FBI wants to build network of US informants

[cynatnite]

The FBI is taking cues from the CIA to recruit thousands of covert informants in the United States as part of a sprawling effort to boost its intelligence capabilities.

According to a recent unclassified report to Congress, the FBI expects its informants to provide secrets about possible terrorists and foreign spies, although some may also be expected to aid with criminal investigations, in the tradition of law enforcement confidential informants. The FBI did not respond to requests for comment on this story.

The FBI said the push was driven by a 2004 directive from President Bush ordering the bureau to improve its counterterrorism efforts by boosting its human intelligence capabilities.

The aggressive push for more secret informants appears to be part of a new effort to grow its intelligence and counterterrorism efforts. Other recent proposals include expanding its collection and analysis of data on U.S. persons, retaining years' worth of Americans' phone records and even increasing so-called "black bag" secret entry operations.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/07/fbi-proposes-bu.html

edited to add this:

FBI to Boost 'Black Bag' Search Ops

"The refocusing of FBI operational priorities and the new emphasis placed on intelligence-based activities...has resulted in a dramatic increase" in the demand for so-called "black bag" jobs, in which teams of highly-trained specialists covertly enter a home or office, search its contents and leave without indicating they had been there, states the budget document.

It does not detail how many of the secret searches it carries out, and the FBI did not respond to comment.

The bureau is asking Congress for an additional $5 million to pay for the operations and more than a dozen new specialized personnel.

In 1995, most of the FBI's secret search operations were related to criminal investigations, according to the document. Last year, close to 90 percent of such operations were for national security matters, it asserts.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/06/as_part_of_its_.html

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Let me see what does this remind me off?

the stazi perhaps?

Oh silly me, why think of history... after all according to some it is either useless or I happen to not know it

There are also plenty of references I could make to the KGB, especially during the good ol'd days of Stalin

Perhaps the Polish Secret Police?

Oh my, of course how could I forget, the SS and the SA

And of course... our lovely FBI during the 1920s (Red Scare), and 1950s, even if they never got to the levels of the ... Stazi

Whistle by the grave by the way... those were the Rights you once had

And we also thought were free

[cynatnite]

2. Disturbing to say the least n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Yes but the only way to stop them

they don't want to touch with a ten foot pole

[Swamp Rat]

4. Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer!

Pretty soon they'll be wearing brown shirts, and then helmets.

Better brush up on my Krav Maga.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Sadly we have people HERE

who refuse to learn from history

By the way... this recess I intend to let my critter know loudly, IN PERSON, what I have told them already

Perhaps this will finally wake them up

Oh not really, why should it wake them up?

Pass the blue pill, there are days I feel like not caring any longer, if you know what I mean

[orleans]

3. oh sign me up! i know of at least two terrorists and i will gladly hand over their names

george w. bush and dick cheney.

donald rumsfeld too. but they can deal with him later.

[Double T]

6. The police state is in place. It will only become worse with time.

If congress funds this kind of activity, they are part of the problem and don't expect them to be the solution.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. I no longer do

I have lost all my trust in both parties

[Double T]

9. At this time the U.S.and its' people are in a political abyss with few,..........

if any, good or right choices. Our dilemma does not bode well for the future of our nation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. No it doesn't and even though the mods don't like it

if this does not end in a shooting civil war, the time hasn't been better for third parties

(Which is the nature of political evolution in the US anyhow)

[Raksha]

11. I agree. I'm seriously thinking third party for the first time in my life.

As a lifelong Democrat that's very difficult for me, but I can't think of any other way out of the dead end we're in. Our so-called representatives simply refuse to represent us.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. I already threatened them with it

the logic... even if we don't the threat should wake them up if enogh people issue it

Now, perhaps after they go home for vacation and they hear from the POed voting public, they might get it

If they don't... Kucinich in the primaries, and green in the GE... I have the feeling that the republican will win anyhow, caging et al, which our fearless leaders cannot wrap their head around and do anything about it