NBC Nightly News: Secret Database Shows Pentagon Spying on Americans

[spooked]

Wow, did you see the NBC report tonight on a SECRET DATABASE obtained by NBC...of all of the "peaceful" groups that are under surveillance by the CIA?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10454316/

Is the Pentagon spying on Americans?
Secret database obtained by NBC News tracks ‘suspicious’ domestic groups

Lisa Myers
Senior investigative correspondent
WASHINGTON - A year ago, at a Quaker Meeting House in Lake Worth, Fla., a small group of activists met to plan a protest of military recruiting at local high schools. What they didn't know was that their meeting had come to the attention of the U.S. military.

A secret 400-page Defense Department document obtained by NBC News lists the Lake Worth meeting as a “threat” and one of more than 1,500 “suspicious incidents” across the country over a recent 10-month period.

“This peaceful, educationally oriented group being a threat is incredible,” says Evy Grachow, a member of the Florida group called The Truth Project.
Story continues below ↓ advertisement

“This is incredible,” adds group member Rich Hersh. “It's an example of paranoia by our government,” he says. “We're not doing anything illegal.”

The Defense Department document is the first inside look at how the U.S. military has stepped up intelligence collection inside this country since 9/11, which now includes the monitoring of peaceful anti-war and counter-military recruitment groups.


Here's a link to the secret document:

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/1DODAntiWarProtestDatabase.pdf

[Mabus]

1. I wonder how this list matches with O'Lielly's list

This news isn't surprising but it doesn't make it any less sad.

[depakid]

8. The news isn't surprising- but the source is

One of those "things that make you go hmmm."

[cantstandbush]

114. How many more ways can this admin. violate our Constitution? n/t

[SpiralHawk]

30. They're making a List, and Checking it Twice

Gonna find out who's next on the NeoCon Torture Tally.

[jfkraus]

102. They're making a list...

...but I doubt they are checking it twice.

[Angry Girl]

2. KnR for the American Constitution

[OKthatsIT]

83. "the Constitution is just a piece of paper", says George W Bush

that should be enough to Impeach his ASS

[Toots]

84. It would be if it was on tape but......

It is only hearsay...If pursued though I am sure an impeachable offense could be found fairly easily....Who will pursue such a thing, the DLC?????

[KansDem]

103. Correction: "It's just a *goddamn* piece of paper"

But since Bush is on a first-name basis with God, he can ask him to damn just about anyone or anything.

[dwightspencer]

112. Now, I'm scared

He is going to be allowed to carry on like that unchecked. That is just what leaked. God only knows why they wanted to keep him out of the country for two weeks before making him meet with the press like a show pony in excess. I will be so glad when he puts his foot in his mouth well enough to reverse all the traction he has gotten in the poll.

Don't worry, we all know he will.

[dwightspencer]

111. just a piece of paper

As I recall, his language wasn't that clean.

[Rhiannon12866]

113. Welcome to DU, dwightspencer!

It's great to have you with us!:toast:

And Bush*'s language is, apparently, never that clean, despite his close relationship with God. See post #103, above. And this article...:-(

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_7267.shtml

[tinrobot]

3. Is DU on the list?

Probably...

[spooked]

4. The document is 400 pages long

and NBC has posted only 8 pages...good question lol

[IndianaGreen]

56. I am certain that some DUers are on the list

They seem to be very worried about counter-military recruiting activities.

[AzDar]

65. This could explain why I'm always getting 'felt-up' when I fly..or

perhaps it's my luscious bosom. Anyhoo, it's very Nixon-esque.

[Cooley Hurd]

62. I'd say most definitely DU's on the list...

...if they're spying on goddamn QUAKERS, they MUST be spying on us!:grr:

[Uncle Joe]

119. Well them Quakers can be scary,

have you ever seen that guy on the oatmeal box?:sarcasm:

[Broken_Hero]

101. I would think so...

Look at some of the things, that are talked about here...if they are keeping tabs the peace groups...be assured, there is a hefty documentation on the DU site...

