George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 304

The Great America of George W. Bush – Episode 303

< Episode 303 >

The bickering that started in Congress gradually spread to the public. It was inevitable.

“Freedom comes first, no matter what. Look at our proud Constitution! Doesn’t it begin and end with freedom? And what is the defining characteristic of America? Isn’t it ‘the land of the free’? It’s unacceptable for security to take precedence over freedom in such a country!”

This was the most common sentiment. The United States was a country deeply rooted in the principle and ideal of prioritizing freedom above all else. Most people couldn’t even properly define that freedom, but wasn’t that, in itself, also freedom?

People naturally prefer freedom and indulgence to duty or responsibility. At the same time, they are born with the contradictory desire for order, and the state is what they have somehow achieved through experience and compromise within the limitations of reality.

However, no matter how much time passes and systems develop, the system is ultimately unstable. It can never be perfect, and the system can turn into a structure of national exploitation in an instant if the person who established the order changes their mind even slightly.

And this has been the case for every country and company since the beginning of time. This is because humans ultimately operate the system.

“Of course, shouldn’t security be the priority? If it meant completely eliminating freedom, as some claim, that would be terrible. But with the ‘Patriot Act’ [a law passed after 9/11 to increase surveillance powers] being applied to American citizens, what freedoms are actually being restricted? No one can clearly define that.”

Therefore, there were people who advocated for it. Anxious, they wanted order to be strengthened, even if it meant sacrificing some freedom.

Terrorist attacks were happening almost daily in Europe, and the United States faced a similar threat. The probability of identifying terrorists was simply higher in the US.

This was a synergistic effect of the substantial increase in the CIA’s budget and the increase in police manpower and training intensity. However, people judged that the Patriot Act was working properly because of this difference. Of course, thoroughly vetting the identities of foreigners also had an effect.

At least foreign terrorists believed they would be caught if they were identified, so foreign terrorism temporarily decreased. Did that mean there were no terrorists with American nationality? Eventually, terrorism did break out, but its intensity was less severe compared to Europe.

The reason for this is that the EU member states were monopolizing the attention of terrorists to an enormous extent.

In addition, due to the EU’s unique immigration policy, the border was almost meaningless for refugees. This was an ideal environment for terrorists to infiltrate, and the Middle East and Europe were not that far away.

To go to the United States, you had to take a boat or plane, but to go to Europe, you only needed a car. In some cases, you could just walk.

Of course, terrorists would never actually walk, but the fact that East Iraq had actively become a headquarters for terrorists was also a major factor. The series of wars in West Iraq were too shocking for the divided neighboring country.

However, the European Integrated Forces of the EU, which were still heavily involved in West Iraq to handle post-war processing and maintain security, were still 건재했다 [in good shape], so they could not wage a war of reconquest against East Iraq.

It is true that the integrated forces were hit hard by the war, but they quickly recovered from the damage because they were already spurring military expansion. Of course, money was spent, but that did not significantly affect operational capabilities.

“Similar laws are already being implemented in France for refugees and citizens. In fact, it’s even more extensive there. In Germany, Hungary, etc., several times more powerful laws are being submitted to and discussed in the National Assembly every day. They are being taken seriously, and citizens recognize, understand, and accept the need for the law. So shouldn’t the United States also keep pace with globalization? How long will the United States be plagued by terrorism?”

In any case, back to freedom and security, there was no way that freedom would not be restricted if the Patriot Act was passed. That argument was complete sophistry. And aside from freedom, who would want their privacy disclosed to others?

“Keep pace with the world? What are you talking about? I never thought laws could be trendy. Why don’t you just say that if a racial discrimination law is created again in Europe, we should accept it too?”

“Let’s cut off all this 잡다한 가지 [unnecessary nonsense] about patriots and keeping pace with the world. This is a law enforcement tool so powerful that it’s difficult to find a precedent in history. All of your political inclinations, as well as your privacy, are in the hands of the authorities. Will this really only be used to prevent terrorism? This is an 악법 [evil law] that makes you a slave for security!”

“Are you forcing that law now? In this land of freedom? Huh, if the government passes a bill to put electronic chips in our heads later, will you agree to it then? Unless they are criminals, all citizens have the right and obligation to protect their privacy!”

“Isn’t it to identify and prevent those criminals! What’s so special about sacrificing a little freedom and gaining perfect safety? Isn’t it just expanding what we’ve been doing so far? We have the freedom to protect ourselves. So the Patriot Act is also a law for freedom!”

“Isn’t the name Patriot Act itself a nickname that was created because it initially intended to include its own citizens? It doesn’t make sense to call this law the Patriot Act in the first place. What kind of patriot is this? A slave! A slave!”

