The Danger of Bureaucracy: Even in War!

ã Dr. Gary D. Lemmons, September 24, 2006

The case of Maher Arar, a duel citizen of Canada and Syria who was seized by U. S. authorities, taken to Jordon then to Syria, held as prisoner for almost a year, tortured, and finally released after it was determined that he was NOT a terrorist or, at least up until that time, a terrorist sympathizer, demonstrates the need for oversight of American efforts to gather information in the war against Islamist fanaticism.  Further, it demonstrates the danger of bureaucratic breakdown, which in this instance involved the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and (probably) the C.I.A or other U.S. anti-terrorist, covert agencies.

The one thing that is more dysfunctional than government itself is governmental bureaucracy.  We deal with it everyday in the interactions we have with the governmental agencies that regulate our lives.  Try to construct a building, start a business, or perform any number of other human actions that should NOT be any of the government’s concern, and one will find that the all mighty power of “big brother” is just waiting to pounce and plague one with a plethora of obstacles and hoops, not to mention fees, all designed to drive one to the brink of idiocy.

In Maher Arar’s case, he went into court in Canada, and that court has found ineptness in the actions of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  However, the preponderance of responsibility for this sorry event was laid at the feet of U. S. authorities, who, following the “lost in Alabama” approach of our Commander-in-Chief, declined to participate in the court’s inquiry.

I have never been impressed by President Bush as a “domestic” President, and in previous entries in this blog, I have indicated why.  In my judgment, the only thing he has had going for him has been his “gonads” to take on the Islamist fanatics, albeit, he hasn’t hit them as hard as he should have.

But this administration has consistently moved to erode American liberties…little by little.  The tragedy of 911 has made this erosion more palatable with the American people, and certainly, many of the things that have been done needed to be implemented to battle this new international enemy. 

A lot of true Republicans, conservatives, libertarians, and “Samuel Adams” Federalists have come to the conclusion that it is time to reign-in this President to a degree.