[frylock]

5. cointelpro..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO

[CabalPowered]

94. That would be my guess as well... nt

[shraby]

6. Isn't that totally illegal?

[hvn_nbr_2]

9. Nope. Abu Gonzales says so. First Amendment is quaint and obsolete. n/t

[lonestarnot]

38. "It's just a goddamn piece of paper." GWB

[druidity33]

10. Patriot Act says no...

and data mining has been around a while too. Project Able Danger was a datamining project put to good use (albeit totally ignored when it counted). Personally, i don't mind if they look into my life. Maybe it'll teach them a little about how life oughta be lived. That being said i'm planning on moving to a commune and changing my name to Turtle, so let them try and find me. Ha!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

66. Also read this on "Rex 84".......jaw-dropping....

Rex 84
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_84>

QUOTE:

The Rex-84 Alpha Explan (Readiness Exercise 1984, Exercise Plan), indicates that FEMA in association with 34 other federal civil departments and agencies conducted a civil readiness exercise during April 5-13, 1984. It was conducted in coordination and simultaneously with a Joint Chiefs exercise, Night Train 84, a worldwide military command post exercise (including Continental U.S. Forces or CONUS) based on multi-emergency scenarios operating both abroad and at home. In the combined exercise, Rex-84 Bravo, FEMA and DOD led the other federal agencies and departments, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Secret Service, the Treasury, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Veterans Administration through a gaming exercise to test military assistance in civil defense.

The exercise anticipated civil disturbances, major demonstrations and strikes that would affect continuity of government and/or resource mobilization. To fight subversive activities, there was authorization for the military to implement government ordered movements of civilian populations at state and regional levels, the arrest of certain unidentified segments of the population, and the imposition of martial rule. <1>

Also keep in mind that Herr Busch has signed into law a quarantine law that gives the so-called Federal government the right to quarantine any area in the country in the event of a disease epidemic/pandemic. There is absolutely nothing that would keep this bunch from declaring a nonexistent medical emergency just to seal off an area of interest.

[CoffeeCat]

91. LOL!!! Thanks for the laugh, "turtle"---you rock!

Seriously, I was drinking hot chocolate, and I almost choked.

I wish you luck in your commune. Sounds fun.

:)

[druidity33]

97. it will be

though lately we've been thinking of starting our own (my partner and i and child and friends)... and Turtle is at this point just a possibility, another name may call me...
peace out.

[Marie26]

85. Not anymore

Congress just passed a series of laws allowing the Defense Dept. to gather intelligence & conduct covert operations in the US. At the time, critics charged it could lead to "spying" on US citizens, but the Pentagon denied that that would happen.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9602401/site/newsweek/

[superconnected]

7. peaceful anti-war and counter military recruitment goups

Gee that could be us.

Considering the patriot act is all about survellience of americans and locking them up, I'm just not surprised.

[kster]

11. These dopes let a plane(with a student pilot) hit their buiding

how good can they be at collecting information, about anything.

[DoYouEverWonder]

28. Because they waste so much of their time

spying on folks like us rather then going after real criminals, like the ones that have taken over this country and now live in the WH.

[HuffleClaw]

37. EXACTLY

they spend a HUGE amount of resources watching average americans and it increases daily. no better time to be a terrorist really, just wear nice clothes and donate to the ruling party, they'll leave ya alone.

[Rex]

12. Police states have to be run by fear and paranoia.

There is no other way to do it. This SECRET DATABASE probably came from the TIA mainframe finally up and running in the bowels of the Pentagon. Whaa...you really believed they shut it down? I'm sure that if you know the right people, you can gamble on 'political event' stock (secret PNAC market).

[420inTN]

13. You don't have to do anything illegal to be a thread n/t

[pat_k]

14. kicked and recommended! n/t

[Zorra]

15. Innocent, peaceful folk are a threat to fascism - no surprise here.

The PNAC fascists need a country of conscienceless killers to carry out their plan for global dominance through military aggression.

Their biggest fear is another growth of mass social consciousness similar to that which took place in the late 60's and early 70's.

What if they gave a war, and nobody came?

[brentspeak]

16. Exhibit #1 on why the Patriot Act should not be renewed

[nolabels]

73. Military-industrial-complex = MIHOP = 9/11 = Patriot Act +............

the war on (of) terror, Iraq, fighting limited nuclear war, your with us or against us, propaganda war on domestic population, and just about any other kitchen sink sloganism, creed, institution or federal act

The only major difference between the Nazi's of the 30's and US today, is that the parasite creating the agenda of the host. Ike warned many moons ago of what is now in full bloom. Without the creation national security state the merchants that profit off of war and it's perpetuation would of withered on the vine. Today War and armaments is the #1 product of the US

[brentspeak]

93. I don't buy kooky theories like MIHOP

I just know that the government would abuse the powers of the Patriot Act.

