It happened to me - it can happen to YOU, too!

[kas125]

I posted this in the Indiana forum, but now that I think about it, if it can happen to me, it can happen to ALL OF YOU, too, so everyone here needs to be aware of this, so I am posting it here, too.

==================

Three NW Indiana peace activists were barred from attending a speech by the CIA Director in Chicago Tuesday night. ONE OF THEM IS ME! The reason we were not allowed in? Nobody would tell us, but I seriously think it was because earlier that day, I came here, to DU and discussed asking him a question!!!! (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph... )


Press Advisory: October 31, 2007
Three Calumet Region peace activists barred from CIA Director Hayden
speech in Chicago

Three Hoosiers set out from Northwest Indiana yesterday evening to
hear a speech by CIA Director, General Michael V. Hayden sponsored by
the Illinois Council on Foreign Relations. The three, Nina Klooster
of Lake Village, Kathryn Sturm of Merrillville and Nick Egnatz of
Munster had purchased tickets online and were looking forward to
hearing Director Hayden talk about national security. They planned to
pose some questions weighing heavily on their minds during the
question and answer period.

When the three arrived at the event they were stopped at the door and
told that their names were on a security list they would not be
admitted to the speech. According to Brad Blokell, director of
Security and Safety at the Intercontinental Chicago, the speaker, CIA
Director Hayden had placed the three on the list.

“I wanted to ask Director Hayden to explain how Extraordinary
Rendition of foreign nationals and torture of prisoners held in
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and secret CIA prisons around the world is
helping to improve the security of the United States,” said Nina
Klooster, of Northwest Indiana CodePink. “It is my personal
conviction that these kinds of actions are making us less safe, as
they have gained us many new enemies. The fact that we torture has
caused us to lose the moral high ground that we had gained after
9/11.”

The three went to the Intercontinental Hotel at 505 N Michigan in
good faith as citizens and tax payers to ask the CIA Director about
actions that they believe are causing harm to United States security
and eroding the United States Constitution. Kathryn Sturm, also of
Northwest Indiana CodePink, had planned to ask the Director of the
CIA about his statement several months ago that the fourth amendment
to the United States Constitution does not mandate probable cause for
a warrant to be issued to search and seize the personal property of
United States Citizens. “ I wanted to ask Director Hayden if he
still believes that Americans can be spied on simply on the basis of
suspicion rather than on the clearly delineated provision of probable
cause in the fourth amendment,” said Ms. Sturm. “It is clear on
reading of the fourth amendment that probable cause is mandated. I
wondered if the CIA Director had taken the time to read the
Constitution since his unfortunate statement on television.”

“As a veteran who served my country during the Vietnam War,” said
Nick Egnatz, of Veterans for Peace, “I am appalled at the thought of
America resorting to torture. Torture does not produce reliable
intelligence; rather it terrorizes all who witness it, making
citizens afraid to speak out against the government and destroying
democracy. All military family members should in particular be very
concerned about our government using torture, since it sets the
precedent for those we are fighting to use torture against their
loved ones. Placing the names of people on lists is another form of
terror that totalitarian governments use to control citizens. I
can’t believe that our government has sunk to this level.”

[mike_c]

1. in the Amerikan security state, "security" means safety from tough questions....

Obey. Conform. Shop.

[proud2BlibKansan]

75. And watch American Idol

or Dancing With the Stars.

[madokie]

2. the bushitler is not far from having to declare himself emporer in order to remain free

he keeps painting himself and themselves into the corner tighter and tighter all the time. That worries me

[donsu]

3. the CIA is with us 24/7 here at Dem. U.

america is dead

[orleans]

5. then they should see how much we support the cia & their agents

just by the posts we have about valerie plame

[zippy890]

61. NSA knows all

NSA dishes in Brewster Washington

[Duppers]

68. every time I link to a gov pic or article, I know I'm tracked

but hubby and I knew we're being tracked already.

As if Freedom of Speech is Un-American??!!

K & R, btw.

[formercia]

77. As a former CIA officer

I say shame on them for interfering in the peaceful petitioning of our government for redress.

They are sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution, not trample on it.

[ljm2002]

4. My guess would be the Code Pink connection...

...I think the bloody hands stunt against Condoleezza shook 'em up a bit. BTW I thought the bloody hands stunt was excellent -- it gave us the most graphic depiction yet of what she and the Bush administration really stand for, so thanks to Code Pink for that!