In this way, the Anti-Terrorism Act was debated every day. It was natural that the majority who shouted for freedom would always seem to have the upper hand, but ironically, reality was different.

“Another terror attack? I’m so sick of it! Shouldn’t we operate it on a trial basis, at least until terrorism decreases? I’m too 불안해서 [anxious] to commute to work by public transportation! I don’t want to take the subway! I don’t want to take the bus either!”

Then why don’t you take your own car? Unfortunately, it wasn’t that easy. As simple as that solution seemed, too many people chose it. The city was naturally packed, and you had to go out to the suburbs to step on the accelerator.

Of course, since the culprit is so obvious, maybe we should strike East Iraq because the terrorists are gathered in East Iraq. However, the problem is that East Iraq is a sovereign state, so you cannot 함부로 [recklessly] enter its territory without its consent, and the terrorist groups living in East Iraq were too quiet.

In other words, usually, when a major or minor terrorist attack occurred, they would advertise that they had committed it, regardless of whether it was true or not, but now they were 움츠리고 [huddling] themselves more and 내밀고 [insisting], ‘We didn’t do anything!’

And in the United States, this was half right and half wrong. This was because half of the terrorists were domestic, not foreigners. Is terrorism a big deal? If you just get a suitable gun and indiscriminately shoot it, that’s gun terrorism, and if you mix bleach with bleach and send it by 택배 [delivery service], that’s biochemical terrorism.

Anyway, opinions were divided, whether up or down.

Of course, the person who could exert the most powerful influence was, without a doubt, the president of this country. In fact, whether the people oppose it or not, the reality is that if the people in power discuss it appropriately, agree, and then push it forward 막무가내로 [forcefully], it will be applied as is. All that is needed is for the president to give a speech on which side he supports and what vision he has.

No, even a speech wasn’t necessary. All that was needed was to express which side he supported. Then, naturally, public opinion would be 몰리게 [driven] to one side.

“Do you support it? Or do you not support it?”

The problem was that the president seemed to have no thoughts on this subject. That’s because.

“Well.”

Wasn’t he silently maintaining an ambiguous neutrality with this one word? In fact, it wasn’t even clear if it was neutral. Even before becoming president, he was a 양반 [nobleman] who had always had clear positions and arguments, even if he went astray. Moreover, he is a human being who has 막무가내로 잡은 [seized] the political 판 [scene], even if he is not 노련 [experienced].

At least he is a human being who does more than the basics, so he is definitely not a 양반 [nobleman] who does not know how 침묵 [silence] will be interpreted in this dirty political 판 [scene].

The pro-side was 격하게 [extremely] embarrassed, and the opposition side was also embarrassed anyway. Because when we considered the president’s tendencies so far, especially given his personality of bringing more huge budgets to the CIA, there was no doubt that he would actively agree to the Patriot Act.

Therefore, the opposition had long since decided to somehow shape public opinion in advance. Most of the broadcasting stations were 풍비박산 [scattered], but anyway, except for FOX, they had no choice but to be 친할 [close] with the Democratic Party.

On the pro side, the vice president was 들락날락 [going in and out of] the president’s office with sweat on his feet to change the president’s mind.

The Patriot Act, which seemed to be completely leaning towards the pro side, was unexpectedly maintaining a tight balance.

In any case, both the pro and con sides thought this way about this 침묵 [silence].

‘That’s right! He’s telling us to interpret it as we like!’

After a member of the House of Representatives cautiously speculated in the House, and the President did not place any restrictions, their speculation gradually turned into conviction.

Approval and opposition were mixed regardless of Republican and Democrat, but still, most of the approval side was Republican, led by the Vice President, and the opposition side was almost Democrat.

Considering that the Democratic Party expressed fierce opposition when this law was passed and there was not a single opposition from the Republican Party, it made people feel that something had changed in the National Assembly in recent years.

Of course, the inside was still a 개판 [mess] that was no different from before.

“Mr. President, please make a decision. America needs your will.”

After finishing speaking, the Vice President walked out of the office, 터벅터벅 [heavily] as if he was exhausted. This was the twelfth time. Every time the Vice President came, the President always greeted the Vice President with 침묵 [silence].

The Vice President’s unique quiet and 중저음 [low-pitched] voice was perfect for pressuring people, but it was useless because the opponent was the opponent. Wasn’t that person the 양반 [nobleman] who had both hands and feet 들 다 든 [experienced everything]?

“As expected.”

Bush looked at the door of the office where the Vice President had left, and then let out a small sigh. The Chief of Staff handed over the report and carefully opened his mouth.

“I thought you would actively oppose it, Mr. President.”