Land of the ever less free

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Updated Dec 1st, 2014

Landoftheeverlessfree
byChaseMadar
Obamaoncepromisedtorestrictthenationalsecuritystateputinplaceafter9/11.Insteadhehasexpandedits
budgetandoperation

Duringhiselectioncampaignin2008,BarackObamapromisedtoclosetheprisonatGuantnamo,
repealthePatriotActof2001thatauthorisednewdomesticsurveillance,andprotectmilitaryand
intelligencewhistleblowersagainstgovernmentreprisals.Itwasapledgetoreininmuchofthe
securitystateapparatusthathadbeenexpandedafter11September2001intoanenormous,often
unaccountable,bureaucracy.
Butfouryearslater,Guantnamoisstillopen,itsmilitarytribunalshaveresumedandObamahas
approvedtherenewalofthePatriotAct.HisDepartmentofJusticehaslaunchedsixEspionageAct
prosecutionsofsecuritywhistleblowerstwiceasmanyasallpreviousadministrationscombined.
Alsothenoflylistofindividualsprohibitedfromairtraveladesignationthatisoftenarbitraryand
alwaysopaquehasmorethandoubledsincelastyear,to21,000.In2011,thepresidentsignedthe
NationalDefenseAuthorizationAct(NDAA),whichgivesthefederalgovernmentthepowerto
imprisonindefinitelyUScitizensaccusedofterrorism,amajorerosionofhabeascorpusrights.The
administrationhasauthorisedtheassassinationofanunknownnumberofUScitizensabroadwhoare
notdirectlyengagedinarmedhostilitiesbutwhohavebeendesignatedasterrorists,withminimal
legalprocess.LastSeptember,AmericandronesinYemenhuntedandkilledradicalclericAnwaral
AwlakiandAlQaidapropagandistSamirKhantwoweekslater,aseparateAmericandronestrike
killedAwlakis16yearoldson:allwereUScitizens.Obamahasalsoradicallyexpandedthe
ostensiblysecretkillingofnonUScitizensbydronestrikesinPakistan,YemenandSomaliaas
manyasathirdofthevictimsarenoncombatantcivilians,accordingtotheBureauofInvestigative
Journalism.
Whathappened?TheexpectationthatObamawouldreducethenationalsecuritystatewasnotwholly
nave,norwithouthistoricalprecedent.Inthe1970s,afterWatergateandVietnam,anemboldened
DemocraticmajorityinCongressroseupagainstRepublicanpresidentGeraldFordtocurtailintrusive
policepowersanddomesticspyingathomewhilelimitingtheexecutiveswarmakingpowers,
includingcovertoperations,abroad.Manyvotersexpectedsimilarchanges,inaccordancewith
Obamascampaignpromises,afterthe2008election.

Theyhavebeendisappointed.Airportsecurityisevermoreintrusive,withtheintroductionofbody
imagingpornoscanners,nowin140airports.Thesetimeconsumingandirritatingpracticesare
securitytheatreandinitialreportsbytheTransportationSecurityAdministrationshowthatthe
scannerswhichhavecost$90marenotdifficulttoelude(1).Thosewhorefusetobescannedgo
throughpatdownsmorelikesexualgroping.

