Pentagon Expanding Its Domestic Surveillance Activity

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

Hey, Big Brother. Nice to meet you!?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/26/AR2005112600857.html
<snip>
The Defense Department has expanded its programs aimed at gathering and analyzing intelligence within the United States, creating new agencies, adding personnel and seeking additional legal authority for domestic security activities in the post-9/11 world.

The moves have taken place on several fronts. The White House is considering expanding the power of a little-known Pentagon agency called the Counterintelligence Field Activity, or CIFA, which was created three years ago. The proposal, made by a presidential commission, would transform CIFA from an office that coordinates Pentagon security efforts -- including protecting military facilities from attack -- to one that also has authority to investigate crimes within the United States such as treason, foreign or terrorist sabotage or even economic espionage.

The Pentagon has pushed legislation on Capitol Hill that would create an intelligence exception to the Privacy Act, allowing the FBI and others to share information gathered about U.S. citizens with the Pentagon, CIA and other intelligence agencies, as long as the data is deemed to be related to foreign intelligence. Backers say the measure is needed to strengthen investigations into terrorism or weapons of mass destruction.

The proposals, and other Pentagon steps aimed at improving its ability to analyze counterterrorism intelligence collected inside the United States, have drawn complaints from civil liberties advocates and a few members of Congress, who say the Defense Department's push into domestic collection is proceeding with little scrutiny by the Congress or the public.

<snip>

[atommom]

1. Chilling, but not at all surprising. I suspect there's a great deal more

that we're NOT hearing about....

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

2. I'm sure. I honestly don't recognize this country I'm living in anymore.

Each day, it becomes more and more frightening.

[atommom]

3. I'm with you. Just got back from a Thanksgiving trip, and this was the

first thread I saw. I was most saddened by the fact that it didn't come as a shock.

[spindrifter]

4. At some point people will have

to remember the importance of civil liberties. Like maybe you want to use the crapper in peace and quiet without someone probing into your activities. It stinks, Ch*ney-boy.

[Delarage]

5. I guess they have to gear up for the 2006 elections

Wouldn't want any "surprises" (such as unpatriotic godless liberals) rising up.

[lonestarnot]

6. Gawd I'm sick of these people!

[Eric J in MN]

15. One power grab after another. (nt)

nt

[teryang]

7. An exception to the Privacy Act and FOIA that swallows the law

Compiling lists of domestic enemies on the way to totalitarianism.

[Eric J in MN]

8. Thanks, I posted about this at SpeakSpeak

in response to your post.
http://www.speakspeak.org/speak-blog/2005/11/26/us-military-spying-on-us/

[Eric J in MN]

9. Please contact Congress against this.

Let your Senators and Congressperson know that you don't like the military gathering files on civilians under existing laws, and don't want an expansion of military spying on civilians.

There is contact info at:
http://www.vote-smart.org/

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

12. Kicked!

[Ian David]

10. Please tell me The CIFA is going to investigate Scooter Libby...

and that he might be put on a special private plane to Rumania?

[kster]

11. Hope the morAns are doing

Surveillance on the voting machine, maybe they could get off their asses and do something about it.

Oh and for the Pentagon Surveillance people who might be reading this GO F*CK YOURSELF !

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

13. HEY BIG BROTHER...BITE ME!!!!!!

[kster]

14. I'm Kster and I approve of this message..nt

[awoke_in_2003]

16. Great...

when do we start getting our telescreens?

[OneBlueSky]

17. creepy fascism just keeps on creepin' . . .

before we know it, Americans will have absolutely no privacy rights . . . NONE! . . . the government will know everything about you, right down to the last dollar, credit card, library book, and DVD . . .

[atommom]

18. kick

[Eric J in MN]

19. kick

kick

[Eric J in MN]

20. kick

kick