[Trevelyan]

96. URGENT ACTION - PATRIOT ACT FILIBUSTER THIS WEEK!!

Dear Friends,

This week, the long-expected showdown over the Patriot Act may begin -- and end -- on the floor of Congress. The bipartisan outcry for real reform has never been stronger, but your phone calls are urgently needed today, to urge your Senators to stand fast and oppose the flawed bill now headed for a vote.

The Bush Administration has strong-armed lawmakers into re-drafting a final Patriot Act bill that fails to protect the privacy of innocent Americans or restore checks and balances stripped out in the original Patriot Act.

A bipartisan group of Senators have said they will filibuster any reauthorization bill unless it contains key reforms to protect our civil liberties. Pick up your phone right now and tell your Senators to vote against cloture, support the filibuster and oppose any Patriot Act reauthorization bill that does not that does not include real reforms.

The courageous Senators vowing to filibuster the reauthorization bill - John Sununu (R-NH), Larry Craig (R-ID), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Ken Salazar (D-CO) need to be thanked for taking a principled stand for freedom and urged to hold their ground. Please call now.

Go to http://action.aclu.org/call to call now. Or, read more about this critical moment in the fight to reform the Patriot Act before taking action. Then, after calling, be sure to tell your friends.

Thank you for all that you do.

https://secure.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?alertId=339&pg=makeACall&JServSessionIdr004=14z54k89z1.app23a

=December 12, 2005 Our Last Chance to Influence Patriot Is Approaching

Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of both ACLU Activists and the wider community of civil libertarians and freedom-loving Americans, we have reached the point where a filibuster is possible.

Nominate :patriot:

[screembloodymurder]

17. These people must be stopped.

This is not Democracy.

[pat_k]

18. Jaw-dropping insanity! Look at the "Threats" classified as "Credible"

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/1DODAntiWarProtestDatabase.pdf

Spying on citizen action orgs. I assumed it was happening, but never thought we'd have proof.

This is jaw-dropping insanity! Look at the "Threats" classified as "Credible."

What does this say about their threshold for "credible threats"?

[spooked]

19. From page 2 of the Document...

"The Website www.iacboston.org has identified 8 Dec 04 as a call to action"

www.iacboston.org

Check it out...If they are on the list, then I'll bet DU is too!

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

34. Hmmm...

All of them seem to be from dodgy sources. Nutbars in outrage.

FREEPERS!

[UCLA02]

20. Link to the complete list?

Is the complete (albeit redacted, for sure) 400-page list out there anywhere yet?

[stepnw1f]

21. So... We Are Paying them To Watch Us?

Can I get a refund.

[Ouabache]

121. yep, as JR* says, "It's YOUR money."

Surveiled by your own tax dollars.

[KansDem]

126. No, because I'm paying them to watch you and you're paying them...

...to watch me, so no refunds! :spank:

[Straight Shooter]

22. It's hard work to keep the paranoia level ratcheted up constantly.

And like the poster above, I want my money back, too. With interest.

[Jacobin]

23. Does anyone NOT think this is like Viet Nam now?

Pigs

[IndianaGreen]

25. The biggest provocateurs turned out to be undercover agents

Back in the 1980s, the FBI infiltrated Christian groups in the Sanctuary Movement whose crime was to aid people fleeing US-backed death squads in Latin America. A woman FBI agent even participated in prayers, all the while taking down names of people that Reagan would eventually prosecute.

[IndianaGreen]

24. Keith Olbermann just showed that segment on his show

We are reaping the fruits of PATRIOT Act, a bad law that is going to be extended together with its provision by which Uncle Sam gets to find out what books you read at your public library.

Russ Feingold is on a one-man filibuster of PATRIOT. Where are all the other brave Senators?

BTW, DOD has always conducted surveillance of political dissident groups, such as SOA Watch and its annual pilgrimage to Fort Benning.

[spooked]

26. Is this what you call a "limited hang out"?

From a few weeks ago...


http://www.ftimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=30668&TM=30268.93

11/28/2005
Pentagon Expands Domestic US Spying
WASHINGTON (AP) - The US Defense Department is expanding domestic intelligence collection in ways that could allow it so circumvent barriers to military spying on US citizens, according to a US newspaper report.