Alphabetsoupoffiefdoms
MoststrikingisthenormalisationofdomesticsurveillanceunderObama.Thefederalgovernmentnow
employs30,000peopletomonitorphoneconversationsintheUStheDepartmentofHomeland
Security,formedonlyin2002,isnowthethirdlargestfederalbureaucracy,surpassedonlybythe
PentagonandtheDepartmentofVeteranAffairs.Theconstructionofa1msqft(93,000sqm)
domesticsurveillancedatacentrecosting$2bnhasjustbeenstartedinBluffdale,Utah(2).
Itisdifficulttodiscernexactlyhowmuchthenationalsecuritystatehasgrown.Since9/11analphabet
soupofbureaucraticfiefdoms,allwithballooningbudgets(supplementedbysecretfunding
allocations),hasfuelledaconstructionboomintheWashingtonarea:33complexes,nearly17msqft
(1.58msqm).DanaPriest,nationalsecuritycorrespondentat TheWashingtonPost, estimatesthatthe
post9/11securityspendingspreehastopped$2trillion.Thereisnooverarchingauthority:thenew
cabinetlevelpositiontheoreticallyinchargeoftheseagencies,theDirectorofNationalIntelligence,is
inpracticepowerless.
Atthesametimegovernmentsecrecyhasintensified.Washingtonclassifiedanamazing92m
documentsin2011,almostdoublethenumbermadesecretin2009.Theclassificationprocesscosts
$10bnannually,accordingtoWilliamBosanko,aformerdirectorofthefederalInformationSecurity
OversightOffice.Declassificationofsecretmaterialisglaciallyslownotuntillastyeardidthe
NationalSecurityAgency(NSA)finishreleasingmaterialfromthewarof1812.Onlywellfunded
advocacygroupswithexperiencedlawyersareabletousetheFreedomofInformationActtogain
accesstoinformationaboutthesecuritystateandwithonlylimitedsuccess.
Thiswellfundedsecurityapparatusisnotanairtightvesselforkeepingsecrets.Theexponential
proliferationofclearances854,000Americansnowholdtopsecretsecurityauthorisation,and
some4.2millionothershavelowerorderclearanceredefinessecrecy.Thoughenforcementof
informationsecuritylawsisoftenstrict,itisjustasoftensketchyanderratic.Classifiedmaterial
frequentlypassesfromgovernmentlaptopstopubliclyaccessiblewebsitesviapeertopeerfilesharing
technology,usuallyinstalledbythechildrenofmiddleagedofficialslackingintechnologicalknow
how(3).MatthewMAid,ahistorianofAmericanintelligence,hasfoundUSmilitarycomputerson
saleinthebazaarsofKabul,withtheirclassifiedharddrivesstillintact(4).
Despitethecrackdownonleaks,eliteWashingtonofficialscontinuetoprovidejournalistswithtop
secretinformationwithoutfearofrepercussions:thetopsecretNationalIntelligenceEstimateon
AfghanistanwasleakedthisJanuary,andleaksabouttheadministrationssecretdronestrikesin
Pakistanarecommon.Overall,highgovernmentofficialsaregenerallysafefromthenewregimenof
nationalsecuritylaws.

Silenceoftheliberals
DuringtheGeorgeWBushadministrations,manyliberalsfoundtheexpansionofthesecuritystatea
gravethreattoAmericanscivilliberties.Nolonger.Sincethesecondworldwar,theUScivil
libertarianagendagainstractiononlywhentheDemocraticPartyisinopposition,asintheearly
1970s.AssoonastheDemocratsoccupytheexecutivebranch,suchconcernsevaporate.Today,many
Democratorientedintellectualsassurethepublicthattheirobjectionisnottogovernment
intrusivenessitselfbutonlytosuchtechniquesbeinginthehandsofthewrongpoliticalpartya
commonresponsebyliberalswhocannotbringthemselvestodenounceObamaastheydidBush,
wrotethejuristJonathanTurley(5).FormerofficialsoftheBushCheneyadministrationhave
applaudedObamasnormalisationofthepost9/11securitystate.(DickCheneyhasbeenparticularly
effusive.)
Atthestartofhispresidency,Obamaseemedintentonmakinggoodoncampaignpromises,butfaced
hostilityinCongress.HisfailedattempttocloseGuantnamoisemblematic.On21May2009
Congressrefusedtoallocatethe$80mneeded.AttorneyGeneralEricHoldersuddenlyannouncedthat
fiveGuantnamoprisonerswouldbetransferredintothefederalcourtsystemforciviliantrialsinNew
York.ButtheObamaadministrationhadfailedtosecurepriorapprovalfromlocalpoliticiansinNew
York,whobalkedamidlocalcontroversy.TheObamaadministration,sidetrackedbyothercrises,
quicklylosttheinitiativeandsincethen,supportfortheGuantnamocomplexandallitentails
(indefiniteimprisonment,militarytribunals)hasgrowninCongress,especiallyamongDemocrats.The
federaljudiciary,alwayscautiousastohowitexpendsitslimitedauthorityandprestige,hasbeen
reluctanttointervene.ItwouldbewrongtoregardObamasentrenchmentoftheseemergencysecurity
measuresastheimperialpresidencybulldozinglegislativeandjudicialrestraints.
TherapidexpansionoftheUSsecuritystateisnotnew.Itsgreatestexpansionwasafterthesecond
worldwar,underDemocraticpresidentHarryTruman,spurredbyantiCommunistmilitarybuildup
abroadandaredscareathome,andthereweremajorgrowthspurtsunderJohnFKennedy(1961
1963)andRonaldReagan(19811989).Inthepostwarera,thesecuritystatehasgenerallygotallthe
budgetandautonomyitaskedfor.

