IP: OZ article on "martial law preps" in U.S.

[Dave Farber <dave@farber.net>]

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/27/1027497418339.html

Recent pronouncements from the Bush Administration and national security
initiatives put in place in the Reagan era could see internment camps and
martial law in the United States.

When president Ronald Reagan was considering invading Nicaragua he issued a
series of executive orders that provided the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) with broad powers in the event of a "crisis" such as "violent
and widespread internal dissent or national opposition against a US military
invasion abroad". They were never used.

But with the looming possibility of a US invasion of Iraq, recent
pronouncements by President George Bush's domestic security chief, Tom
Ridge, and an official with the US Civil Rights Commission should fire
concerns that these powers could be employed or a de facto drift into their
deployment could occur.

On July 20 the Detroit Free Press ran a story entitled "Arabs in US could be
held, official warns". The story referred to a member of the US Civil Rights
Commission who foresaw the possibility of internment camps for Arab
Americans. FEMA has practised for such an occasion.

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