NDAA Fuels Militarization, Enriches Defense Corporations, Expands Empire

"The military industrial complex is a jigsaw puzzle of seemingly competing private companies; but they are in reality state-sponsored enterprises where well-connected lobbyists, usually after long and prosperous careers in the military or government, pressure Congress to fund pet projects regardless of whether we can afford them or whether they are needed to defend our country. This convenient arrangement is the welfare of the warfare state."

http://original.antiwar.com/paul/2012/12/20/ndaa-fuels-militarization-enriches-defense-corporations-expands-empire/

George Monbiot: "It must follow that what applies to the children murdered [in Newtown] by a deranged young man also applies to the children murdered in Pakistan by a sombre American president. These children are just as important, just as real, just as deserving of the world's concern. Yet there are no presidential speeches or presidential tears for them, no pictures on the front pages of the world's newspapers, no interviews with grieving relatives, no minute analysis of what happened and why."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/17/us-killings-tragedies-pakistan-bug-splats

“After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn’t do it. I sure as hell wouldn’t want to live in a society where the only people allowed guns are the police and military.” - William S. Burroughs, Artist/Novelist

“The most improper job of any man, even saints (who at any rate were at least unwilling to take it on), is bossing other men. Not one in a million is fit for it, and least of all those who seek the opportunity.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

Are you a dangerous man (or woman)?

"The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane and intolerable, and so, if he is romantic, he tries to change it. And even if he is not romantic personally he is very apt to spread discontent among those who are." - H.L. Mencken

Minority Report, U.S. style

Just in case they're needed for future criminal investigations. Very disturbing, particularly considering that we have no idea what might be considered "crimes" in the future.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57556704-38/cops-to-congress-we-need-logs-of-americans-text-messages/

Afghan Children Legitimate Targets, Says U.S. Lt. Col., As They Might Have "Hostile Intent"

"When the war gets to this level--whether or not we believe the Army's assertions that the kids it's killing in Afghanistan deserved it--it's time to rethink whether you are winning hearts and minds, nation rebuilding, or just involved in an endless insane game of blowing shit up and making people so mad they give you what you think is a legitimate excuse to keep blowing shit up.

$200 billion spent on this in just fiscal 2012 and 2013, so we can now, halfway across the globe, "look...for children with potential hostile intent," and if we find them, kill them."

http://reason.com/blog/2012/12/04/afghan-children-legitimate-targets-says