LimitsofAmericanlibertarianism
ThoughtheUSishostiletogovernmentinterventioninprivatelife,conservativelibertarians(a
minorityfactionintheRepublicanParty)hadhopedthattherightwingpopulistTeaPartymovement
mighttrimthesecuritystate,aswellasdecreasethegrowingnumberofforeignmilitaryinterventions.
ButtheTeaPartysmilitantlibertarianismisfixatedalmostexclusivelyonpropertyrights,andthe
CongressionalrepresentativesaffiliatedwiththemovementvotedoverwhelminglytorenewthePatriot
Actssurveillancemeasuresin2011.ForallitsantiWashingtonrhetoric,theTeaPartyiswellatease
withthesecuritystate.
Today,resistanceisfragmentedacrosstheleftrightpoliticaldivide.TheAmericanCivilLiberties
Union,centreleft,isanestablishedandwellfundedNGOthathasfordecadeslitigatedagainstillegal
surveillance,extremegovernmentsecrecyandotherencroachmentsofstatepower.Yettheonly
presidentialcandidatethisyeartovoiceanyoppositionisRonPaul,aTexasRepublicanwho,while

presidentialcandidatethisyeartovoiceanyoppositionisRonPaul,aTexasRepublicanwho,while
ferventlycivillibertarianandantiimperialist,isalsoarightwingultra.Bipartisaneffortstoprotect
civillibertieshaveallbeendefeated,despitegettingfrequentDemocraticmajoritiesintheHouseof
Representatives.Thecivillibertarianmessagehasmoreelectoralappealinthemountainstatesand
SouthwestandUpperMidwestthaninthecoastalmetropolitanregions.CaliforniaandNewYorks
Democraticsenatorsareinharmonywiththesecurityestablishmentandthelargetelecomcorporations
thatcollaboratewithsurveillanceprogrammes.
DomesticexpansionofthenationalsecurityapparatushashistoricallyaccompaniedUSmilitary
interventionsoverseas.NowthattheUShasaseverebudgetcrisis,afewintheRepublicanPartyanda
largergroupofDemocratsfavourreducingthemilitarybudget.Butnomatterwhowinstheelection,
thebudgetandpowerofthedomesticnationalsecuritystatearelikelytoexpandevenfurther.

Duringhiselectioncampaignin2008,BarackObamapromisedtoclosetheprisonatGuantnamo,
repealthePatriotActof2001thatauthorisednewdomesticsurveillance,andprotectmilitaryand
intelligencewhistleblowersagainstgovernmentreprisals.Itwasapledgetoreininmuchofthe
securitystateapparatusthathadbeenexpandedafter11September2001intoanenormous,often
unaccountable,bureaucracy.
Butfouryearslater,Guantnamoisstillopen,itsmilitarytribunalshaveresumedandObamahas
approvedtherenewalofthePatriotAct.HisDepartmentofJusticehaslaunchedsixEspionageAct
prosecutionsofsecuritywhistleblowerstwiceasmanyasallpreviousadministrationscombined.
Alsothenoflylistofindividualsprohibitedfromairtraveladesignationthatisoftenarbitraryand
alwaysopaquehasmorethandoubledsincelastyear,to21,000.In2011,thepresidentsignedthe
NationalDefenseAuthorizationAct(NDAA),whichgivesthefederalgovernmentthepowerto
imprisonindefinitelyUScitizensaccusedofterrorism,amajorerosionofhabeascorpusrights.The
administrationhasauthorisedtheassassinationofanunknownnumberofUScitizensabroadwhoare
notdirectlyengagedinarmedhostilitiesbutwhohavebeendesignatedasterrorists,withminimal
legalprocess.LastSeptember,AmericandronesinYemenhuntedandkilledradicalclericAnwaral
AwlakiandAlQaidapropagandistSamirKhantwoweekslater,aseparateAmericandronestrike
killedAwlakis16yearoldson:allwereUScitizens.Obamahasalsoradicallyexpandedthe
ostensiblysecretkillingofnonUScitizensbydronestrikesinPakistan,YemenandSomaliaas
manyasathirdofthevictimsarenoncombatantcivilians,accordingtotheBureauofInvestigative
Journalism.
Whathappened?TheexpectationthatObamawouldreducethenationalsecuritystatewasnotwholly
nave,norwithouthistoricalprecedent.Inthe1970s,afterWatergateandVietnam,anemboldened
DemocraticmajorityinCongressroseupagainstRepublicanpresidentGeraldFordtocurtailintrusive
policepowersanddomesticspyingathomewhilelimitingtheexecutiveswarmakingpowers,
includingcovertoperations,abroad.Manyvotersexpectedsimilarchanges,inaccordancewith
Obamascampaignpromises,afterthe2008election.
Theyhavebeendisappointed.Airportsecurityisevermoreintrusive,withtheintroductionofbody
imagingpornoscanners,nowin140airports.Thesetimeconsumingandirritatingpracticesare

