ACLU Files FOIA On Brigade Deployed in U.S.

Kurt Nimmo
Infowars
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008

The ACLU filed a Freedom of Information Act request under expedited processing to the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security earlier today.

“The American Civil Liberties Union today demanded information from the government about reports that an active military unit has been deployed inside the U.S. to help with ‘civil unrest’ and ‘crowd control’ – matters traditionally handled by civilian authorities,” a press release on the ACLU site explains. “This deployment jeopardizes the longstanding separation between civilian and military government, and the public has a right to know where and why the unit has been deployed, according to an ACLU Freedom of Information request filed today.”

“The military’s deployment within U.S. borders raises critical questions that must be answered,” said Jonathan Hafetz, staff attorney with the ACLU National Security Project. “What is the unit’s mission? What functions will it perform? And why was it necessary to deploy the unit rather than rely on civilian agencies and personnel and the National Guard? Given the magnitude of the issues at stake, it is imperative that the American people know the truth about this new and unprecedented intrusion of the military in domestic affairs.”

(Article continues below)

The latest request falls on the heels of an FOIA filed on October 17 with the Justice Department and the National Security Agency. The previous request demands the agencies disclose “any policies and procedures” that protect Americans’ privacy rights when the NSA “collects, stores and disseminates private U.S. communications.” As Melissa Goodman, a staff attorney with the ACLU’s National Security Project, noted, “the American public needs to know whether the NSA’s procedures are sufficiently protective of our privacy rights. Unfortunately, there is often no meaningful court oversight of the NSA’s surveillance activities and the NSA is left to police itself.”

Earlier this year, Siobhan Gorman of The Wall Street Journal reported on the specifics of the NSA’s “driftnet” surveillance efforts. Paul Kiel, writing for TPM Muckraker, provided the following summary of that system:

Here’s the way the whole thing works, according to Gorman: into the NSA’s massive database goes data collected by the Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Treasury. This information includes data about email (recipient and sender address, subject, time sent), internet searches (sites visited and searches conducted), phone calls (incoming and outgoing numbers, length of call, location), financial information (wire transfers, credit-card use, information about bank accounts), and information from the DHS about airline passengers.

Then the NSA’s software analyzes this data for indications of terrorist activity. When it hits upon a suspicious pattern, the NSA “feeds its findings into the effort the administration calls the Terrorist Surveillance Program and shares some of that information with other U.S. security agencies.”

The so-called Terrorist Surveillance Program is nothing short of a resurrection of the Pentagon’s Total Information Awareness program, which was allegedly de-funded by Congress after details became public. Instead, it was rolled into NSA and is now classified. The NSA driftnet, according to Gorman, has a budget of $1 billion.

It is important to note that data collected by way of the NSA’s lavishly funded driftnet is fed into a database shared by “other U.S. security agencies,” no doubt including Northern Command with an active military unit — tasked with “civil unrest” and “crowd control” duties — at its disposal.

In January, 2007, the ACLU received documents through FOIA indicating that the Pentagon, under its domestic surveillance program, had monitored at least 186 antiwar protests in the United States and collected more than 2,800 reports involving Americans in a single anti-terrorism database. The Pentagon said they were spying on domestic antiwar and peace groups and compiling data in order to detect threats against military installations. A Pentagon unit known as Counterintelligence Field Activity, or CIFA, organized by Donald Rumsfeld after September 11, 2001, was created specifically for this purpose (see Walter Pincus, Pentagon’s Intelligence Authority Widens, the Washington Post, December 19, 2005). In April of this year, CIFA supposedly fell, a victim of bad publicity thanks to yet another ACLU FOIA. As it turns out, CIFA had not only abused National Security Letters, but managed TALON, a database that included information about antiwar protests planned at churches, schools and Quaker meeting halls.

CIFA also hosted the Joint Protection Enterprise Network, or JPEN, according to research conducted by the Agonist. JPEN allows DoD employees to enter “nonvalidated domestic threat information,” that is to say “anything and everything that someone thinks is suspicious.” General Richard B. Myers, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave a speech on May 11, 2004, and said JPEN was

relatively cheap; it was also off-the-shelf software that was modified. It was born Joint from the beginning. It took 90 days to get from the idea to a prototype and another 60 days to get 30 bases and headquarters equipped. NORTHCOM operates it. I think we need to continue that type of information sharing outside the military; it’s got to go beyond just military installations.

On the day after Meyers made this comment, he told the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations the Northcom JPEN “network provides the means to share unclassified force protection information rapidly between military installations in the Continental United States, increasing their situational awareness and security significantly. Although currently operating only on military installations, JPEN has the potential to be expanded to share terrorist information with Federal, State and local agencies as well.”