Formerly focused on protecting its US bases and military operations, Pentagon intelligence collection inside the United States has already expanded to cover broader terrorist threats to the country, the Washington Post said...

According to the Post, the White House is now considering expanding a secret Pentagon security agency into one which could investigate a range of domestic crimes, for which the government has used the FBI in the past.

The little-known Counterintelligence Field Activity has a secret budget but is believed to already have 1,000 people on its staff, the paper said.


Looks like they already did...

[MisterP]

29. laws are for the little people

President Helmsley

[tanyev]

27. Reminds me of the peace group in Fahrenheit 9/11,

the ones that had the really good cookies.

[yorkiemommie1]

31. i remember that scene

not surprised w/ all this having lived thru the VN era.

[msongs]

125. mmmmm chocolate chip cookies... subversive! nt

Msongs
www.msongs.com/chinamart.htm

[Broadslidin]

32. The U.S., An Extremely Dangerous Evil Empire.

Considering the escalating vicious history of our specie,

The 21st Century will surely surpass all.

[Protagoras]

33. A threat to what?

This is what we need to be asking all the time, every day. What is it we're threatening? The true answer there reveals all.

[spooked]

41. It's about protecting America as a Military State & Recruiting Soldiers

From the NBC article...

"The Department of Defense declined repeated requests by NBC News for an interview. A spokesman said that all domestic intelligence information is “properly collected” and involves “protection of Defense Department installations, interests and personnel.” The military has always had a legitimate “force protection” mission inside the U.S. to protect its personnel and facilities from potential violence. But the Pentagon now collects domestic intelligence that goes beyond legitimate concerns about terrorism or protecting U.S. military installations, say critics...

The DOD database obtained by NBC News includes nearly four dozen anti-war meetings or protests, including some that have taken place far from any military installation, post or recruitment center...

The military has the right to protect its installations, and to protect its recruiting services..."

[mallard]

58. Could it be they are preparing ....

... for harsher conditions ahead of a schedule for events that might not go over well?

[gorbal]

35. The link to the list isn't working for me

Could somebody cut and paste the list? If it resembles the Freepers "enemy list" in any way I imagine quite a few lawsuits will be successfully prosecuted.

:)

[Earth_First]

36. Is Democratic Underground on that list? YOU BET!

Everyone say hello to "Agent Mike"

:hi:

[lonestarnot]

39. And back the fuck off you C students!

[gorbal]

43. Who is "Agent Mike?"

Does he post, lol!

[bklyncowgirl]

60. Hi Agent Mike!

Glad to see you guys are on the ball protecting our great nation from those dangerous fanatics like the American Friends Service Committee.

[Robert Cooper]

92. The things they'll do to improve their odds of recruiting people...

...Be all you can be: peep through your neighbour's keyhole and report back to us.

[54anickel]

40. Good timing for the article with the vote on the Patriot Act coming up.

In another thread about Feingold's call to fillibuster there was a link posted to MoveOn's effort to stop the Patriot Act.

It's not too late, maybe if the MSM keeps the discussion front and center we can stop the Patriot Act.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1974983#1984458

[Dover]

42. Since when does NBC protect U.S. citizen rights at the expense of

the Pentagon? Seems out of character.

[Stephanie]

59. Brian Williams went to Katrina -

and hasn't been the same since.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

67. Neither has Anderson Cooper...very outspoken, which is a good thing.

[killbotfactory]

44. What is the PENTAGON doing spying on civilians?!

For fucks sake!

[MountainLaurel]

88. The same things it's been doing

When spying on citizens, trying to keep itself in existence and line the pockets of politically connected defense contractors.

[Joey Liberal]

45. We are no longer a free country n.t

[fshrink]

46. What is it already?

Ah yes: "They hate our freedom".

[VegasWolf]

47. Funny, McCarthy used communism to control people. Bush uses 9/11.

:puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke:

[Rhiannon12866]

68. He just used it, again, yesterday, and I keep waiting for this to backfire

It makes no sense to me why he keeps bringing up 9/11, as if this was his proudest moment. The worst attack in the history of this country happened on his watch. For that, and that his administration was responsible for ignoring the threats, he should have been at least impeached...:shrug:

[olddad56]

48. These guys were a threat to the Bushco, they had brains...

Anyone left who hasn't been brainwashed is a threat.

[Mad_Dem_X]

71. You nailed it

If you're not marching in lock-step, you're a threat. What BS.