imagingpornoscanners,nowin140airports.Thesetimeconsumingandirritatingpracticesare
securitytheatreandinitialreportsbytheTransportationSecurityAdministrationshowthatthe
scannerswhichhavecost$90marenotdifficulttoelude(1).Thosewhorefusetobescannedgo
throughpatdownsmorelikesexualgroping.

Alphabetsoupoffiefdoms
MoststrikingisthenormalisationofdomesticsurveillanceunderObama.Thefederalgovernmentnow
employs30,000peopletomonitorphoneconversationsintheUStheDepartmentofHomeland
Security,formedonlyin2002,isnowthethirdlargestfederalbureaucracy,surpassedonlybythe
PentagonandtheDepartmentofVeteranAffairs.Theconstructionofa1msqft(93,000sqm)
domesticsurveillancedatacentrecosting$2bnhasjustbeenstartedinBluffdale,Utah(2).
Itisdifficulttodiscernexactlyhowmuchthenationalsecuritystatehasgrown.Since9/11analphabet
soupofbureaucraticfiefdoms,allwithballooningbudgets(supplementedbysecretfunding
allocations),hasfuelledaconstructionboomintheWashingtonarea:33complexes,nearly17msqft
(1.58msqm).DanaPriest,nationalsecuritycorrespondentat TheWashingtonPost, estimatesthatthe
post9/11securityspendingspreehastopped$2trillion.Thereisnooverarchingauthority:thenew
cabinetlevelpositiontheoreticallyinchargeoftheseagencies,theDirectorofNationalIntelligence,is
inpracticepowerless.
Atthesametimegovernmentsecrecyhasintensified.Washingtonclassifiedanamazing92m
documentsin2011,almostdoublethenumbermadesecretin2009.Theclassificationprocesscosts
$10bnannually,accordingtoWilliamBosanko,aformerdirectorofthefederalInformationSecurity
OversightOffice.Declassificationofsecretmaterialisglaciallyslownotuntillastyeardidthe
NationalSecurityAgency(NSA)finishreleasingmaterialfromthewarof1812.Onlywellfunded
advocacygroupswithexperiencedlawyersareabletousetheFreedomofInformationActtogain
accesstoinformationaboutthesecuritystateandwithonlylimitedsuccess.
Thiswellfundedsecurityapparatusisnotanairtightvesselforkeepingsecrets.Theexponential
proliferationofclearances854,000Americansnowholdtopsecretsecurityauthorisation,and
some4.2millionothershavelowerorderclearanceredefinessecrecy.Thoughenforcementof
informationsecuritylawsisoftenstrict,itisjustasoftensketchyanderratic.Classifiedmaterial
frequentlypassesfromgovernmentlaptopstopubliclyaccessiblewebsitesviapeertopeerfilesharing
technology,usuallyinstalledbythechildrenofmiddleagedofficialslackingintechnologicalknow
how(3).MatthewMAid,ahistorianofAmericanintelligence,hasfoundUSmilitarycomputerson
saleinthebazaarsofKabul,withtheirclassifiedharddrivesstillintact(4).
Despitethecrackdownonleaks,eliteWashingtonofficialscontinuetoprovidejournalistswithtop
secretinformationwithoutfearofrepercussions:thetopsecretNationalIntelligenceEstimateon
AfghanistanwasleakedthisJanuary,andleaksabouttheadministrationssecretdronestrikesin
Pakistanarecommon.Overall,highgovernmentofficialsaregenerallysafefromthenewregimenof
nationalsecuritylaws.