As noted above, the Pentagon and the NSA are more interested in monitoring antiwar and peace groups than actual terrorists. The fact Northcom is running a domestic “threat assessment” database populated with data on antiwar activists should send up a big time red flag. This is particularly ominous considering the deployment of a Iraq battle hardened brigade domestically.

It now appears the the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security — and we can only assume local law enforcement as well, as Meyers suggested back in 2006 — are sharing a “threat assessment” and terrorist database. How long before actionable information is passed down to the brigade level?

Hopefully, the ACLU’s FIOA will turn up more information on the emerging police state control grid going online. Unfortunately, we are but one “terrorist event” away from this system being used to identify, track, trace, and round up the opposition. If we are to believe Joe Biden, Colin Powell, and Madelaine Albright, this event may happen as soon as the end of January, 2009.

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11 Responses to “ACLU Files FOIA On Brigade Deployed in U.S.”

"C" Says:
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:10 am
The ACLU is all about: ‘double-speak; double-think!’
The ACLU speaks with a “forked-tounge!”
mimartech Says:
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:31 am
I agree with americafirst and the duplicitous nature of the ACLU. However, this announcement has given me an opportunity to present the take over info to friends who have their heads stuck up Obama’s rear and trust the ACLU. “If the ACLU is talking about a military take over, then it must be true” type of crowd.
reptile Says:
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:13 am
You know the more “survalence” the more “threats” slip by. More and more people are waking up with every violation of our rights. Thw NWO is caught between moving to fast, giving away their position, or letting us go.
rich Says:
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:35 am
i have no use for the aclu, but this is going to be an interesting reply to their foi request. most likely it will be all blacked out except for an adverb, noun, adjective here and there. yea, its bad like the article implies that the gov is more interested in checking on anti-war peace groups instead of real terrorists !!!!!!!!!

goldieshouse.piczo.com

youtube.com/goldieshome
ACLU RulesWh Says:
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:53 am
What is the matter with you guys? The ACLU loves commies? I hate the ACLU? Give me one good reason to be against the ACLU. It is the American Civil Liberties Union, a bunch of lawyers looking out for violations of your civil liberties. How can you be against that?
ECTOENDOMEZO Says:
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 am
Frankly..ANYONE..opposed to the ACLU..is a GODDAMN FOOL! PERIOD!

As a post above mentions…that organization is the ONLY one..the ONLY ONE…loking out for ALL speach…and ALL civil liberties..even for idiots that ould have LONG ago lost those rights in the ever more slippery….”slippery slope”….anyine…ANYONE..who say’s that the ACLU is “commie” or that they have “no use” for the the ACLU…again…WHAT A FUCKING IDIOT!

The funny thing is..ONLY…ONLY..ONLY..the ACLU would actually PROTECT..free of charge…THOSE fools rights…even if they were..are..openly opposed to that protection…which again…is so bizarre..it frankly..defies all reason..

“….I don’t got’s NO use fer no Civil Liberties…civil liberties is fer commies an liberals…an i don want no commies aroun muh town…and i don wan no rights either…just what are these ‘rights’ anyway? bunch o’ commie boolsheeit’s whad i thunk…guhar…har..splut!…spfawww! nguhhh!”

Yeah..you haev ‘no use ” for the ACLU until they are efending your idiotic politics and your rights to those politics..WITHOUT prejudice…Jeezis CHRIST what the fuck is wrong with the “citizens’ of this nation…??? HOW can they have become so damn STUPID?? I mean I expect the (reducing the size of government?!?) takeover of the public school system with ‘every child left behind’ to produce a generation of MILITARIZED FOOLS..who not only do not KNOW that they have “rights” but have no ability to ARGUE the point either..but these comments are almost CERTAINLY coming from PRE-No Child Left behind schools…SO? WHY? Why are they so ignorant as to believe that a group like the ACLU is…in this day and age..not only NECESSARY…but..VITAL..perhaps even the only reason for some of the “rights’ we still have???? how could some thing so…BASIC…escape the…”logic” of …ANYONE????