Dear God, what has happened to this country???

[NEDem]

49. Why isn't this on the front page of DU?

This is a major story.

[spooked]

50. The program is called TALON

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=257979&Category=23

Domestic information flowing into Pentagon agency
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
By Walter Pincus The Washington Post

WASHINGTON - Day after day, reports of suspicious activity filed from military bases and other defense installations throughout the United States flow into the Counterintelligence Field Activity, or CIFA, a three-year-old Pentagon agency whose size and budget remain classified.

The Talon reports, as they are called, are based on information from civilians and military personnel who stumble across people or information they think might be part of a terrorist plot or threat against defense facilities at home or abroad.

The documents can consist of “raw information reported by concerned citizens and military members regarding suspicious incidents,” said a 2003 memo signed by then-Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz...

Talon, which stands for “threat and local observation notice,” captures raw information about “anomalies, observations that are suspicious ... and immediate indicators of potential threats to DoD (Defense Department) personnel and or resources,” according to an attachment to Wolfowitz’s memo.


Why am I picturing Freepers having a direct line into TALON's office?

[Beam Me Up]

53. Sounds right to me.

They exposed Nick Berg's father as a member of International ANSWER just before Nick was arrested and subsequently beheaded.

Edit: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1092851/posts

[DireStrike]

95. Remember Talon news?

:eyes: I wouldn't be surprised at all.

[Norquist Nemesis]

116. My ears perked up on that one, too! n/t

[NightOwwl]

51. Holy Crap! The first item is in my backyard!

"Protest Planned at Sacramento Military Entrance Processing Station"

Incident Type: THREAT

Sacramento News and Review (an "alternative weekly," probably also on the list) did a story on this group recently. They meet in front of the recruiting station every other week to try to dissuade people from joining up. They are young, old, black, brown, white...just like you and me. They classify this a threat, yet ignore PDB's anouncing an immenent attack on New York.

And people wonder why we aren't ready for another attack. :grr:

[mmonk]

52. Wouldn't it be nice if they expended that much effort

towards tracking terrorists?

[alfredo]

54. Aw Shucks. My state is not on the list.

I guess we will have to try harder.

[0007]

55. Move over Russia!

[usregimechange]

57. Fascism here we come.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

69. Hate to tell you this, but we became a fascist nation on 12-13-2000....

...when the NeoCon Junta, with the help of the U. S. Supreme Court, took control of the centers of U. S. government.

[llmart]

61. Well all I can say is if DU'ers are on the list........

and they're spying on me and my posts then "Bring it on assholes." They don't scare me. I'm too old and too feisty to care what they think of me.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

70. "If"?? There's no "if" about this at all.

[llmart]

90. Well, then.....

BRING IT ON!

"Never underestimate the wrath of a menopausal woman."

[Rhiannon12866]

63. I remember this being brought up in "F 9/11" and it IS very scary and

also very un-American, despite the so-called "patriotism" of the current administration! Because I belong to DU, my Freeper mother considers me to be some kind of subversive, expects the FBI at the door, looking for me, at any moment. I've never had any fear, will sign any petition, will write anyone, but maybe I'm the one who's wrong, after all...
:scared:

[pinniped]

64. My papers are in order.

.

[ellie]

72. "Land of the free"

my ass.

[suegeo]

74. Rumsfeld needs mental help. Add that to your database.

Along with:
Republicans are fascists.
Republicans steal elections.
Republicans are sexually messed up.
I don't support troops who torture people.
And 9.11 was an inside job, designed to shock and awe the American people
Steven Cambone can kiss my ass.

[gorbal]

75. The guy in the red box looks familiar

I'd hate to be him, I wonder why he is so interesting to the powers that be that he warrants a red box around his head?

There is a tax dollars at work again. They can't save people from drowning but they can spy on Quakers. Good job prioritizing guys, hats off to Fema. You guys really are a piece of work.

[bonito]

76. Can't open the link, Saying error on that page n/t

[wordpix2]

77. WTF? No $ for Katrina, the poor, env't , education but plenty for spying

on nonviolent antiwar protestors

[MadisonProgressive]

78. Is the Pentagon spying on Americans?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10454316/

Secret database obtained by NBC News tracks ‘suspicious’ domestic groups

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/DODAntiWarProtestDatabaseTracker.pdf


WASHINGTON - A year ago, at a Quaker Meeting House in Lake Worth, Fla., a small group of activists met to plan a protest of military recruiting at local high schools. What they didn't know was that their meeting had come to the attention of the U.S. military.