Silenceoftheliberals

DuringtheGeorgeWBushadministrations,manyliberalsfoundtheexpansionofthesecuritystatea
gravethreattoAmericanscivilliberties.Nolonger.Sincethesecondworldwar,theUScivil
libertarianagendagainstractiononlywhentheDemocraticPartyisinopposition,asintheearly
1970s.AssoonastheDemocratsoccupytheexecutivebranch,suchconcernsevaporate.Today,many
Democratorientedintellectualsassurethepublicthattheirobjectionisnottogovernment
intrusivenessitselfbutonlytosuchtechniquesbeinginthehandsofthewrongpoliticalpartya
commonresponsebyliberalswhocannotbringthemselvestodenounceObamaastheydidBush,
wrotethejuristJonathanTurley(5).FormerofficialsoftheBushCheneyadministrationhave
applaudedObamasnormalisationofthepost9/11securitystate.(DickCheneyhasbeenparticularly
effusive.)
Atthestartofhispresidency,Obamaseemedintentonmakinggoodoncampaignpromises,butfaced
hostilityinCongress.HisfailedattempttocloseGuantnamoisemblematic.On21May2009
Congressrefusedtoallocatethe$80mneeded.AttorneyGeneralEricHoldersuddenlyannouncedthat
fiveGuantnamoprisonerswouldbetransferredintothefederalcourtsystemforciviliantrialsinNew
York.ButtheObamaadministrationhadfailedtosecurepriorapprovalfromlocalpoliticiansinNew
York,whobalkedamidlocalcontroversy.TheObamaadministration,sidetrackedbyothercrises,
quicklylosttheinitiativeandsincethen,supportfortheGuantnamocomplexandallitentails
(indefiniteimprisonment,militarytribunals)hasgrowninCongress,especiallyamongDemocrats.The
federaljudiciary,alwayscautiousastohowitexpendsitslimitedauthorityandprestige,hasbeen
reluctanttointervene.ItwouldbewrongtoregardObamasentrenchmentoftheseemergencysecurity
measuresastheimperialpresidencybulldozinglegislativeandjudicialrestraints.
TherapidexpansionoftheUSsecuritystateisnotnew.Itsgreatestexpansionwasafterthesecond
worldwar,underDemocraticpresidentHarryTruman,spurredbyantiCommunistmilitarybuildup
abroadandaredscareathome,andthereweremajorgrowthspurtsunderJohnFKennedy(1961
1963)andRonaldReagan(19811989).Inthepostwarera,thesecuritystatehasgenerallygotallthe
budgetandautonomyitaskedfor.

LimitsofAmericanlibertarianism
ThoughtheUSishostiletogovernmentinterventioninprivatelife,conservativelibertarians(a
minorityfactionintheRepublicanParty)hadhopedthattherightwingpopulistTeaPartymovement
mighttrimthesecuritystate,aswellasdecreasethegrowingnumberofforeignmilitaryinterventions.
ButtheTeaPartysmilitantlibertarianismisfixatedalmostexclusivelyonpropertyrights,andthe
CongressionalrepresentativesaffiliatedwiththemovementvotedoverwhelminglytorenewthePatriot
Actssurveillancemeasuresin2011.ForallitsantiWashingtonrhetoric,theTeaPartyiswellatease
withthesecuritystate.
Today,resistanceisfragmentedacrosstheleftrightpoliticaldivide.TheAmericanCivilLiberties
Union,centreleft,isanestablishedandwellfundedNGOthathasfordecadeslitigatedagainstillegal
surveillance,extremegovernmentsecrecyandotherencroachmentsofstatepower.Yettheonly
presidentialcandidatethisyeartovoiceanyoppositionisRonPaul,aTexasRepublicanwho,while
ferventlycivillibertarianandantiimperialist,isalsoarightwingultra.Bipartisaneffortstoprotect
civillibertieshaveallbeendefeated,despitegettingfrequentDemocraticmajoritiesintheHouseof