Confrontation..this is the “politics” of these idiots…too lazy even to put their money where their mouths are and stop paying for their own demise…oh..right..whops..i almost forgot…they don’t HAVE ANY USE FOR “RIGHTS” OR THE PROTECTION OF THOSE RIGHTS…WHY WOULD ANYONE..FOR GARSH SAKES…WANT TO SUPPORT A GROUP THAT PROTECTS THEIR RIGHTS? GEE WHIZ..THAT’S SO..’LIBERAL’…AS OPPOSED TO WHAT? IF “CONSERVATIVE” HAS COME TO MEAN THAT YOU SAY WHATEVER YOU FEEL IS NECESSARY TO “WIN” POWER..AND YOU HAVE NO VALUES..AND YOU CANNOT EVEN VALUE A GROUP THAT PROTECTS THE ‘FREEDOMS” THAT THEY LOVE TO GO ON AND ON ABOUT…AS IN “THEY HATE US FOR OUR FREEDOM”..WELL…WHAT DOES “CONSERVATIVE” MEAN?…DOES IT…BY CHANE…MEAN THE..OPPOSITE..OF..’FREEDOM??? COULD IT BE? HMMM..ME THINKS IT DOES…”CONSERVATIVE’ MEANS…ARROGANT FOOL…TOO SELFISH AND IGNORANT TO EVEN RECOGNIZE A GIFT HORSE…TO BE ABLE VEN..TO ACCEPT A GROUPS POLITICS..((UHH..ISN’T THAT ‘FREEDOM’..THE RIGHT TO BELIEVE WHAT YOU CHOOSE????)) IF THAT GROUP IS …WELL..SIMPLY…”SPUN” AS “LIBERAL” I MEAN IT IS TO TH POINT THAT A “CONSERVATIVE” CAN ALMOST BE RELIED UPON…ON A CLEAR BLUE-SKY DAY…TO SAY THAT “NO..THE SKY IS NOT BLUE..” IF IT WAS A “LIBERAL” WHO MENTIONED THAT IT WAS IN FACT A NICE DAY WITH CLEAR BLUE SKIES….THEY ARE SIMPLY GOING TO TAKE THE OPPOSING VIE WHATEVER IT IS…EVEN IF IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE…THESE IDIOTS ARE THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO WILL ACCEPT A POLTICIAN SAYING..’NO..THAT PHOTO OF ME IS NOT A PHOTO OF ME..’ IF THAT ‘POLITICIAN’ IS A “CONSERVATIVE” TO LABOR THE POINT…THEY WILL SAY..DO…OR SUPPORT…ANY..ANY..ANY..’POSITION’ AS LONG AS IT MEETS ONLY ONE….ONE SIMPLE..VERY SIMPLE…FOR SIMPLETONS……CRITERIA…THAT IT IS THE MOST CONFRONTATIONAL POSTION POSSIBLE..FACTS? FUCK THAT! TRUTH? FUCK THAT……CONFLICT? OOOOH-AAAAHHHHHH…YEAH..WE WANT CONFLICT…AND THESE IDIOTS WILL SIT THEE…AND SAY…’WE ARE UNTIED NOT DEVIDED..”…WHILE THEY TAILGATE THE PERSON IN FRONT OF THEM…IN FACT…YUO COULD SAY..THEY HAVE THE POLITCS OF THE FREEWAY OF A MAJOR URBAN NIGHTMARE…STUPID SIMPLE AGGRESSION….AN NOTHING MORE…

AND THEY WILL DESTROY THIS NATION…..AND THEN….BLAME OTHERS…IT IS THEIR WAY…IT IS THEIR HISTORY….IT IS THE TRUTH…PERIOD…!
Info-Warlord Says:
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:47 am
The ACLU did defend the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA), but I guess thier on the right side this time.
Lorenzo Thomas Says:
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
“They want a fascist planet with the superwealthy ruling it all
Since we’re too independent, America must be led to fall
When our credit’s been exhausted to subdue the Middle East,
They’ll install our debtor nation in the body of The Beast
Traitor…Dare call it treason”

–The Cornbread Mafia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw5dP5gy2Vs
Ma Justice Says:
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Why is the ACLU duplicitous?? Here’s your answer:
http://cohenreport.blogspot.co.....again.html

Pay *special attention* to Cohen’s Commentary at the bottom… that should give you an idea and a little window into their mentality. There is nothing like a so-called “jew” telling it like it is: their *stated goals* are to own all media, manipulate the public and dumb them (us) down with constant propaganda, destroy Christianity, destroy the family unit and encourage lawlessness and promiscuity. In their own words they HATE Christ and all Christians (as well as all “goyim” – which are all people who are not self-identified “jews”).

If you have time look at his other blog entries and look up his organization as well.
Ma Justice Says:
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:00 pm
By the way, pay very close attention to the comments at the end of Cohen’s blog entry – and HIS responses. Very eye-opening, indeed.
Take Back the US Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:55 am
Come to Costa Rica-Be part of a movement of people who want to escape the rate race and be part of a change in conciousness. No military, clean food, clean water, kind people, amazing natural beauty, and the chance to be free. Centuryfortuna@ice.co.cr