<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>I have heard is difficult to occupy another land and keep a republic at home.</div><div><br></div>1. Compare St. Paul pre-RNC raids with the process of democracy promotion applied to Iraq.<div><br></div><div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; "><font face="Georgia" size="5" color="#000d63" style="font: 17.0px Georgia; color: #000d63"><b>Minnesota Monster Mash: Police-State Zombies in a Dead Republic</b></font></div></div><div><br></div><div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><font face="Georgia" size="3" style="font: 11.0px Georgia">Glenn Greenwald <a href="http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/30/police_raids/index.html"><font face="Georgia" size="3" color="#001bc7" style="font: 12.0px Georgia; color: #001bc7"><b>tells a harrowing tale of police-state tactics </b></font></a>in Minneapolis, with armed security forces conducting Baghdad-like raids on the houses of activists, terrorizing many and arresting some for thought crimes -- such as "planning to cause a riot" -- and other bogus charges. The sweeps -- <a href="http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/31/raids/index.html"><font face="Georgia" size="3" color="#001bc7" style="font: 12.0px Georgia; color: #001bc7"><b>guided and aided by the federal government</b></font></a> -- are designed to "ensure domestic tranquility" during the imminent Republican convention in the city. As Greenwald points out, not one of those who were shackled, arrested and hauled out at gunpoint had committed any crime whatsoever...</font></div></div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1595/135/">http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1595/135/</a></div><div><br></div><div>2. As Gustav approached US shores, Blackwater prepared for action.</div><div><br></div><div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face="Arial" size="5" color="#74130d" style="font: 18.0px Arial; color: #74130d"><b>Blackwater Gears Up For Gustav</b></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#74130D" face="Arial" size="5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;"><b><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px"><font face="Arial" size="4" style="font: 13.0px Arial">Security and intelligence expert Dr. R.J. Hillhouse reports at her “Spy Who Billed Me” blog that <a href="http://www.thespywhobilledme.com/the_spy_who_billed_me/2008/08/blackwater-gear.html"><font color="#0022f8" style="color: #0022f8"><u>Blackwater has issued a shout-out for armed security officers for possible deployment under their DHS contract in the wake of Hurricane Gustav</u></font></a>. Officers must have a firearms license - and <i>those with revolver- only status need not apply</i>...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; "></span></font></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px"><font face="Arial" size="4" color="#0022f8" style="font: 13.0px Arial; color: #0022f8"><a href="http://www.alternet.org/katrina/25858/"><u>Last time out, during Katrina</u></a></font><font face="Arial" size="4" style="font: 13.0px Arial">, Blackwater mercenaries were patrolling New Orleans in full battle dress and with assault weapons in what some called an end-run around Posse Comitatus. It looks like they’re ready to do it again. If so, let’s hope there’s none of the kind of “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwater_Baghdad_shootings"><font color="#e635fb" style="color: #e635fb"><u>accidents</u></font></a>” they’ve had in Iraq</font></p></span></font></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px"><font face="Arial" size="4" style="font: 13.0px Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; "><a href="http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/08/31/blackwater-gear-up-for-gustav/">http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/08/31/blackwater-gear-up-for-gustav/</a></span></font></p></b></span></font></div></div></body></html>