Representatives.Thecivillibertarianmessagehasmoreelectoralappealinthemountainstatesand
SouthwestandUpperMidwestthaninthecoastalmetropolitanregions.CaliforniaandNewYorks
Democraticsenatorsareinharmonywiththesecurityestablishmentandthelargetelecomcorporations
thatcollaboratewithsurveillanceprogrammes.
DomesticexpansionofthenationalsecurityapparatushashistoricallyaccompaniedUSmilitary
interventionsoverseas.NowthattheUShasaseverebudgetcrisis,afewintheRepublicanPartyanda
largergroupofDemocratsfavourreducingthemilitarybudget.Butnomatterwhowinstheelection,
thebudgetandpowerofthedomesticnationalsecuritystatearelikelytoexpandevenfurther.

Duringhiselectioncampaignin2008,BarackObamapromisedtoclosetheprisonatGuantnamo,
repealthePatriotActof2001thatauthorisednewdomesticsurveillance,andprotectmilitaryand
intelligencewhistleblowersagainstgovernmentreprisals.Itwasapledgetoreininmuchofthe
securitystateapparatusthathadbeenexpandedafter11September2001intoanenormous,often
unaccountable,bureaucracy.
Butfouryearslater,Guantnamoisstillopen,itsmilitarytribunalshaveresumedandObamahas
approvedtherenewalofthePatriotAct.HisDepartmentofJusticehaslaunchedsixEspionageAct
prosecutionsofsecuritywhistleblowerstwiceasmanyasallpreviousadministrationscombined.
Alsothenoflylistofindividualsprohibitedfromairtraveladesignationthatisoftenarbitraryand
alwaysopaquehasmorethandoubledsincelastyear,to21,000.In2011,thepresidentsignedthe
NationalDefenseAuthorizationAct(NDAA),whichgivesthefederalgovernmentthepowerto
imprisonindefinitelyUScitizensaccusedofterrorism,amajorerosionofhabeascorpusrights.The
administrationhasauthorisedtheassassinationofanunknownnumberofUScitizensabroadwhoare
notdirectlyengagedinarmedhostilitiesbutwhohavebeendesignatedasterrorists,withminimal
legalprocess.LastSeptember,AmericandronesinYemenhuntedandkilledradicalclericAnwaral
AwlakiandAlQaidapropagandistSamirKhantwoweekslater,aseparateAmericandronestrike
killedAwlakis16yearoldson:allwereUScitizens.Obamahasalsoradicallyexpandedthe
ostensiblysecretkillingofnonUScitizensbydronestrikesinPakistan,YemenandSomaliaas
manyasathirdofthevictimsarenoncombatantcivilians,accordingtotheBureauofInvestigative
Journalism.
Whathappened?TheexpectationthatObamawouldreducethenationalsecuritystatewasnotwholly
nave,norwithouthistoricalprecedent.Inthe1970s,afterWatergateandVietnam,anemboldened
DemocraticmajorityinCongressroseupagainstRepublicanpresidentGeraldFordtocurtailintrusive
policepowersanddomesticspyingathomewhilelimitingtheexecutiveswarmakingpowers,
includingcovertoperations,abroad.Manyvotersexpectedsimilarchanges,inaccordancewith
Obamascampaignpromises,afterthe2008election.
Theyhavebeendisappointed.Airportsecurityisevermoreintrusive,withtheintroductionofbody
imagingpornoscanners,nowin140airports.Thesetimeconsumingandirritatingpracticesare
securitytheatreandinitialreportsbytheTransportationSecurityAdministrationshowthatthe
scannerswhichhavecost$90marenotdifficulttoelude(1).Thosewhorefusetobescannedgo

scannerswhichhavecost$90marenotdifficulttoelude(1).Thosewhorefusetobescannedgo
throughpatdownsmorelikesexualgroping.

