Congress Pressed to Renew Library-Search Powers

[IChing]

By Alan Elsner Thu Apr 28, 7:07 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress must keep U.S. libraries from becoming terrorist "havens" by renewing legislation that allows authorities to seize library and bookstore records, Bush administration officials testified on Thursday.


"Libraries should not be carved out as safe havens for terrorists and spies. We know for a fact that terrorists and spies use public libraries," said Ken Wainstein, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.

Wainstein appeared before the House of Representatives subcommittee on crime, terrorism and homeland security to support the Bush administration's drive to renew provisions of the USA Patriot Act which have been sharply criticized by civil-liberties advocates.>>>>snip
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050428/pl_nm/security_libraries_dc;_ylt=AsIlW1GkmZQCCyU4tw8yBYAWIr0F;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

[meganmonkey]

1. Terrorists and spies also use toilets

Putting cameras on them, too??

:eyes:

[renaissanceguy]

11. I hear they also sleep in beds.

Might as well monitor every bedroom.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.21518002

[Walt Starr]

20. What makes you think they aren't already do this?

:freak:

[meganmonkey]

22. Please let me continue to believe that they don't!

It's the one place I feel safe anymore :P

[Walt Starr]

23. Just don't plan on the one in your place of employment being safe

Your employer has every right to keep a camera on you in the company head.

[meganmonkey]

24. No, it's safe at work

Small, local non-profit - no cameras. Guaranteed.

[jayfish]

2. Oh Now It's Terrorists...

and SPIES! What's next, dissidents? Fucking fascists!

Jay

[Roland99]

3. Libraries were terrorist havens previously?

Funny, I thought it was flight schools, apartments, and cheap motels.


Wainstein said three of the Sept. 11 hijackers were spotted using a library in Florida, while other hijackers booked their airline tickets for the fatal day through a computer in a public library in New Jersey.

That means 16 of the 19 *weren't* spotted in libraries. And, what, they can't buy laptops or desktops and broadband service or dial-up service or use WiFi in an airport or hotel?

[Shallah Kali]

21. Don't forget their partying in Vegas!

Maybe what happens in Vegas shouldn't stay in Vegas!

[BattyDem]

4. I'm not a terrorist ...

but I have stopped visting my local public library and now I only pay cash in bookstores - it's just the principle of the thing. This is supposed to be a democracy where people are presumed innocent until proven guilty. If someone is suspected of a crime, get a f*cking search warrant and access any info you want! That's the way it's always been done and it's worked very well for us.

We weren't hit on 9/11 because federal law enforcement agencies couldn't obtain any info, we were hit because federal law enforcement agencies IGNORED the info they did have!

[Solly Mack]

those evil doing buildings with books!

Books! Knowledge! Evil!

Must Stop Them!

And will Congress play the obedient dog?

[renaissanceguy]

12. Good point.

Let's ban all books except the Bible. Well, let's get rid of those stories about that peacenik hippie Jesus...we don't want people getting any crazy ideas.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.21518002

[Solly Mack]

16. but which version?

It has to be a single version...otherwise, people might wonder...and if they wonder...they might start to think...and if they start to think... *gasp*

[rocktivity]

5. Will everyone who walks into a library have to show ID

or would videotaping them be enough?

You can't check out a book without a library card, but what if you don't--what if you just want to look up something and copy down the info you need? Will be have to show ID in order to use the photocopier?

The only reason why it was discovered that the hijackers used the library is because they had to submit information to get their tickets. Again, what if you just wanted to read something? Will we have to be ID-ed to use a libaray internet now? And would interent cafes be subject to the same rules?

As for bookstores, what's to stop a terrorist from making their purchases in cash? There's no way to keep a record unless you're asked for your info.

I really miss being able to feel superior to the Russians.

:headbang:
rocknation

[unhappycamper]

6. Shit - I'm gonna get busted for reading

about science. The last two science books were the "Two-Mile Time Machine" & "The Little Ice Age." I also read "A Short History of Nearly Everything." Should I be afraid?

[DBoon]

7. Ask the cop in your library!

"You could ask the cop on the beat, or the cop on the street.
Ask the cop down the block, or the cop on the corner.
Why not ask the cop who's knocking on your back door?
Go on, ask him. "

- Firesign Theater

[Ruby Romaine]

8. whoopee! I work in a terraist haven!

:)

[IChing]

9. Beware of librarians

they are the tools of the terrorist.

[renaissanceguy]

13. I hope librarians like stripes and hot weather

because they'll be shipped to Guantanamo.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.21518002

[Gelliebeans]

10. I think they are laying the foundation

for going after the internet.

I know it wouldn't be easy.

They just can't have dissent anywhere.

[Walt Starr]

14. Every time I read about the supersecret Library search powers

I think of that government ad about the guy who wants to borrow a book in the library to find out it's on the list and he gets busted.

This part is chilling:

"Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales has said there has been no substantiated allegation of abuse of the law since its enactment. He said the library provision, which applies to a wide range of business and personal records as well as libraries, has been used 35 times since September 2003, but never for library, bookstore, medical or gun-sale records."

THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S ILLEGAL FOR LIBRIANS TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT!!!!!!

[Ruby Romaine]

15. ALA response

CHICAGO) The following statement is from ALA President Carol Brey-Casiano in response to today’s Oversight Hearing on Sections 206 and 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act.

“At today’s House Judiciary Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security subcommittee hearing, there was much discussion about the fact that terrorists used the public library prior to the 9/11 attacks.

“The reason the FBI knew that the terrorists used the Delray Beach, Fla., library is because the librarian alerted them to this fact after recognizing the terrorists when she saw them on television. The FBI returned to the library with a warrant and had the full cooperation of the library staff when they seized the library’s computer terminals.

http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=news&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=93082

[bushisanidiot]

17. Libraries are terrorist havens and they should all be closed down

thus sayeth, lord george w. bush. be afraid all the time, thus sayeth lord george w. bush. soon there will be no need for voting because our lord, george w. bush will take care of us all.

there's no need to think.

the lord, george w. bush does that for us.

[yorkiemommie1]

18. thanks for posting

...one of the teachers at our school did not even know the patriot act existed unti i told her today! will print yahoo article out for her.

[dxdem]

19. I purchase a number

of "interesting" periodicals, books, etc from mainstream bookstores on a regular basis. I always pay with cash, and I never give my email address when they offer to put me on their mailing list.

I don't want to have a file because I occasionally read In These Times, or 2600.