What the Hell ! Story about human shields

[SCantiGOP]

Here's a link to a story about one of the human shields in Iraq being threatened with prosecution by the US government:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/958250.asp?0cl=c1
I'm used to being angered by the news these days, but this exchange nearly knocked me out of my seat:
<snip>
After you returned, you were threatened with jail time and fines for your actions in Iraq.
When I returned on May 4, an initial letter that said I would be penalized by up to 12 years in prison and a $1 million fine. In my response I said, “If it comes to fines or imprisonment please be aware that I will not contribute money to the U.S. government to continue to build up weapons of mass destruction. Perhaps consider the alternative.”
Have you heard from the government again?
Just recently I received a telephone call from the Treasury Department asking if I would be agreeable to a quick settlement. They had read my reply but they felt that I must pay $10,000. said if I didn’t agree with that penalty, notice would be sent soon. If I chose to ignore that notice, she said they would garnish my retirement and Social Security. I asked twice if this would be instead of having a trial, and she said there would be no trial.
<snip>
No Trial?! The Treasury Dept can issue a $10,000 fine, with the threat of a $1mm fine and 12 years in jail if not accepted, and there would be no trial available for a US citizen? Since the current administration doesn't give a damn about balancing the budget, it is obvious that this is nothing but a neat totalitarian move to stifle future dissent. Where in the hell has the country we grew up in gone?

[DuctapeFatwa]

1. The regime does not bestow the privilege of trial to enemies of the state

Ask Jose Padilla. Oops, you can't. He's being held incomunicado, disppeared. No charges, no trial, no lawyer.

Jose is a US citizen, too.

He's not the only US citizen who has been disappeared.

We don't really know how many people have been disappeared, only the ones that Reuters or somebody happened to hear about.

[berry]

2. Yes, the attacks by the govt on these people is sickening.

I'd read something of this, but this spells out how far they are willing to go to intimidate and punish. UGH. I do think the ACLU or some other group will help.

The interview was incredibly moving. I was very glad to read of Ms. Fippinger's experiences.

Mostly it was a Q&A and so the reporter's biases weren't a major distraction, but they were evident in the introductory line: "FOR FIPPINGER, it was the latest in a long series of global-idealist adventures." (uh-huh, she's just a dilatante) And in the question:
"Why did you return to America if you disagree with its actions and policy?" (excuse me? people who disagree with Bush* foreign policy should just go away? and where should they go?--Americans aren't much welcome anywhere, I should think....)

edited because the last para didn't get into the post--that was odd. Oh, now I see--I had used square brackets for my comments and they were deleted. Good to know.

[SCantiGOP]

3. It was a good story

Maybe that's the flip side of this sickening rush to totalitarianism, being reminded that there are people like her who do more than talk about their beliefs. Even though I would not agree with someone who went to Iraq as a human shield, I certainly admire their commitment and courage.