Alphabetsoupoffiefdoms
MoststrikingisthenormalisationofdomesticsurveillanceunderObama.Thefederalgovernmentnow
employs30,000peopletomonitorphoneconversationsintheUStheDepartmentofHomeland
Security,formedonlyin2002,isnowthethirdlargestfederalbureaucracy,surpassedonlybythe
PentagonandtheDepartmentofVeteranAffairs.Theconstructionofa1msqft(93,000sqm)
domesticsurveillancedatacentrecosting$2bnhasjustbeenstartedinBluffdale,Utah(2).
Itisdifficulttodiscernexactlyhowmuchthenationalsecuritystatehasgrown.Since9/11analphabet
soupofbureaucraticfiefdoms,allwithballooningbudgets(supplementedbysecretfunding
allocations),hasfuelledaconstructionboomintheWashingtonarea:33complexes,nearly17msqft
(1.58msqm).DanaPriest,nationalsecuritycorrespondentat TheWashingtonPost, estimatesthatthe
post9/11securityspendingspreehastopped$2trillion.Thereisnooverarchingauthority:thenew
cabinetlevelpositiontheoreticallyinchargeoftheseagencies,theDirectorofNationalIntelligence,is
inpracticepowerless.
Atthesametimegovernmentsecrecyhasintensified.Washingtonclassifiedanamazing92m
documentsin2011,almostdoublethenumbermadesecretin2009.Theclassificationprocesscosts
$10bnannually,accordingtoWilliamBosanko,aformerdirectorofthefederalInformationSecurity
OversightOffice.Declassificationofsecretmaterialisglaciallyslownotuntillastyeardidthe
NationalSecurityAgency(NSA)finishreleasingmaterialfromthewarof1812.Onlywellfunded
advocacygroupswithexperiencedlawyersareabletousetheFreedomofInformationActtogain
accesstoinformationaboutthesecuritystateandwithonlylimitedsuccess.
Thiswellfundedsecurityapparatusisnotanairtightvesselforkeepingsecrets.Theexponential
proliferationofclearances854,000Americansnowholdtopsecretsecurityauthorisation,and
some4.2millionothershavelowerorderclearanceredefinessecrecy.Thoughenforcementof
informationsecuritylawsisoftenstrict,itisjustasoftensketchyanderratic.Classifiedmaterial
frequentlypassesfromgovernmentlaptopstopubliclyaccessiblewebsitesviapeertopeerfilesharing
technology,usuallyinstalledbythechildrenofmiddleagedofficialslackingintechnologicalknow
how(3).MatthewMAid,ahistorianofAmericanintelligence,hasfoundUSmilitarycomputerson
saleinthebazaarsofKabul,withtheirclassifiedharddrivesstillintact(4).
Despitethecrackdownonleaks,eliteWashingtonofficialscontinuetoprovidejournalistswithtop
secretinformationwithoutfearofrepercussions:thetopsecretNationalIntelligenceEstimateon
AfghanistanwasleakedthisJanuary,andleaksabouttheadministrationssecretdronestrikesin
Pakistanarecommon.Overall,highgovernmentofficialsaregenerallysafefromthenewregimenof
nationalsecuritylaws.

Silenceoftheliberals
DuringtheGeorgeWBushadministrations,manyliberalsfoundtheexpansionofthesecuritystatea
gravethreattoAmericanscivilliberties.Nolonger.Sincethesecondworldwar,theUScivil
libertarianagendagainstractiononlywhentheDemocraticPartyisinopposition,asintheearly

