Washblog || Who's Watching you Now?

Who's Watching you Now?

By The Left Shue
Sun Jan 14, 2007 at 11:44:01 AM PST
Section: Stories In Progress Topic: Rants

Imagine that you are the branch manager of the Wells Fargo Bank on 75th and Evergreen Way in Everett, Washington and you receive the following letter:

Dear Mr. Smith:

As part of an ongoing investigation, the United States Army Counterintelligence Unit is currently investigating a Mr. Chad Shue, SN#123-45-6789; an account holder with your financial institution. At this time we request that you provide this agency with all financial records and correspondence between Mr. Shue and your institution to cover the period 01-01-2001 through 12/31/2006.

Due to the sensitive nature of this investigation we further request that your compliance with this investigation be kept in strictest confidence.

Sincerely,

Lewis J. Carroll
Major General, USA
Adjutant General,
Counterintelligence Unit
The Pentagon
Washington DC

What would you do?

According to an article in the New York Times, "Military Is Expanding Its Intelligence Role in U.S." this very thing is happening more and more since 9-11-2001. The article notes that, while the FBI and the CIA (to a lesser degree) routinely send these "national security letters" to financial institutions, "... it was not previously known, even to some senior counterterrorism officials, that the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency have been using their own "noncompulsory" versions of the letters. Congress has rejected several attempts by the two agencies since 2001 for authority to issue mandatory letters, in part because of concerns about the dangers of expanding their role in domestic spying..." " Government lawyers say the legal authority for the Pentagon and the C.I.A. to use national security letters in gathering domestic records dates back nearly three decades and, by their reading, was strengthened by the antiterrorism law known as the USA Patriot Act." However the article continues, "There's a strong tradition of not using our military for domestic law enforcement," said Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker, a former general counsel at both the National Security Agency and the C.I.A. who is the dean at the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific. "They're moving into territory where historically they have not been authorized or presumed to be operating." By the way, the Patriot Act does not specifically mention military intelligence or C.I.A. officials in connection with the national security letters.

As if this is not disturbing enough the Times reports that, even though most of the data gathered does not lead investigators to any criminal activity, " In the next year, they plan to incorporate the records into a database at the Counterintelligence Field Activity office at the Pentagon to track possible threats against the military, Pentagon officials said." "...Officials at the Pentagon's counterintelligence unit say they plan to incorporate those records into a database, called Portico, on intelligence leads."

At a time when people are questioning Congress's constitutional obligations and authority to control the actions of the Commander in Chief and the military during times of conflict, I think that one of the most critical items to be addressed has got to be the extent that the government, via its numerous agencies, may continue to gather data on its citizens.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

< Nathe Lawver wins chair race in Pierce County | Read this ... then tell me why Lt. Watada is mistaken. >

Who's Watching you Now? | 4 comments (4 topical)

I assume "they're" watching

And really don't let it change my behavior. I suppose I should get a lawyer on retainer :)

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sun Jan 14, 2007 at 01:00:52 PM PST

* 1 none 0 *

If they're not watching you--

--then you probably aren't doing anything very effective. Take it as a compliment. If it ever gets to the point of a knock on the door at midnight, that's a whole 'nother ball game.

by eridani on Sun Jan 14, 2007 at 11:22:45 PM PST

* 2 none 0 *

If it comes to that by The Left Shue, 01/15/2007 06:54:14 AM PST (none / 0)

Dr. Evil Speaks

In a follow-up to this story, Dick Cheney, appearing on "Faux News Sunday" gave the following interpretation of "voluntary" and "non-compulsary" in regard to the "national security letters" issued by the Pentagon to financial institutions:

""There's nothing wrong with it or illegal," Mr. Cheney said. "It doesn't violate people's civil rights. And if an institution that receives one of these national security letters disagrees with it, they're free to go to court to try to stop its execution."" Amazing.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

by The Left Shue on Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 07:46:06 AM PST

* 4 none 0 *

Who's Watching you Now? | 4 comments (4 topical)

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