Black List by Brad Thor

Author:Brad Thor [Thor, Brad]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Tags: Thriller
ISBN: 9781410450760
Google: wUvJLgEACAAJ
Amazon: 1439192987
Barnesnoble: 1439192987
Goodreads: 13117308
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2012-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 33

Caroline believed that while ATS had built this amazing, all-encompassing surveillance apparatus under the premise of national security, their goal actually had nothing to do with national security at all,” Nicholas explained. “Their goal was control—complete and total control of every man, woman, and child in the United States.”

“How the hell is that even possible?” asked Harvath.

“ATS is like an organism that survives only by feeding off a host. In this case, the host is the U.S. and its citizens. But ATS needs politicians, judges, bureaucrats, and innumerable other cogs in the Big Government wheel to help legitimize and push their agenda. Those whom they can’t buy, they blackmail.”

And he was being accused of treason. Harvath shook his head.

“Sometimes, though,” Nicholas continued, “there are those who won’t toe the line. That’s when pressure is brought to bear. The targets can be individuals, or entire swaths of the citizenry, and they can be guilty of nothing more than holding an idea that the state finds threatening to its existence.”

“I thought we were talking about ATS.”

“We are. For all intents and purposes, ATS is the state. Caroline described that when people refer to a ‘shadow government,’ they’re actually talking about ATS, whether they realize it or not.”

“And they’re planning to target Americans simply because of ideas they hold?” Harvath asked.

“They’re not planning. It’s already happened. The Department of Homeland Security recently issued a report identifying ‘disgruntled’ military veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan as potential ‘right-wing’ terrorists. Supporters of politicians and political causes that called for smaller government with greater accountability to American citizens were also labeled as potential terrorists. Owning guns, ammunition, or more than a week’s worth of food now classifies you as a potential terrorist. Even certain political bumper stickers or flying the bright yellow Don’t Tread On Me Gadsden flag can now qualify you as a terrorist.

“No matter what you do, your government sees you as the greatest threat to its existence—greater than al-Qaeda or any foreign invader—and it will do whatever it needs to do to protect itself.”

“That’s crazy.”

“Is it?” Nicholas asked. “Under the rubric of ‘homeland security,’ Americans are being subjected to more invasive screening and intensive surveillance every day. TSA is now not only at airports but also train and bus stations. They’re even appearing at highway rest stops. You’re being told it’s for your own good, for your safety, while this framework, this cage is being built around you. Very soon, construction is going to be complete and the cage door is going to swing shut. When that happens, there will be no way out.”

“There’s got to be a way to stop this.”

“They’ve stacked the deck completely in their favor, right down to the federal court’s guaranteeing immunity from criminal and civil prosecution to any private companies that assist the government, i.e., the NSA and thereby ATS, in spying on American citizens.”

“I still don’t understand what this has to do with why the Carlton Group has been targeted.”

“From what Caroline uncovered, ATS is moving into some final phase of an overall plan to solidify its control.

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