[kas125]

6. Well, I woulda thought so, too, except

for the fact that the tickets were purchased by a woman in Illinois, who is a very active and vocal CodePink member. She made two transactions, three tickets for Illinois CodePink members, three for us. They got in, we did not.

[ljm2002]

7. Well another theory shot to hell...

...oh well.

:-)

[smoogatz]

16. Your chapter's been infiltrated. Theirs hasn't.

Dollars to donuts, somebody ratted you out.

[kas125]

18. We're only thirty miles apart

and we work together. We attend their meetings and functions and they attend ours. Actually, three of us have been members or THEIR group for a long time, and it's only been in the last few months that we decided to form a chapter of our here in NW Indiana. If it was CodePink, we'd have all been banned, I'm pretty sure of that if nothing else.

[mmonk]

22. wow

[kas125]

9. Yeah, what a feeling that must have been for Desiree

I am absolutely in awe of Des for doing that. She said it wasn't planned or anything, the idea popped into her head and she did it quickly before she could think about it and change her mind. One of the women dragged out of her chair in the back of the room that day is a friend of mine. I truly admire their courage. They are just about all banned from DC now (they have "stay-away orders), so fresh faces are needed at the CodePink house...

[eppur_se_muova]

8. Press advisory issued by whom? Yourselves? Code Pink?

I hope some press, at least local papers, pick up the story. Even one paper running a truthful article on this will do more to undermine confidence in our con man gov't than any number of stage-managed speeches to hand-picked audiences can ever offset.

[kas125]

10. By us, and it was sent to our local papers, our list-serves, etc.

They are pretty good about that, they come to our events or our rallies when we invite them. We even had members of our local press accompany us on the "peace train" to Chicago for the big march last Saturday, so I'm pretty sure it WILL be in our local newspapers. I know that Nick (who is very active and a member of several veteran's groups) will post it all over the internet, like on afterdowningstreet, too.

[truedelphi]

11. MIlk it for all it is worth.

May I applaud you for what you were attempting to do - and hopefully some publicity shoudl come out of this.

Studs Terkel is still around, right? Maybe he would talk to you.

[kas125]

12. Yes, he sure is.

I saw him speak at a rally in Chicago with Michael Moore shortly before Sicko opened. I got to say hello to him as someone was pushing his wheelchair past me. He's still quite a guy.

[Elidor]

13. How would they know your name from a DU post?

It's certainly possible, but that would indicate that there is a file on you containing info from your DU posts. If true, that would be a huge story.

[MelissaB]

14. I'm wondering the same thing because if so...

a lot of us are in trouble...

[kas125]

17. I don't know. That's my point.

I certainly can't say for sure that posting to DU got me banned from the CIA director's speech, but I figured it was worth telling others here, just in case that IS what did it. We're talking about the CIA - they can find out anything about anyone, right? I have no idea if that's really why we were on the list, but I can't think of any other reason we'd be banned and our three friends weren't. If it had been all of us, I'd think it was because of CodePink, but it was only the people with me.

I've asked my congressman to find out why, and I am waiting for a call from the group who hosted the event, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, but so far, no answers. I WILL come back and let you guys know if I find out anything concrete. But I have a feeling that I'll never know why I was really put on "the list" and I have no hope that once you're on it, you can ever be removed from it. I've had lots of people say, well you better stop doing what you do and lie low for a while. HA! They are forgetting who I am - this will only make me scream LOUDER and FIGHT HARDER!

[pitohui]

30. i hope you will keep us updated

and thanks for continuing to post despite this harassment

[Duppers]

69. You go Girl!

You make us proud!

Btw, hasn't Skinner written about being contacted for info before? He refused. Back in the recesses of my feeble mind, I seem to remember something about that.

Skinner, are you reading this thread and can you shed any light on this matter?

[NotGivingUp]

35. I would be surprised if there WASN'T a file. n/t

[Cha]

15. I can believe it.. thanks

for your Peace Activism!

[raccoon]

19. That thread is gone! Whaddya know! nt

[druidity33]

20. weird, huh? nt

[mmonk]

23. yeah. Noticed that.

[cosmicdot]

31. is it this thread?

if so, the OP link may not be a complete URL

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2164816

[mmonk]

34. That's got to be it.

[kas125]

39. Yep, that's it.

Do you think that could really do it? We have tried for two days now to think of a reason any one of us would be on a list of people barred from an event, and we can't come up with any reason. I guess they don't really need a reason, do they?

