In addition to retired Gen. Franks' more recent, chilling statements, the Neocons are on record in early 2000 almost hoping for "some catastrophic and catalyzing event, like a new Pearl Harbor." in the Project for the New American Century (PNAC).

Other prominent, influential conservatives have also had their say on the issue of crisis as pretext for change.

David Rockefeller:

""We are on the verge of global transformation. All we need is the right major crisis and the nations will accept the New World Order."

Zbigniew Brzezinski in the Grand Chessboard:

"As America becomes an increasingly multicultural society, it may find it more difficult to fashion a consensus on foreign policy issues, except in the circumstances of a truly massive and widely perceived direct external threat."

It was Zbigniew Brzezinski, you may recall, who as Jimmy Carter's natioinal security advisor formulated the policy of fomenting unrest in the Central Asian republics of the USSR as a means of destabilizing that communist nation. These machinations led to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the rise of al Qaeda, and other, perhaps unintended consequences such as the so-called "blowback effect".

And this:

In the early 1980s, the Reagan Administration created a top-secret plan to suspend the Constitution and use the military to detain some 400,000 American citizens in large camps in the event of a "national emergency," such as national rebellion in the event of US invasion of Nicaragua or a massive terrorist attack. The plan has become popularly known as "Rex84", after one of several war game exercises actually carried out to practice such an event. (Another exercise was ominously dubbed "Operation Night Train.")

The plan was crafted between 1982 and 1984 by Lt. Col. Oliver North in collaboration with senior FEMA officials. It included a set of ready-to-go Executive Orders and other documents to be held by the National Security Council. In the event, the President would sign the prepared documents, instantly making them law. The plan was first revealed in a July 1987 article in the Miami Herald, which had obtained crucial memos discussing it. During North's testimony before the Iran-Contra hearings, Rep. Jack Brooks attempted to question North about the plan. He was immediately silenced by the committee's chairman, Sen. Daniel Inouye.

FEMA has since been absorbed by the Dept. of Homeland Security. It is not known what became of the "Rex84" documents.

Source

A related statement from another military man bears scrutiny:

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."

-- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials

In order to prosper, the "Merchants of Death" require an ongoing threat - the best enemies money can buy. In the bargain, the people may be compelled to "sacrifice essential liberty in order to gain a little temporary safety."

In doing so - If we are to believe Benjamin Franklin - we deserve neither.

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

I'll let Pogo (Walt Kelly) have the last word:



"WE HAVE MET
THE ENEMY
AND HE IS US"



Alas,
S