[[ Dear Readers: This article was first published in December of 2001, in the wake of 9/11, when thegrim outlines of police-state-like tactics were first starting to appear on the American horizon. It might beuseful to compare and contrast -- whoops, it turns out there isn't much to contrast -- between then and now.Doing so may help us understand the forces we're facing and how to respond as Bush&Co. continue their movetoward a more militarist society. At appropriate points, I've added [[ in italics inside double brackets ]]some observations from our contemporary situation.