[stirlingsliver]

21. Who Is Your ISP?

What company is your ISP?

They may be sharing your comings and goings on the internet with the CIA.

Remember: Big Brother IS Watching.

[Disturbed]

24. "CIA - they can find out anything about anyone, right?"

The CIA is not spozed to be operating within the USA. They are restricted to working outside of the USA.

[dickbearton]

27. Yeah, right. The CIA is a group of Nazi thugs...

Like every other government agency, it has been taken over by
the Criminal Bush, top down. It goes were it wonts, regardless
of the law. Elements within the CIA have been breaking the
law, from the beginning.

[Diclotican]

28. Disturbed

Disturbed

Do you Really The Central Intelligence Agency are NOT spying on the inside of US, just becouse they are telling you that they are not.. What in the world are they using the NSA system for then?. To keep a tab of MY phone??

Diclotican

Sorry my bad engelish, not my native language

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

44. Diclotican

I wonder if anyone here hears as well as you?

"What in the world are they using the NSA system for then?"

[Diclotican]

50. Sees Clearly

Sees Clearly

I dont know, what you really mean with that. But I hope it wasen't negative:tinfoilhat:

But, when it come to it all. NSA have BIG databank,who are there to be used.. And I really doubt that all this Giaflops of space are just there to spy on advesaries of the US.. And not against US itself.. In the wiew of the fact that This Administration have spied on people already in many year, I do have the feeling that they also use the system to spy on Us all. And it is a 800 word base, who trigger the system to loock you up and record what you are saying.. And the worst is that the list are not comon knowlegde.. But we know that the list exist.. So everyone can be tapet into..

The "system" that mr Bush, and its Administration have build up, can be used both against enemies, and against the american public. Even the old KGB, who in the start was sharget with the case of fighting FORREING enemies, was verry soon folloved by the right to spy on sovjets too.. And they was doing that so good, that KGB soon have a record of ALL sitizien of the USSR. And if you belive that NSA, CIA and the other 18 organisation who are in the "intelligence system" cannot be misused against americans, you are really wrong..

KGB, was kalled the sword and the shield of the Sovjetunion, and the Communist Party. In many way the "new" Spy system mr Bush are building up, are mutch the same system. But whit power that even the old KGB cant dream about.. with all this techonolgy we have been so used to. The goverment can spy on us, without we even know it.. In the USSR they belived they was spyed on.. In the US you still belive to be free, even that all points to the opposite.. And so long enough pepole belive they are still free to say what they want - the goverment can get what THEY want, and when the goverment have all the power to survilance you as they please, you are sudently sendt to a "re-education camp":. As many of the Gulag camps was called...

Diclotican

Sorry my bad engelish, not my native language

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

52. Diclotican

No, not at all negative. I'm sorry that you felt my comment could have been an insult. I meant what you have so clearly explained.
My point was not clear. I was referring to the NSA because the director of the CIA, who the OP is about, was the past director of NSA. The FISA law that congress passed allows communications of Americans who are emailing, calling, and the way I read it, using "technology" that passes through the switching systems of telephone, satellight - as in DSL - or broadband and "speaking" to what the administration deems threats to National Security to be intercepted and investigated. Unfortunately, that could apply to innocent bloggers. There are plenty of foreign citizens right here on DU blogging from their own country, some possibly on this very thread. When congress passed FISA in their rush to go on vacation, they opened up the possibility that since we are communicating with British, Australians, French and a whole host of foreigners we could as you say, all have files.
I did not want to be so clear about this, I was hoping to just point out the NSA and maybe someone else would make the connection as to how the director of CIA could have gotten information concerning kas125. As someone else pointed out, CIA cannot legally spy inside America. That though doesn't mean CIA cannot legally get information since the FISA law is in effect as written.

Sorry it took so long to respond to you, I was web surfing.

