in the Caribbean, the Clinton Administration was careful to keep the military far distant from domestic engagements. (I know--Waco might have been an exception...)

But GWB, more and more showing the Eastern Softheaded Republican genetic streak of his father, has now made two distinct proposals which seem to fly contrary to the Posse Comitatus Act; one in case of vaguely defined 'national disasters' presumably similar to Katrina, and now to have the US Marine Corps keep quarantined children from their parents (or whatever.)

Stuck on Stupid, anyone?

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