A secret 400-page Defense Department document obtained by NBC News lists the Lake Worth meeting as a “threat” and one of more than 1,500 “suspicious incidents” across the country over a recent 10-month period.

“This peaceful, educationally oriented group being a threat is incredible,” says Evy Grachow, a member of the Florida group called The Truth Project.

“This is incredible,” adds group member Rich Hersh. “It's an example of paranoia by our government,” he says. “We're not doing anything illegal.”

[GliderGuider]

79. Does a bear poop in the woods?

[sui generis]

80. our neighbor spies on us

I'm sure he thinks we're the Sleeper Cell. Or something. That and the REASON I have a privacy fence is so that I CAN walk around naked as a jaybird in my house at night whenever I want to and admire my bodacious wings and hoo hoo in the windows. :evilgrin:

It's an eight damn foot fence. If he breaks another goddamn board out of it I'm going to nail it to his front door. I've practically replaced the entire alley.

Boy if an agency ever decided to take an interest in us . . . they'd probably have a member's only website with the extra footage, and a minimum age requirement. Ever seen anyone play Chopin or Rachmaninoff by candlelight on a concert grand, naked? You just might some day.

So . . . let's talk about who directs these programs. Military Intelligence officers graduate into these programs, plus some limited private sector recruiting, usually based on some advanced arcane skill that you've sacrificed all other social skills to achieve. The people in the spook agencies making these decisions about what is dangerous and seditious and what is not are in many cases, unsophisticated yahoo idiots who joined to intimidate, not to serve. Agent Mike told me so himself. ;)

[Hyernel]

81. We the People...

...are a threat to the wealthy, corrupt few, who are currently in control of the United States.

If Bushco can't keep up their "marketing" cover, it'll get ugly quick. And surprisingly, the most pissed among us will be the religiously insane, fundy evangelicals who will realize that they've been used, and lied to, by relatively atheistic neocon profiteers.

There are days when I think I should be digging a bunker and stockpiling supplies.

[katinmn]

82. Kudos to MSNBC!!

More please.

[ridgerunner]

86. Well did yall notice this?

Still, the DOD database includes at least 20 references to U.S. citizens or U.S. persons. Other documents obtained by NBC News show that the Defense Department is clearly increasing its domestic monitoring activities. One DOD briefing document stamped “secret” concludes: “e have noted increased communication and encouragement between protest groups using the nternet,” but no “significant connection” between incidents, such as “reoccurring instigators at protests” or “vehicle descriptions.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10454316/

This is why they are paranoid, cause we are watching them. It isn't just the same group of "agitators" as they like to claim so often when people protest. More and more Americans are worried about the direction that this country is taking and they're speaking out. The only true question is will anybody listen or will we get the same old dogma.

[Che_Nuevara]

87. They're f---ing Quakers.

The Quakers in America have been preaching peace, nonviolence, education, universal human rights, equality, and reasoned discussion for four hundred frickin years.

Clearly they are the enemy of our government.

[faithnotgreed]

124. right on - proud to be one....

[redqueen]

89. I love the end... "So and so agrees"... oh really?

Really? Does he now? What about the FRICKIN LAW huh? What does *IT* say?

Fuckin liberal media. :nuke:

[Trevelyan]

98. Get These Mercenaries in NOLA Out of Our Country

Please Get These Mercenaries in NOLA Out of Our Country
~~
John Amato: No Escape from The Super Dome Sun Sep 4,

Watching Shepard Smith and Geraldo Rivera proclaim their outrage at what is happening to the poor souls trapped in New Orleans on Hannity and Colmes Friday night, I couldn't help but think of an old movie, John Carpenter's "Escape from New York." It's a film about the city of Manhattan being turned into a Prison Island that's protected by the military and anyone who tries to breach its borders is shot on sight.

