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CROSSING THE RUBICON

JACTA ALEA EST... ON TO BAGHDAD!  

By: Joe Blow  

How long do you think it will take the sheeple of America to come to  
grips with the fact that they elected an Imperial leader? My guess is 
that the majority of them will never get that far. For a multitude of 
specious reasons many will continue to profess that Bush is doing a 
wonderful job, yet even a cursory review reveals that his words and 
deeds often more closely resemble that of an Emperor than a President 
of a Republic.  


When Bush ran into legislative opposition to his proposal to give federal 
grants to private groups to promote marriage he simply bypassed 
Congress altogether, issuing an executive order to get the job done 
quickly and efficiently. What's wrong with that you say? These were 
taxpayer dollars, subject to Congressional approval. Only kings do such 
things, not Presidents. Otherwise, there would be no need for Congress, 
just give the President the federal checkbook and let him write checks 
to all the beggars, much like rich sheiks in Arab nations.  

When asked by reporters whether the high cost of war with Iraq would 
cripple the U.S. economy he replied, "An attack from Saddam Hussein 
or a surrogate of Saddam Hussein would cripple our economy." How 
does that answer the question? Obviously, he has already made up his 
mind on this issue. If Bush hasn't yet crossed the Rubicon he is at 
least midstream, heading for the opposite shore.  

"This economy cannot afford to stand an attack," he said, even as his 
budget team was predicting war with Iraq would cost at least $50 
billion." Heavy emphasis on at least $50 billion, since several months 
ago the best estimate was $100 to $200 billion.  

"Some U.S. allies say they fear Bush is too eager for war. Sensitive to 
the criticism, Bush bristled at the suggestion that war was inevitable. 
"You said we're headed to war in Iraq. I don't know why you say that," 
Bush told reporters. "I'm the person who gets to decide, not you." 
This is not the first time that he has uttered this Imperial sentiment, 
notwithstanding the clear provisions of the Constitution requiring a 
declaration of war by Congress before committing American troops to 
battle. Unlike Julius Caesar the Senate did not appoint him dictator.  

Richard Hooker writes, "The First Triumvirate, consisting of Julius 
Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey, came to power in 59 BC when Caesar 
was elected consul. The Triumvirate reform program was enacted and 
Caesar got himself appointed governor of Illycrium and Gaul. The way 
to power in Rome was through military conquest; this gave the general 
a loyal army, wealth (from the conquered), and popularity and prestige 
at home."  

Like Caesar, Bush understands that in the New Empire the way to power 
is through military conquest that will give him a loyal army, plenty 
of wealth from Iraqi oil, and popularity and prestige at home going 
into the 2004 election.  

"Now the Romans really had no reason to conquer northern and central 
Europe; the people who lived there, the Germans and the Celts, were a 
tribal, semi-nomadic people. The province of Illycrium provided enough 
of a territorial buffer to defuse any threat from these people. But 
Julius embarked on a spectacular war of conquest anyway."  

Like the Romans, the Americans really have no reason to invade Iraq. 
It poses no real threat to the United States and the large separation 
provides enough of a geographical buffer to defuse any likely threat 
from the Iraqis. But Bush will invade Iraq anyway.  

"Crassus had died in a war against the Parrhians in the Middle East, 
and Pompey had turned against Julius and had roused the Senate 
against him. The Senate declared Julius an enemy of the state and 
demanded that he hand over his generalship and province. Julius, 
however, decided on a different course of action. His troops were 
fiercely loyal to him; so in 49 BC, Caesar ordered his troops to 
cross the Rubicon River, which separated his province from Italy, 
thus committing a grave crime against the state. The Civil War 
started the minute the first of his legions had finished crossing 
the Rubicon."  

Bush's civil war will start the same day the invasion of Iraq begins. 
The anti-war faction in America is prepared, committed, and growing 
by the day.  

"Caesar returned to Rome in 46 BC and had the Senate appoint him 
dictator for ten years; he was given imperium over the Roman Empire 
and was, for all practical purposes, above the law and the constitution."  

Like Caesar, Bush is already acting the part of dictator of the 
New Empire and he is currently limited by the 22nd Amendment to 
a maximum term of ten years.  

"Two years later he was appointed dictator for life, and he quickly 
assumed all the important offices in the government. He reformed the 
government in many ways, but these reforms were functionally 
meaningless considering his absolute power. Caesar's absolute power, 
imperium for life (which made him imperator, or Emperor, of Rome), 
looked suspiciously like a monarchy, which, for all practical purposes, 
it was."  

Like Caesar, Bush has already been in power for two years. His reform 
platform is on the agenda as soon as Congress returns. The Patriot Act, 
Homeland Security Office, TSA, and Total Information Awareness all 
bode well for the agenda of the Emperor king and his minions, but not 
for the Republic.  

Roger H. Lieberman bluntly writes, "- Bush represents a new 
phenomenon without historical precedent - an exceptionally weak 
intellect at the head of a huge conquering military. A Neanderthal 
Caesar, who is poised to cross the Rubicon - or, as chance would 
have it, the Tigris and the Euphrates!"  

Jacta alea est (the die is cast). On to Baghdad!  

"Published originally at EtherZone.com : republication allowed with this  
notice and hyperlink intact."

                              -==-

Source: EtherZone - http://etherzone.com/2003/blow010603.shtml

Cheers, Steve..

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