[Diclotican]

70. Sees Clearly

Sees Clearly

Hm.. I see;). It is maybee more that I am not fluent in english, and just wasen't understand what you was saying.. Not perfect then;)

When you have the same man in CIA, as the former director of NSA, then you have a powerbase to be really vorryed about if I have my meaning about it.. And in this case, you have a Administation who are using ALL their power to try to spy abroad and dominstic, and to use this "intelligence" to maybee arrest people who are against the current Administration...
I belived I never wil say this words, not against US, but you look more an more like the old Sovjets where the goverment get the right to spy on everyone who "might" be an enemy.. And becouse of that the goverment was little paranoyd, the goverment used to spy on EVERYONE.. For sure all the tele-cominications was probed.. Specially the forreingers, but even their ovn people was spyed on a reglar basis.. Are the same "Ilness" on the way in US too?.. And as you pointed out, the goverment can spy on everything, and just let it lye in som data-banks.. To be used if/when neccesary... Even that, was something the old KGB was not able to do.. And they was coming into the PC thing just in the late 1980s..

I know, that many on DU are from abroad, as myselfB-) So I guess that that is case enough to get the goverment in US "intersted" if they want to spy.. Or just trye to "glance" on it when I am here on DU.. I doubt they want to do it anyway, but if they do.. Wel then i speak my mind, and stand for it.. What is the worst US can do, if I was to visit your once wonderful nation.. Send my back to Europe?.. As I have not broken some law in US I cant be arrested and send to prison.. I hope then.

I really hope, that US are coming back on its track once this madman in the White house is gone.. And that many of the laws passed fron 2000 to 2008 can be ammended or trowing in the garbage bin... Maybee they to can be a educateding memory for all, to se how eeasy a nation who are attaced can turn itself from a open democracy to a country where the fear is growing, and that the goverment can do what they pleace.. Becouse many in the public want to be "safe"..

Diclotican

Sorry my bad engelish, not my native language

[mogster]

66. Hey!

Long time no see! :hi:

[troubleinwinter]

72. You too!

Long time no see you! :hi:

[mogster]

82. Hi Trouble!

:hi: How are you doing? I'm here once in a while posting, have much to do now :-)
Read the DU everyday to keep updated, though. Hughs :hug:

[kestrel91316]

79. Hahaha. I guarantee they are spying on Americans in America.

Hell, that's probably ALL they're doing these days.

I say "Keep 'em BUSY and post away!!!!!!"

[Diclotican]

32. stirlingsliver

stirlingsliver

You shal ALLWAYS be carefull what you are using the old phone, or maybee even Internett.. You CAN be seeing you everywhere...

Big brother is Indeed watching, if they belive it is "their interest"x( And if you are in family with someone who have been on "a list" you can bet you are under some survilance too

If your grandfater/mother was in the comunist party for lets say 40 year since you can be denayid acess to US. becouse "you are a risk for the goverment".. Even that you itself have never been member of party like that, or in other ways have proven that you "can" be a danger to US.. And if my guess is right, it can be a long time before I can come to US, becouse I have been verry clear of what I mean of US, or specially about what this regime of yours have been doing the last 6 year.. But then, it is many other places to visit before Im dead then;)..
I know my fosterfather was "just not" denied axcess to US in the 1990s, becouse of his vel, wiew in may ways. He was pretty left to the senter in the political world, and was never afraid of say what hi mean.. But we managed to visit US then..
If you cant stand for it, dont use open lines..

Diclotican

Sorry my bad

[kas125]

41. Well...... it's AT&T, of course.

And I can't say anything bad about them now (or so I've read) or they'll cut off my service. I NEED high speed for all those great Grateful Dead shows available out there, and they're the only game in town, so I'm not switching. I know they're watching, (and I'm in the midst of reading 1984 again right now!) I WAS pretty careful about what I wrote or said, but I'm beginning not to see the point in that anymore since I'm already on a list...

[trevjr]

25. Is it really legal?

It doesn't seem like anyone can be banned from a city or state,
has anyone ever sued? Has anyone gone to jail for breaking this order?

[stirlingsliver]

36. What Does That Matter??

To the thugs in the Bush regime, it doesn't matter whether it is legal or not.

[roxnev]

26. With Bush

Any sh!t is possible, keep on trying you have my support.:nuke: them

[ideagarden]

29. There's a few things that haven't been removed

1) My resolve to disenfranchise against these Hoover-blowing-warmonger fascists

2) Steal this movie (google vids) the story of Abby Hoffman

3) If your reading this CIA / FBI / Homeland why don't you grow up and face the new ideas put forth by minds greater than yours. We are free people, of a free land, and watching us won't help you find the "terrorists". The war is over and you lost. Your the terrorists.