That is the plight of the people trapped in the Super Dome. They are locked in a decrepit, rotting structure, without their consent and told to stay there by our government, with no food, water, electricity, surrounded by violence and the screams of hungry babies, yet they are told that they should be patient. Didn't they see President Bush in his nice clean clothes telling the country and NOLA that help is on the way? People are soiling themselves as dead bodies litter the second level, but don't worry. Help is on the way.
~~~
http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/005385.php
Those who work in the 'surface' version of FEMA are ardent, dedicated helpers of the victims of natural disaster. The concept of an over riding agency to both prepare for and take care of the victims of natural disaster was an excellent one.

But right from the get-go things went terribly wrong. I remember naively publishing two articles for the FEMA journal back in 1988-9 and suddenly finding myself evicted from the Portland, OR refugee organization because --- they knew that one undercover operation of FEMA was to search out and find refugees hidden by churches and send them to detention camps. Also, right from the get-go, there was the goal and then funding to set up detention camps, mostly throughout the West coast. You betcha, they exist.

Then came the use of FEMA to do black ops. Why did Hurricane Andrew not get responded to properly? Because so much of FEMA's funding had been used to do very nefarious deeds. It was a huge scandal that didn't make the mainstream press and we didn't have blogs and DU,SmirkingChimp, CLG and TruthOut back then.

No, I'm not surprised FEMA is being dismantled. It's functions are already being transferred to our military, as well as all the funding it should have had. Same for Army Corps of Engineers and what used to be the Natl Guard.

[spooked]

99. Page 6 of Secret Document: "Internet Discussion Board Encourages Violence

Against Recruiters" with an "Incident Date" of March 16, 2005

So, they are definitely looking at Internet Discussion Boards....

[Megahurtz]

100. Oh Brother.

:eyes:

I mean Oh Big Brother. :silly:

[Stockholm]

104. This should be on DU frontpage

Nominated

[DrunkenMaster]

105. it's shocking!!

Ummm, well, maybe not. COINTELPRO was even worse. Never let your guard down.

"After us, the Savage God." -- WB Yeats

[NVMojo]

106. The USA is the most GODLESS COUNTRY in the world.

It's time to quit kidding ourselves. We are letting the deepest evil set in and take control. We are a sick, sick country. And we let this happen as we kissed the ass of our lying rulers.

[gorbal]

107. Amy Goodman discussed this Issue today

You can stream it here-

http://www.democracynow.org/

[PATRICK]

108. The natural, repeated result

This same thing happened in the VietNam era when the military swung into such activities. Think of the natural, rather paranoid distrust of the military culture added to political scum with an agenda during a war. Presto, The main enemy will be war protesters or any critic of the military/political dominant culture. The level of fear shown by people with power and guns and supposedly confident strategies for coping to maintain order and discipline is always a massive self-contradiction that never seems to register. If not for the brutal supremacy of technology and wealth one could never win a conflict with such an odd mindset. When faced with sane people, they behave like this, every time.

Armies across the world that could never win a strategic battle against an outside foe(their primary raison d'etre) know how to bully the populace they fear more than failure at war.

And that is just the typical crazy brutalization of intelligence. Rational people tend to look for a plan and some sense and embody this nutty fear with real conspiracies of dark merit. And maybe there are, inside the Cheney gang, ulterior motives and long term motivation for snagging the military again into a police state posture that only serves them and no one else in the world. But it is so predictable that the rules for reining in the military must never be challenged in the first place. Even after someone straightens out the institutionally corrupted/suckered mind of much of the military leadership

[salin]

109. Fri am NPR top of hour lead in "Pres. approves spying on Americans

without court approval."

That was the news 'headline' that I woke up to this morning.

[Debau2005]

110. Now on CNN as well

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/12/16/bush.nsa.ap/index.html

[Massachusetts]

115. Pentagon Spying on Americans (Same Question Asked For Centuries)

Quis costodiet ipsos custodies?
-Decimus Junius Juvenalis

[Name removed]

117. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

120. It's even sillier to defend this bullshit. Some would say anti american.nt

[Bridget Burke]

122. Gosh, I hadn't heard about the Irish protest.

Can you supply the details?

How many of the anti-global protesters were really members of violent groups? That is, how many people did they later kill? I don't support vandalism, but I don't think breaking the window of a McDonald's is "terrorism."

[LosinIt]

118. That's Micki, with an "i"...

I get so annoyed when it gets spelled incorrectly. And it happens all of the time. Bet I'm on their list with some of the books I've ordered from Amazon, the websites I've been to. Hey, boys, how's it going?

[Ouabache]

123. The April 9, 2005 Ft Lauderdale ref has note saying, "US group...

..excercising constitutional rights."

Sounds like that 'watcher' is a little fed up themselves. heh.