libertarianagendagainstractiononlywhentheDemocraticPartyisinopposition,asintheearly
1970s.AssoonastheDemocratsoccupytheexecutivebranch,suchconcernsevaporate.Today,many
Democratorientedintellectualsassurethepublicthattheirobjectionisnottogovernment
intrusivenessitselfbutonlytosuchtechniquesbeinginthehandsofthewrongpoliticalpartya
commonresponsebyliberalswhocannotbringthemselvestodenounceObamaastheydidBush,
wrotethejuristJonathanTurley(5).FormerofficialsoftheBushCheneyadministrationhave
applaudedObamasnormalisationofthepost9/11securitystate.(DickCheneyhasbeenparticularly
effusive.)
Atthestartofhispresidency,Obamaseemedintentonmakinggoodoncampaignpromises,butfaced
hostilityinCongress.HisfailedattempttocloseGuantnamoisemblematic.On21May2009
Congressrefusedtoallocatethe$80mneeded.AttorneyGeneralEricHoldersuddenlyannouncedthat
fiveGuantnamoprisonerswouldbetransferredintothefederalcourtsystemforciviliantrialsinNew
York.ButtheObamaadministrationhadfailedtosecurepriorapprovalfromlocalpoliticiansinNew
York,whobalkedamidlocalcontroversy.TheObamaadministration,sidetrackedbyothercrises,
quicklylosttheinitiativeandsincethen,supportfortheGuantnamocomplexandallitentails
(indefiniteimprisonment,militarytribunals)hasgrowninCongress,especiallyamongDemocrats.The
federaljudiciary,alwayscautiousastohowitexpendsitslimitedauthorityandprestige,hasbeen
reluctanttointervene.ItwouldbewrongtoregardObamasentrenchmentoftheseemergencysecurity
measuresastheimperialpresidencybulldozinglegislativeandjudicialrestraints.
TherapidexpansionoftheUSsecuritystateisnotnew.Itsgreatestexpansionwasafterthesecond
worldwar,underDemocraticpresidentHarryTruman,spurredbyantiCommunistmilitarybuildup
abroadandaredscareathome,andthereweremajorgrowthspurtsunderJohnFKennedy(1961
1963)andRonaldReagan(19811989).Inthepostwarera,thesecuritystatehasgenerallygotallthe
budgetandautonomyitaskedfor.

LimitsofAmericanlibertarianism
ThoughtheUSishostiletogovernmentinterventioninprivatelife,conservativelibertarians(a
minorityfactionintheRepublicanParty)hadhopedthattherightwingpopulistTeaPartymovement
mighttrimthesecuritystate,aswellasdecreasethegrowingnumberofforeignmilitaryinterventions.
ButtheTeaPartysmilitantlibertarianismisfixatedalmostexclusivelyonpropertyrights,andthe
CongressionalrepresentativesaffiliatedwiththemovementvotedoverwhelminglytorenewthePatriot
Actssurveillancemeasuresin2011.ForallitsantiWashingtonrhetoric,theTeaPartyiswellatease
withthesecuritystate.
Today,resistanceisfragmentedacrosstheleftrightpoliticaldivide.TheAmericanCivilLiberties
Union,centreleft,isanestablishedandwellfundedNGOthathasfordecadeslitigatedagainstillegal
surveillance,extremegovernmentsecrecyandotherencroachmentsofstatepower.Yettheonly
presidentialcandidatethisyeartovoiceanyoppositionisRonPaul,aTexasRepublicanwho,while
ferventlycivillibertarianandantiimperialist,isalsoarightwingultra.Bipartisaneffortstoprotect
civillibertieshaveallbeendefeated,despitegettingfrequentDemocraticmajoritiesintheHouseof
Representatives.Thecivillibertarianmessagehasmoreelectoralappealinthemountainstatesand
SouthwestandUpperMidwestthaninthecoastalmetropolitanregions.CaliforniaandNewYorks
Democraticsenatorsareinharmonywiththesecurityestablishmentandthelargetelecomcorporations

Democraticsenatorsareinharmonywiththesecurityestablishmentandthelargetelecomcorporations
thatcollaboratewithsurveillanceprogrammes.
DomesticexpansionofthenationalsecurityapparatushashistoricallyaccompaniedUSmilitary
interventionsoverseas.NowthattheUShasaseverebudgetcrisis,afewintheRepublicanPartyanda
largergroupofDemocratsfavourreducingthemilitarybudget.Butnomatterwhowinstheelection,
thebudgetandpowerofthedomesticnationalsecuritystatearelikelytoexpandevenfurther.
(1)DavidKravets,HomelandSecurityConcedesAirportBodyScannerVulnerabilities, Wired,
7May2012
(2)JamesBamford,TheNSAisBuildingtheCountrysBiggestSpyCenter(WatchWhatYou
Say), Wired, 15March2012.
(3)DanaPriestandWilliamMArkin, TopSecretAmerica:TheRiseoftheNewAmericanSecurity
State, LittleBrown,NewYork,2011,p234.
(4)MatthewMAid, IntelWars, Bloomsbury,NewYork,2012,p77.
(5)10ReasonsWhytheUSIsNoLongertheLandoftheFree,JonathanTurley, TheWashington
Post, 4January2012.
URL:http://mondediplo.com/2012/10/03usjustice

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