The national ID card system was a recommendation of the 9/11 commission

[da_chimperor]

http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report_Ch12.htm

"Recommendation: Secure identification should begin in the United States. The federal government should set standards for the issuance of birth certificates and sources of identification, such as drivers licenses. Fraud in identification documents is no longer just a problem of theft. At many entry points to vulnerable facilities, including gates for boarding aircraft, sources of identification are the last opportunity to ensure that people are who they say they are and to check whether they are terrorists."

See for yourself. Do a find on the web page and search for 'drivers' and you'll find it. It's the only mention of the word.

I'm starting this thread in response to remarks on how this is yet another of chimpy's evil actions to turn us into a police state. While I don't necessarily like the idea of a national ID card, I'm for placing blame where it's due.

The discussion I'm referring to is taking place on this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1053179&mesg_id=1053179&page=

[gandalf]

1. Why did they recommend it?

I seem to remember that the hijackers used their real names when traveling or buying flight tickets for 9/11.

If authorities don't act upon available information, more information won't help. It's twisting the truth to imply secure identification would have helped preventing 9/11.

[da_chimperor]

3. Probably because they felt more safeguards against internal travel would

have hampered their movement within the US? I believe they are operating under the assumption that there are still al qaeda agents in the US. :shrug:

[Nihil]

2. This would be the impartial, honest, probing 911 commission?

Or maybe just the one set up to whitewash the entire event?

If the latter, how does this detract from the "police state arising
from the new Pearl Harbour" arguments that are being promoted elsewhere?

(If the former, can I have some of whatever you're smoking?)

[da_chimperor]

5. It doesn't really.

I would argue, however, that as imperfect as the 9/11 commission is, it's still better than what the bush administration would propose. Impartial, no. Honest, most likely not. Probing . . . kinda. What this does prove one of two things: that the bush administration is not responsible for this being part of the legislation (even though they might want this to have happened), or that the bush administration has so much power that it was able to directly influence the findings of the 9/11 commission. It's up to you to decide, I'm just clearing up where this part of the intelligence 'reform' act came from.

[el_gato]

9. do you honestly think that there is somekind of opposition between

bushco and the 9/11 commission? How naive can you get?

[da_chimperor]

11. Of course there is, and don't call me naive.

How the fuck do you expect the 9/11 commission to be his lapdog when it is bi-partisan? Do I think that republicans on the commission are biased towards bush? Yes. Do I think that democrats on the commission are biased towards bush? I sure as hell hope not, or else we're completely fucked. Do you think that they were a public pain in the ass for him on his command? As I have repeatedly stated, the commission is not perfect but it's much better than bush himself.

[Nihil]

12. If the cap fits ...?

"Bi-partisan"? "Public pain in the ass for him"?

Cutting you the most possible slack on this issue - i.e., accepting your
faith in politicians - then there is still the issue of "who put the
recommendation in?"

Do you really think it would have been one of the Democrats? Maybe ...

Do you really think that it could have been removed after being raised?
No chance ...

Does anyone think that the cabal didn't pull every single string on
that commission? Obviously one person at least ...

(Edited to remove the "eyes" ... cynicism tending to rudeness this a.m.)

[da_chimperor]

13. Pulling strings does not equal complete control

I have no doubts that many, many strings were pulled. I do not think, however, that the 9/11 commission was just a tool for the bush administration. Oh yes, for the record I trust a politician about as far as I can throw him. Sure, some of my trust in the 9/11 commission is misplaced, but that's because I'd like to think that the commission would actually try to do something constructive rather than furthering the neocon agenda. Rudeness is fine, my skin's pretty thick. :)

[Walt Starr]

4. I will choose not to participate

I probably won't be the only American who chooses not to participate.

[da_chimperor]

6. What would worry me about a national ID system would be

if the cards were remotely readable. They were talking about such capability regarding new US passports that could be scanned from a distance of somewhere around 50 feet. That would freak me out.

[gandalf]

7. I'm afraid you have no choice

or do you?

[rucky]

8. Papers, Please!

more effective when read with a German accent.

[Zero Gravitas]

10. ve must obey ze orders!

ve must protect ze Father Homeland und invade Poland Iraq!