4) The power of the people and the will of the people is there. Though you may have tried to bring it down, we will rise up.

5) V. Plame is a hero, plane and simple. What have you "watchers" done?

[ideagarden]

33. and I might add

Back to the Constitution of the USA!!! You law breakers reading my emails and spying need to resign. Our country is more important!!!

[Sam Ervin jret]

37. Was the BIg CIA man frightened of some naughty questioners? Bad Questioners.

I bet he had to call his mommy and he may have had a temperature, or gottin' a headache or somethin' just because YOU guys had to be SO ROUGH on the poor little CIA guy. You know how daddy george is mean to them and "outs" them and puts their lives at jeopard for no reason at all but his own amusement (and no I will not apologize for saying so) and here you go making life harder for them.!

Leave the little fellows alone to suffer in silence and cower in corners. Unless of course they want the respect of the American People. Then they can do the right thing. Stand up. Be accountable. Make those around them accountable. And stop playing school yard bully. It really is beneath the dignity that should belong to a representative of the USA.

[kas125]

38. A reporter from my local paper called

A reporter called me this afternoon and when he was finished asking his questions, he said, "well, I guess I'll say goodbye to you - and whoever else might me listening - and I'll talk to you again soon." He did say he'd called the hotel and the group hosting the event, but of course, they didn't know anything. He also said he'd called the CIA and he was waiting for a return call from them. I doubt that it will come.

Then someone else called to ask about sending them pictures of the three of us by nine o'clock tonight, so I guess there will be something in our newspaper tomorrow.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

40. I have a feeling...

That this might have more to do with Indiana State Police and informants. I doubt the CIA is spying. I don't doubt the very real possibility that there are some "concerned patriots" who have ratted you out, quite creatively, to the state police who then submitted a list of people to be barred from the event.

[kas125]

42. Maybe, I don't really know.

We asked the head of hotel security, the people from the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, who hosted the event, and the Chicago police. They all said "the list was generated by the speaker." The speaker was the director of the CIA. It's been two days now and we still don't know anymore than we did when they made us leave Tuesday night.

I want to know WHY I'm on a "list," who put me there, what the hell I did to frighten Mr. Hayden, how I GET OFF the list, and how come in America, a citizen who has not committed a crime or done anything illegal or even threatening, can be barred from an event for which they were sold a ticket.

[rockybelt]

43. They're not even trying to hide it.

It seems to me that "security" knew well in advance that these three people were coming to the event. How did they know?
It seems equally obvious to me that the CIA did a whole lot of checking into by whom the tickets were purchased.
It seems equally obvious to me that the CIA did background checks on the people that purchased tickets.
Do you suppose that these three people were just randomly selected out of the entire audience? It seems to me that everyone who purchased a ticket had to have checks ran and backgrounds checked for these people to stand out. Were they the only people denied entrance?
Did the security people at the gate have brown shirts on?

[kas125]

48. Yep, to buy a ticket, or a block of tickets you had to give names.

To purchase tickets, you had to give them the names of the attendees. They even sent out emails to make sure the names were correct, saying we had to show photo id to get in, about a week before the event. They knew who every single audience member was going to be.

But I think that's standard procedure these days. We had a meeting with our Senator in August and we all had to give our names first and show our id's when we arrived. One man who brought his fifteen year old son couldn't get in because the kid didn't have an id. School hadn't started yet so he didnt' have a school id, he was too young to have a drivers license, so they told him he could not go in. They tried to argue and were told to wait until the line waiting to go in was gone. The father was not at all pleased. I tried to wait to see what they'd do, but then the meeting was about to start so I went in rather than wait to see what happened. They were not in the meeting, so I guess they couldn't go in.

[WheelWalker]

45. Notice ME, spook...

That's why I'm here... standing in the Light to face the Darkness. To be noticed.

I, for one, am seeking more than mere feel good exchanges among like minded travelers in closed rooms within which the Light blazes searingly. We are but gatekeepers at a door to reason and compassion. While I realize there is much to be gained from collective thought and will, it is the projection of that thought and will which gives me purpose. I EXPECT them to be listening and watching. I desperately HOPE that they are. I want THEM to know me... to know my heart, my thoughts, my intentions. I believe it serves the greater good, for as many spooks who may, to enter the underground and stand in the Light. Perhaps, some, if only a few at first, will achieve vision and turn away from the Darkness that envelops their hearts. It is THEY who must be sincerely touched by our righteous indignation.

