Comments on: Secret police try to seize library records, order [REDACTED] to keep quiet

By: Gonzales told about national security letter violations - Homeland Stupidity

Gonzales told about national security letter violations - Homeland Stupidity — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 05:50:34 +0000

[...] Frontier Foundation after a Freedom of Information Act request, showed that the FBI used a national security letter and obtained information it was not supposed to [...]

By: “Life in the surveillance state” - Homeland Stupidity

“Life in the surveillance state” - Homeland Stupidity — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 06:41:42 +0000

[...] One of the victims, an owner of an Internet service provider who challenged the national security letters in court, has had a letter published anonymously in the Washington Post. In a heading appearing before the letter, the Post explained that while the author would have preferred to be named, the FBI still insists on maintaining its gag order over the person. Living under the gag order has been stressful and surreal. Under the threat of criminal prosecution, I must hide all aspects of my involvement in the case — including the mere fact that I received an NSL — from my colleagues, my family and my friends. When I meet with my attorneys I cannot tell my girlfriend where I am going or where I have been. I hide any papers related to the case in a place where she will not look. When clients and friends ask me whether I am the one challenging the constitutionality of the NSL statute, I have no choice but to look them in the eye and lie. [...]

By: PATRIOT Act reauthorization up for final vote - Homeland Security or Homeland Stupidity

Wed, 04 Jan 2006 05:11:50 +0000

[...] Indeed, the bill actually makes some PATRIOT powers worse. For example, even though the Washington Post recently revealed widespread abuse of the “National Security Letter” (NSL) power to secretly demand records of tens of thousands of ordinary Americans, the bill actually strengthens this power by adding new criminal penalties for NSL recipients who speak out about their experience. [...]

By: Homeland Security tells Muslims to register before flying - Homeland Security or Homeland Stupidity

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 07:45:34 +0000

[...] You mean such as national security letters? [...]

By: FBI defends use of national security letters - Homeland Security or Homeland Stupidity

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 07:13:00 +0000

[...] FBI defends use of national security letters By: IO ERROR Posted: November 6, 2005 2:54 pm The FBI has routinely used national security letters to obtain vast amounts of data on innocent Americans, which then gets shared with other federal agencies, according to today’s Washington Post.I first brought you this story back in August, when the FBI served a national security letter on an unidentified library system. The Post identified the library system in question today. The FBI came calling in Windsor, Conn., this summer with a document marked for delivery by hand. On Matianuk Avenue, across from the tennis courts, two special agents found their man. They gave George Christian the letter, which warned him to tell no one, ever, what it said. [...]

By: Has America become fascist? The 14 defining characteristics of fascism - IO ERROR

Sun, 28 Aug 2005 01:12:23 +0000

[...] Obsession with Crime and Punishment – Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations. [...]

By: Mark J

Mark J — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 09:00:57 +0000

Gotta love the “licking the door handle” approach to preventing terror. “Oh yeah? Well not if we attack our freedoms first! There! What’re you gonna do now, huh? Now it’s already ruined!”