Here They Go Again

by Jacob G. Hornberger
Nov. 18, 2015

It’s all so predictable. In response to the terrorist attacks in Paris, the French government has declared a state of emergency and French President Francois Hollande is calling for a constitutional amendment to provide him with extraordinary powers to “eradicate” the threat posed by the Islamic State. He is seeking quick legislation that would enable government officials to conduct warrantless raids on homes and take suspects into custody. He’s seeking wider surveillance powers over the citizenry. According to the New York Times, Hollande is also calling for “constitutional amendments that would enable the state to take exceptional security measures without having to resort to the most drastic options currently in the Constitution.” Hollande is making it clear that his state of “emergency” is only “temporary,” which is why he’s asked that the current state of emergency be extended only three months.

Now, doesn’t all this sound familiar? Where have we seen this before?

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