I cannot fear to be discovered and expect to affect another's intentions. In 1970, for weeks after the brutality at Kent State, thousands of us on the campus at the University of Oregon boldly wore bulls' eyes on our backs. We did this, not inviting gunfire, but demanding to be noticed. To be noticed by the spooks, individually and personally, would be a great gift. Each one teach one. So it has been, and so it will continue to be. There is only so much one can accomplish from a closed room.

Notice ME, spook. What'cha gonna DU?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

46. Is it possible that one of your associates...

made a remark that could be interpreted as "threatening", even as a long shot? If so, maybe they figure your association with that person makes you a threat.

Then again, maybe they're just fascist schweinhunds.

[Eric J in MN]

47. Maybe they have a list of Code Pink members and won't let them in.

Anyway, this is a slimy way to conduct an event.

Joe Lieberman conducts his events this way. His people distribute tickets, and then they bar people at the door who show up with tickets expecting to get in.

If a speaker wants to make an event invitation-only, then he should send out invitations with people's names on them.

They shouldn't distribute general admission tickets and then stop people at the door expecting to be admitted.

Speakers who organize events that way should be sued for fraud. A general admission ticket carries with it an expectation of admission.

[2 Much Tribulation]

49. Amazing developments. Thanks for making this post more broadly. nt

[lligrd]

51. Seems Like You Should At Least Be Able To Sue

for your ticket money and travel expenses. Especially since they knew your name in advance. You could file for that in small claims court.

[Senator]

54. I would recommend suing the hotel

And not in small claims court, but for a substantial sum for civil rights violation. Not that they wouldn't likely be held harmless for following gov't instructions, but they might not like to go through the trouble of proving that in court.

It is not in their corporate interest to be seen having their employees act as foot soldiers for the American regime. They operate worldwide and in many place where it's just as easy to go across the street to avoid "bush's buddies."

It's also where the money is. And they're the ones who agreed to be political pawns. They could soon become a helpful ally in getting to the bottom of what happened to you -- and identifying real culprits.

---

[lligrd]

57. Sounds Good To Me

You did notice, I said 'at the least.' I'd love to see a hefty law suit and even the Supreme Court brought in to it, though.

[gateley]

53. It seems unfathomable that this is happening in America. I never would have

believed it would come to this.

[kas125]

55. Yeah, if I think about it too long, it starts to really creep me out.

All these years we've been reading about lists of people for this and that, but to get to an event and hear the words, "I'm sorry, ma'am, but your name is on a list of people who are not allowed to attend" is so infuriating and so scary that I don't really even know how to react properly. I keep going from mad as hell to freaked out and back again. It's four o'clock in the morning and here I am, still obsessing about this shit.

I would really like to know what they think I've done. Not too many years ago I had to be investigated by the Justice Department to work at a job I had and there was no problem, and now I am not allowed to listen to a speech.

There is supposed to be an article in the newspaper in the morning, so maybe someone will see it who can help me find out something...

Thanks, everyone. For listening and commiserating. I'm a fighter, but they're a lot bigger than me and this is a little weird. But we're stronger than they are, because we're right. And with that thought, I'm gonna try to go to sleep and hope they're not peekin' in my window.

[gateley]

78. I'm not sure that they think you "did" anything. You're just not in lockstep

with them and you're being punished.

I wonder if it's Homeland Security run amok or if they're doing this stuff to let us know. In Naomi Wolf's book one of the things that happens in a fascist regime is the populace becomes afraid to act in certain ways because they know there will be repurcussions.

What's really scary is HOW did they find out you wanted to question the director? Do they have people trolling all the sites? Do they have auto notifications when a person's name is mentioned on the internet? Regardless, it seems almost certain your being on that list was connected to your post at DU.

Unless your phone is tapped! :tinfoilhat:

[Phentex]

58. I used to think that too...

I'm really not surprised by this any more. How sad is that?

[gateley]

76. You're right. It's just a given that we have NO privacy now and they know every

thing about us. And that there IS a "they". Soooo spooky.

Like Naomi Wolf talks about in her book...

[kas125]

56. Here's the newspaper article

NWI activists barred from CIA chief's speech
(http://www.post-trib.com/news/632265,cialist.article)

November 2, 2007

By Andy Grimm Post-Tribune staff writer

A trio of local peace activists say security guards for CIA Director Gen. Michael D. Hayden barred them from attending his speech in Chicago on Tuesday.

