[visualops]

“As I look at President Bush, I think he will ultimately be judged as a man of extremely high character. A very thoughtful man, not having been appraised properly by those who would say he’s not very smart. I find the contrary. I think he’s very, very bright. And I suspect that he’ll be judged as a man who led this country through a crease in history effectively. Probably we’ll think of him in years to come as an American hero.”

[tet68]

At least we have something to look forward to.

[NittanyLion]

Normally I'd say this is farfetched. But the fact that Tommy Franks believes this to be true is disconcerting, to say the least. He seems to be a very levelheaded guy who certainly isn't prone to exaggeration.

[tubavil]

He is the first high-ranking official to openly speculate that the Constitution could be scrapped in favor of a military form of government.

HUGELY SIGNIFICANT BUMP.

[BikerNYC]

I'm not surprised that a military man might think that we would have a military government should a WMD hit.

[Constitutional Patriot]

“... the Western world, the free world, loses what it cherishes most, and that is freedom and liberty we’ve seen for a couple of hundred years in this grand experiment that we call democracy.”

I think what Gen. Franks fails to grasp is that armed Americans will likely handle this situation before the Government can say "martial law". It will not be pretty.

[Myrddin]

Gen. Tommy Franks says that if the United States is hit with a weapon of mass destruction that inflicts large casualties, the Constitution will likely be discarded in favor of a military form of government.

Tommy forgot the 2nd amendment. It is there to protect the people from bone headed individuals with his line of thinking. He seems to forget that the military serves at the pleasure of the civilian government who in turn serves at the pleasure of the citizens.

[The KG9 Kid]

All you good American citizens go run right out and register your guns. The military government will need to know who's got what the night they take over.

Those of you inclined to protest should have your protest permits on file, and the licensing fees paid up beforehand.

[Dan from Michigan]

Scary

As far as I'm concerned, keeping Constitution is non-negotiable. That's just the way it's going to be as long as I'm alive.

Without freedom, there's nothing. When there's nothing, there's nothing left to lose.

[lawdude]

If true he said this, he should be removed immediately.

[blam]

"Which in fact, then begins to unravel the fabric of our Constitution."

Makes sense. Our constitution would not allow us to kill 1.3 billion Muslims.

[TSgt]

For those that believe in the Second Coming a major WMD attack in America would be the perfect prelude to a single identification system and a world leader…

It doesn't take a Bible scholar to see the rise of anti-Semitism and terrorism and the falling of our country away from God.

[newgeezer]

Given the irreversible damage done over the past 70 years or so, I would hardly say the Constitution has "survived" today.

[small voice in the wilderness]

What the ?!? You know, if someone in the clinton admin. had said this, I would be SURE they were hatching yet another evil plot. But someone in the Bush admin.? They aren't evil, and they're not prone to exaggeration. I do trust them, but this really makes me uneasy.

[P-Marlowe]

America has a Constitution?

Since when?

Is the Supreme Court aware of that? Have they read it?

[Straight Vermonter]

The ancient Roman's, during the republic, provided for military leadership in times of crisis. They appointed a dictator (simply meaning leader, without the negative modern connotation) who ruled until the crisis passed.

Cincinnatus is the classic example of the Roman dictator. He was in his fields plowing when a runner came to him to inform him that he had been appointed dictator. He left his plowing, took care of the enemy, and returned to his fields. All in 16 days.

[Huck]

I don't think that's a cigar Franks was smoking. I like the guy, but he's way off the mark here.

[madison10]

Know what? I really don't want to hear this...I do not wish to see my country, as I know it, die. Guess I have ostrich syndrome.

[John Lenin]

The story is very believable, the sleepers are already here. Remember people, Bubba and Arafat met over 200 times in the White House, it's obvious they were not cementing an Israeli/Palestinian peace deal in those 200 visits. Yes, charcter counts when it comes to who is running the country.

[Jeff Head]

Gen. Tommy Franks says that if the United States is hit with a weapon of mass destruction that inflicts large casualties, the Constitution will likely be discarded in favor of a military form of government.

It is not clear here whether Franks believes this would actually happen and whether he advocates or supports it.

I will say this, any officer, any member of the armed service, any government employee or any politician who would advocate this and move in support of it has violated their oath to uphold, defend and bear true allegiance to that very constitution and marked themselves as an enemy of the people.

We can survivie a WMD...we will not survive the destruction or setting aside of the Constitution.

The day any of these people and their lackeys, in their high glory and glass houses, try and do this is the day that Proposition 223 and the Rule of 307 will come into play.

Jeff