Pentagon considers ending threat report system (TALON)

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Pentagon considers ending threat report system
Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:56PM EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon's new intelligence chief is
seeking to end a system for tracking suspicious activity around
U.S. military bases which critics say has been used to spy on
peaceful antiwar activists.

James Clapper, U.S. undersecretary of defense for intelligence,
said in an April 18 memo to Defense Secretary Robert Gates that
the so-called TALON program should end, in part due to its poor
public reputation. The memo was obtained by Reuters on Tuesday.

"I have assessed results of the TALON program during the last
year and I do not believe they merit continuing the program as
currently constituted, particularly in light of its image in the
Congress and the media," Clapper said in the memo.

-snip-

Under the TALON program, which was set up in 2003 and is short
for Threat and Local Observation Notices, Defense Department
civilian and military personnel are asked to report on activities
they deem suspicious.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSB56956820070424

[WePurrsevere]

1. Kick

:kick:

[rodeodance]

2. Pentagon wants to end controversial spying program

Source: AFP



Pentagon wants to end controversial spying program

Wed Apr 25, 7:05 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The
Pentagon wants to close a domestic terrorism spying venture that has drawn criticism for collecting information on peaceful activists inside the United States, a spokesman said Wednesday.


The new undersecretary of defense for intelligence, James Clapper, found disappointing results during a review of the Pentagon's Threat and Local Observation Notice (TALON) database, instituted in 2003.

Clapper "has assessed the results of the TALON program and does not believe they merit continuing the program as currently constituted, particularly in light of its image in Congress and the media," spokesman Pat Ryder said.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has not yet made a formal decision to shut down the program, Ryder added.

The Pentagon admitted last year that a small portion of the information collected in the database "either should have been purged, or was data that was not appropriate for reporting in that system."
........

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070425/pl_afp/usiraqdefense

[Make7]

3. Why does the Pentagon hate America? ( n/t )

[fed-up]

4. does that mean all our names will be purged???? hahaha nt

[Judi Lynn]

5. Pentagon Urged to Close Secret Database

Pentagon Urged to Close Secret Database
The Associated Press
Thursday, April 26, 2007; 2:09 PM


WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon's new intelligence undersecretary is recommending the Defense Department shut down a controversial classified database that has been criticized for improperly collecting information on anti-war groups and citizens.

James R. Clapper Jr., who stepped into the job two weeks ago, "does not believe they merit continuing the program as currently constituted, particularly in light of its image in the Congress and the media," said Pentagon spokesman Maj. Patrick Ryder.

Clapper forwarded his recommendation to Defense Secretary Robert Gates last week, but no final decision has been made. Gates has been traveling in the Middle East and eastern Europe for most of the last two weeks.

Ryder said the Defense Department needs a way to assess potential threats, "but we must lay to rest the distrust and concern about the Department's commitment to civil rights that have been sustained by the problems found in the TALON reporting system."

More:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/26/AR2007042601155.html

[Thor_MN]

6. Clap on, Clap off

Yup, shut it down and purge it before you lose control of it and the people find out what it was being used for...