ENEMY OF THE STATE

ENEMY OF THE STATE

I’m laying here face down on the tile, in a pool of my own blood. I’m breathing very heavily through my mouth, because my nose is certainly broken and I’m slipping in and out of consciousness. My wrists are contorted uncomfortably behind me, and aching from a case of overzealous application of handcuffs. Out of the corner of my eye I can see two guys from the N.P.F. or National Police Force, hi-fiving each other. They are dressed completely in their black uniforms and jump boots, with the NPF gold badge and logo emblazoned on their jackets.

To tell you the truth, I’ve always been a law abiding citizen, and I never figured I’d have a few guys like this kicking my own door down. I’m really not sure why it’s come to this but I guess, I should start back at the beginning

At some point back in the early years of 2000 or 2001, half the people of the United States seemed to increasingly distance themselves politically from the other half. Soon it seemed as if the two sides had little that they could agree on. These differences made themselves all the more apparent each time a national election was decided. Power swung wildly from the left to the right and back after each election.

The parties that eventually came to power tried to overcompensate and alienate the voters that did not want them in power. Eventually dissenters became thought of as dissidents and political trouble makers, and became the subject of increasing government attention. The most vocal and high profile of these dissenters became the targets of endless investigations and harassment by law enforcement and government agencies.

Another dynamic in place at that point in time was heightened concern over national security. We were engaged in several wars overseas with terrorist organizations and they had vowed to bring the war back to American soil. Our people were rightfully frightened and they demanded a new, and even higher level of national security and they were willing to forgo a few civil liberties to achieve it.

New and previously reserved powers were given to enforcement agencies such as the FBI, NSC, Border patrol and the BATF, however these agencies tended to operate independently and with little cohesion. Agents for these organizations all reported to different bosses, had separate budgets, and were careful not to intrude on each others “turf” or domain.

The climate was ripe and the people were trusting, and a few new agencies were born in the shadows, one of which being the N.P.F.

This department was set up in the early months of a very popular presidency. It was originally designed and promoted as a country wide adjunct to the local police agencies, but soon took on the look and firepower of a para-military organization, with broad ranging search, arrest, and pursuit powers.

The N.P.F. was originally conceived as sort of a loaner SWAT team to aide and assist local police departments. The teams were comprised of the best candidates from the military and law enforcement agencies. It was clear from the beginning that these guys were to be the “best of the best”, an elite band of brothers. The problem was they reported directly to the director of the National Police Force who was in turn was selected by, funded by, and reported directly to the president of the United States. This in effect made them the Presidents personal security force, to be used and directed as he alone had seen fit. Even their budget and funding was not subject to review or oversight by congress or the Justice department, making them a very independent entity unto themselves.

In normal times I’m not sure a department like the N.P.F. could ever be formed. The strange thing is that no one actually votes for a thing like this, it just sort of happens. However at the time, every one was very concerned with National Security and most of us were willing to trade off a few civil liberties to feel more secure. Because of their direct chain of command to the commander and chief, the organization grew quickly and was very well funded.

In the beginning the NPF troopers were highly respected and even sought after by local law enforcement agencies, however, as they began to flex their muscle in local jurisdictions, that love affair was quickly ended. It seemed that these national guys had an agenda all their own, and weren’t about to let any lowly street cops or FBI agents stand in their way.

After a few high profile arrests that went bad, and increased media attention, people began questioning the tactics and motives of these “men in black”. However critics were quickly silenced or seemed to disappear. Major media organizations also seemed to quickly abandon their coverage of the NPF and their activities, as watchdogs from the FCC (also strongly influenced by presidential appointments) censored and made their life’s more difficult.

As an independent writer and reporter I felt increasingly compelled to investigate and report on what I perceived as the injustices and excesses that I uncovered by these special police. I guess I have ambitions of following in my fathers footsteps. He was a controversial and award winning journalist in his day. So, I crisscrossed the country at my own expense, gathering data and investigating their tactics and actions. I’d then file my stories anomalously or under fictitious names to keep from drawing undue attention to myself and to the media outlets that bought my work.

Well I guess it didn’t take long for an organization with the power and connections that the NPF has to determine the source of what they considered to be, these embarrassing and disruptive articles and reports. Initially I did not feel threatened by them and felt that I was doing a public service and that my work was clearly protected by my 1st amendment rights. In addition to that, my work only appeared in small community newspapers and oddball radio shows. The big media was afraid to run any of my work due to the possible reprisals by the government.

Evidently my work and writings were being read and closely scrutinized by the powers to be and they felt threatened by the information I was disseminating. Evidently my recent article entitled “Ruthless tactics and accompany illegal search and seizure” pushed the wrong buttons in Washington and made me an undeclared “enemy of the state”.

Even though many of my friends and colleagues cautioned me to temper my exposés, I felt compelled to continue and make the truth know. After all, this is America and I should have no fear of free speech. That’s why I am laying here in a state of disbelief.

As the NPF officers pushed me unwillingly out to the street and into their vehicle, I reminded them quite vocally that I have my rights and that I enjoy protection under the constitution and Bill of Rights. No court in the land would find me guilty of simply exposing the truth. There is Freedom of Speech.

As the officers were locking the cage door behind me one of them took off his dark sunglasses and winked at me “Oh..Don’t be silly…we are not arresting you for your writing or speaking out. You’re getting busted for several felonies….listening to “Conservative Talk Radio” and smoking a cigarette within the city limits.”

Please feel free to contact me at pooritalianboy@gmail.com

P.I.B.