Amidst talk of turning the Middle East into a parking lot and chants of U..S..A, U..S..A, let us pause to consider how victory will be defined in the New War.

First, let's pick sides for this war.

Those desiring to wage the New War have been quick and eager to point out that this will not be a war just against those responsible for the terrorist acts of September 11th. Rather, it will be a preventative war to end "all terrorist activities".

This is an important point and I cannot stress it enough. This war is not against people who have committed specific violent acts. It is against all those who might have or might in the future commit violent acts against peaceable individuals, for political gain.

This New War will not be waged against any particular ideological or religious group. It will be waged against Muslims, against Christians, against Hindus, against Communists, against Libertarians, against Afghanis, against Americans, against any who dissent from the government which claims control over them.

Why?

Terrorism is the weapon of the politically disenfranchised. Forms of political dissent vary. For instance, it is possible that in some far off country one terrorist group might sabotage a shipment of tea for political or religious reasons wholly distinct from those of the group responsible for the recent attack on September 11th.

Each act is an act of terrorism - and the United States and its growing coalition, has declared war on all terrorism.

But retribution after terrorist acts have been committed will not satisfy those waging this New War. The stated goal of the New War is to prevent acts of terror. Necessarily then, all those suspected of planning, and those thought capable of planning terrorist attacks must be eliminated.

All dissidents are capable of lashing out. Thus, victory, in the New War, can only be declared after the elimination of all dissident groups. Then again, that's not true. Theodore Kaczynski was not a member of any group. Yet, he committed numerous terrorist attacks against the American technology sector.

The New War is a war to eliminate all serious and principled political and social dissent from the minds of all people.

Political dissent will be the ultimate thought crime.

Blind obedience to existing authority must be required from all - obedience not just to one government, but to all governments and between all governments. For terrorism against one's own nation and terrorism against a foreign nation is still terrorism.

Victory in the New War requires unanimity of thought on at least one issue, that all governments are legitimate as currently constructed.

The realistic and grounded among us - a shrinking group in this tide of nationalistic fervor - realize that such unanimity of thought is not possible, nor laudable.

With victory impossible the New War must be either abandoned as a failure or waged perpetually.

Is perpetual war the goal?

Americans have already been warned or preconditioned to believe that until this protracted struggle has been completed, Americans must accept temporary "reasonable restrictions" on their inalienable rights.

Many are eager to do just that.

This MUST lead to the imposition of martial law.

Why?

Civil liberties will be considered "loopholes" through which terrorists pass. During the war these loopholes will need to be closed, until no more loopholes - read freedoms - exist. The necessary and predictable result is a police state, the agents of which will make Hitler's brown shirts look like the Boy Scouts at Christmas.

The extremist anti-freedom politicians, from both the right and the left, and their mouthpieces in the media will tell you that this New War will be a temporary, but protracted fight. However, the war measures - read increased governmental control - will create and foment dissent, because being a slave is not a natural human condition. The New War will create its own enemies.

It will perpetuate itself.

With victory promised just over the horizon, Americans will be asked to accept an ever increasing amount of governmental control over their lives so that we can "secure" our freedoms in a never ending war.

It is time for a national deep breath, a pause to deliberate on our immediate future acts.

Let us limit our retaliation, to those who deserve it, those actually responsible for the deaths and destruction, which occurred on September 11th.

Let us rethink our objectives, while we are still free to think.

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