Pentagon seeks U.S. informants on insurgencies

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N07276617.htm

Pentagon seeks U.S. informants on insurgencies

WASHINGTON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Pentagon officials said on Friday they could fight insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan more effectively if Congress would allow intelligence operatives to hide their identities from potential informants in the U.S. Muslim population.

Civil liberties advocates say the Pentagon is simply using troubles abroad to reacquire domestic espionage powers that Congress revoked in the wake of Vietnam-era abuses.

They warn that any change in the law would erode privacy protections, especially for Muslim American citizens and resident aliens with personal ties to countries at the forefront of the U.S. war on terrorism.

Four years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the Defense Department is seeking congressional approval for a change in a 1974 privacy law that would allow its intelligence operatives to approach citizens and resident aliens inside the United States without revealing their government credentials.

[psychopomp]

1. Sounds like COINTELPRO all over again

I am not one to believe that COINTELPRO ever went away but to endow this activity with a legal authority can only further the development of an American Gestapo.

[Eric J in MN]

2. They would use this to spy on peace protestors,

civil libertarians, enivornmentalists, animal rights activists, and other activists.

If you care about a cause, then you might be a terrorist, is the reasoning behind domestic spying.

[Just Me]

3. Bullshit!!! The Pentagon has engaged in egregious abuses.

NO DAMN WAY should they be given any more power to abuse. :grr:

[libodem]

4. sick

twisted and WRONG!

[shrdlu]

5. Pentagon seeks leeway to approach citizens

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-New-Spying-Rule.html

Wassa matta? You got something to hide? Don't you love your country?

[Barrett808]

6. Can you say "Stasi"?

I knew you could.

[Newsjock]

7. And the Democrats are right there as usual, fighting for our rights

... Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, the Senate Intelligence Committee's top Democrat, believes the measure strikes the right balance between national security and privacy, a spokeswoman said.

[bonito]

8. As long as we can see there underware too

In keeping all things equal why of course, its for the people by the people after all isn't it, if not NO!

[Zhade]

9. This is bullshit.

"Peirce and his deputy, Jim Schmidli, say the changes they are seeking would be limited. The agency's intelligence officers could only go undercover to approach a U.S. citizen or foreign citizen living here permanently when they are making an initial contact to assess whether the person may have useful information. An operational plan would have to be approved by the agency's director or someone he designates."

That's not vague. No, not at all.

:sarcasm:

Oh, and Rockefeller? FUCK YOU.

[screembloodymurder]

10. There's going to be an economic collapse.

This is for our own good.

[Zhade]

11. Yeah, after lots of people die.

I know it's going to happen, but it doesn't mean I'm looking forward to it.

I swear, I NEVER thought I'd be living through this kind of shit.

[MADem]

12. Christ on a bike, I did not spend decades in the military

in defense of my goddamn nation for this sorry shit.

This is repre-fucking-hensible. There is no way you can polish this sorry turd.

For those too lazy to click and/or register, here is a sick snip:

But DIA General Counsel George Peirce says the agency is seeking flexibility that the FBI and CIA have had for years...To make its case, the DIA is taking the unusual step of letting its lawyers brief reporters, concerned that public information available in years past didn't adequately explain their rationale for the new powers.

The DIA serves as an adviser to senior policy-makers, helps protect U.S. forces at home and abroad and supports war planners who need to know the military capabilities of other countries.

Peirce and his deputy, Jim Schmidli, say the changes they are seeking would be limited. The agency's intelligence officers could only go undercover to approach a U.S. citizen or foreign citizen living here permanently when they are making an initial contact to assess whether the person may have useful information. An operational plan would have to be approved by the agency's director or someone he designates.

Only then could the DIA official pretend to be the representative of another government agency, such as the Agriculture Department, or assume a more creative identity off the government payroll...

[williesgirl]

13. It's nuts for them to even think this, much less say it. How many more

of our rights are they going to trample on before we say enough is enough. Everyone should email this stupid democrat and let him have it and insist he take back his words before they do more damage.

[Lochloosa]

14. "Here would you like clean sheets on the bed"

"What do you mean your not allowed to sleep in my house?"

[williesgirl]

15. Just sent the following email to our traitor Dem Rockefeller:

I was appalled to hear you don't have issues with the Pentagon's end-around our rights.

"Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, the Senate Intelligence Committee's top Democrat, believes the measure strikes the right balance between national security and privacy, a spokeswoman said."


No wonders Bush and his criminals get away with so much. With supposed Democrats like you heading up important committees, they know they can do anything they like and you'll just fall in line.

Hope the dems in W. VA wake up and send you packing. You are a disgrace to your country.


edited for spelling

[teryang]

16. Expansion of centralized secret police powers

...at citizen expense. One inaccuracy in the justification, the CIA does not have operational authority inside the US.