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Wednesday, July 23, 2008 12:00 AM

Exposing Bush's historic abuse of power

Salon has uncovered new evidence of post-9/11 spying on Americans. Obtained documents point to a potential investigation of the White House that could rival Watergate.

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  • Friday, July 25, 2008 09:42 AM

    The Real Reason for the Bush Administration's Spying (amended)

    The Real Reason for the Bush Administration's Spying (amended)

    The Bush administration's obsession with spying on Americans is consistent with the paranoia of leaders in the past who, like Richard Nixon, have feared exposure for committing illegal and treasonous acts and attempted a coverup. The White House’s spying could be intended (in part) to monitor countless individuals who suspect or have become aware of the administration's possible involvement in the attacks of September 11, 2001. Spying on innocent people because of what they know is a form of intimidation to stifle dissent.

    September 11, 2001 was a boon for the Bush administration and the defense industry that they support and who supports them. The government's insistence upon spying on as many as 8 million Americans is consistent with the motivation of a group of thugs who fears serious retribution. Members of the Bush administration can "plausibly deny" nefarious motives by claiming that the reason for their spying is to protect Americans from another September 11th attack, but in light of much credible evidence that the Bush administration itself was responsible for the attacks, their claim that it is now necessary to be more vigilant against terrorists becomes a nauseating form of circular argument. Doubtless, it would become necessary to be more vigilant against those intelligent enough to realize that the administration's explanations for the September 11th attacks, and the claims of the 9/11 Commission Report, which they oversaw, make no sense under scrutiny. We are one national dialogue away from exposing the treacherous and treasonous acts of the Bush administration, and they know it.

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