Kathy Sturm, a 53-year-old grandmother from Merrillville, said she was surprised, and a little spooked, when officials at the Hotel Intercontinental said her name was on a list of guests who were not to be permitted to hear Hayden's speech hosted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

The trio had purchased $30 tickets in advance for the event.

"I handed the girl my driver's license, and she looked at her clipboard and she looked up and said, 'I'm sorry, you are on the list of the people who are not allowed to attend,'" said Sturm, a member of the activist group Code Pink.

Fellow Code Pink member Nina Klooster, a 62-year-old retiree from Lake Village, and Nick Egnatz, a Vietnam veteran from Munster, also were turned away. The trio waited in the hotel lobby and met with a hotel security manager who said their names were on a list "generated by the speaker."

"At the request of security officials for this program with Director Hayden, we denied them admission," said hotel spokeswoman Samantha Skinner, who would not comment on whether the list of barred persons came from the hotel or the CIA. "That's all I can say."

CIA spokesman George Little on Thursday declined comment on the incident.

Sturm said she has no criminal record; Egnatz and Klooster admitted they had been arrested on misdemeanor charges at nonviolent demonstrations.

Klooster said she was arrested at a March demonstration in Washington, and paid a fine.

"It's kind of scary that Gen. Hayden would have my name. No one would tell us what list we were on or why," Klooster said. "We're not a danger to the United States. We're peace-loving people."

All three said they had hoped to ask Hayden pointed questions about the use of torture, rendition of terror suspects to foreign countries and other controversial topics.

After their meeting with hotel security, the three joined a demonstration outside the hotel; Sturm even took a turn on a microphone.

"I told the people in Chicago they better wake up," Sturm said. "I said, 'If this can happen to me, a mom and a grandma and not a terrorist, it can happen to you.' "

Contact Andy Grimm at 648-3073 or [e-mail]

[mmonk]

59. This is not supposed to be the work of the agency

(lists of people to bar from speeches). Of course, everything now is wrapped into the Dept of Homeland Security. What bull and a waste of someone's time when they could be checking on real threats. More abuse of power to push back against I guess.

[monmouth]

60. Does anyone remember J. Edgar Hoover???? Many similarities here...

Cross-dressing, Kennedy Hater...Ahh, those were the days my friends..

[mmonk]

62. Without vigilance, history has a tendency to repeat itself.

[monmouth]

63. Very true words...

[Duppers]

74. from the BBC today: CIA chief backs rendition flights

CIA chief backs rendition flights

Mr Hayden staunchly defended "special methods of questioning"
The director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, General Michael Hayden, has defended the methods it uses to interrogate terror suspects.
Gen Hayden said programmes such as extraordinary rendition produced what he said was irreplaceable intelligence.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7070483.stm

This sure backs your theory, kas.

Wasn't denying you entry into his speech a violation of your constitutional right? I'd write to Keith about this too. People should know how Code Pink's rights are being trampled.

[MiniMe]

64. Did you have to give your name when you went in to see Hayden?

Or show ID? Just wondering how they knew your name.

[rurallib]

67. Looked like upthread that they had to show a driver's license

Remember when you got that fake ID to buy alcohol when you were underage? Now you may need to get one to attand a public speech by a government official (paid by your tax dollars.)

[BrklynLib at work]

65. Remind me again..Exactly why are comparisons between BushCo and Hitler's Nazis so inappropriate???

As time goes by, the history and evolution of the two are appearing harder and harder to tell apart.

[kestrel91316]

80. Actually, I happen to think the US more closely resembles the Stalinist

Soviet Union these days........

[windoe]

71. This surveillance sh*t is getting ridiculous

-they have waaaay too much money and no oversight. I have been surveilled for years, profiled before flyiing, phones tapped, ect. I have even noticed after posting here often the thread is taken off quickly, especially when I talk about this stuff. Call me paranoid, I don't care.
I think by shining a light into this shadow government and standing up to them, and not being afraid is a way to start dealing with this.
Effff Hoover.

[wizstars]

73. The KGWB at work......

Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First had his Cromwell, and George the Lesser may profit by their example.

If this be Treason, then make the most of it.

[kas125]

81. Check this out --

http://tinyurl.com/2ezcrx