Washblog

AMENDMENT intended to be proposed by Ms. Cantwell

Viz:
At the end of title VIII, add the following:

SEC. 8109. No funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense by this Act may be obligated or expended for the collection, storage, or analysis of information on United States citizens who pose no threat to the military or its facilities, including United States citizens taking part in non-violent activities protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States related to protests against United States Government policy on Iraq.

Here is additional background information on the TALON program and the ACLU's work on the issue:

Talon Background: In Dec. 2005, the media reported that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has increased intelligence collection within the U.S. since Sept 11, 2001 and even gathered information about U.S. anti-war groups and protests. The Threat and Local Observation Notice (TALON) system was initiated in 2003 by former Deputy Sec. of Defense Wolfowitz to track groups and individuals with possible links to terrorism. Information has been collected by DoD personnel and included in a database maintained by the Counterintelligence Field Activity. The database is officially used to document and analyze information about potential threats to DoD installations and personnel in the U.S. According to media reports, Talon information has also been shared with and used by intelligence and law enforcement agencies. NBC obtained documents showing that Talon reports have included details about U.S. anti-war groups, protests, and meetings. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Government misused intelligence agencies to conduct surveillance of anti-war protestors. It led to reform of intelligence laws.  

ACLU: In Feb. -  Mar. 2006, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and its affiliates in states including WA, filed multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)  requests on Talon. The ACLU of WA filed requests on behalf of itself and 11 peace organizations: the American Friends Service Committee,   Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane, People for Peace, Justice, and Healing, Pierce County Truth in Recruiting, Raging Grannies, Seattle Peace Chorus,   Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War, United for Peace in Pierce County, Vancouver for Peace, Yakima Valley Peace Advocates Network, and the Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation. The ACLU of WA indicates that previously disclosed files show that the FBI and other federal agencies monitored nonviolent peace groups in WA during the 2003 Seafair Festival.   In June 2006, the ACLU and affiliates in Florida, Georgia, Maine, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and WA filed a federal lawsuit to force DoD to turn over Talon records.