When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Saturday, December 01, 2001
John Ashcroft wants to take another bite out of our civil liberties with a plan to lift the 30-year old restrictions on the FBI's ability to spy on political and other groups in the U.S. when there is no probable cause to suspect a crime.
Even senior FBI officials disagree with him on this and other steps the administration has taken.
Ashcroft, instead of defending his move contents himself with criticizing the critics.
" Some have sought to condemn us with faulty facts or without facts at all. Others have simply rushed to judgment, almost eagerly assuming the worst of their government before they've had a chance to understand it at its best" --John Ashcroft, in NY TImes 12-01-01
The funny thing is, some of the top officials in the FBI itself are saying the same thing about Ashcroft - that he jumped in without facts, in a rush to judgment, that he did not properly explore proposals.
Senior career F.B.I. officials complained that they had not been consulted about the proposed change — a criticism they have expressed about other Bush administration counterterrorism measures. When the Justice Department decided to use military tribunals to try accused terrorists, and to interview thousands of Muslim men in the United States, the officials said they were not consulted.
...
several senior career officials at the F.B.I. said it would be a serious mistake to weaken the guidelines, and they were upset that the department had not clearly described the proposed changes.
"People are furious right now — very, very angry," one of them said. "They just assume they [the Justice Dept.] know everything. When you don't consult with anybody, it sends the message that you assume you know everything. And they don't know everything" (NY TImes)
FBI officials have also taken issue with the arrests of foreign nationals, allegedly because they represent security risks. This is mostly nonsense, and even the FBI is saying so. When Americans have been treated like this in foreign countries in the past we have been outraged. Twelve hundered security risks? no, more like 12, and even for them, the evidence is shaky, admit FBI officials.
See today's NY Times for moredetails: (you have to register, but it's free) Ashcroft Seeking to Free F.B.I. to Spy on Groups
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
Another bite
John Ashcroft wants to take another bite out of our civil liberties with a plan to lift the 30-year old restrictions on the FBI's ability to spy on political and other groups in the U.S. when there is no probable cause to suspect a crime.
Even senior FBI officials disagree with him on this and other steps the administration has taken.
Ashcroft, instead of defending his move contents himself with criticizing the critics.
" Some have sought to condemn us with faulty facts or without facts at all. Others have simply rushed to judgment, almost eagerly assuming the worst of their government before they've had a chance to understand it at its best" --John Ashcroft, in NY TImes 12-01-01
The funny thing is, some of the top officials in the FBI itself are saying the same thing about Ashcroft - that he jumped in without facts, in a rush to judgment, that he did not properly explore proposals.
Senior career F.B.I. officials complained that they had not been consulted about the proposed change — a criticism they have expressed about other Bush administration counterterrorism measures. When the Justice Department decided to use military tribunals to try accused terrorists, and to interview thousands of Muslim men in the United States, the officials said they were not consulted.
...
several senior career officials at the F.B.I. said it would be a serious mistake to weaken the guidelines, and they were upset that the department had not clearly described the proposed changes.
"People are furious right now — very, very angry," one of them said. "They just assume they [the Justice Dept.] know everything. When you don't consult with anybody, it sends the message that you assume you know everything. And they don't know everything" (NY TImes)
FBI officials have also taken issue with the arrests of foreign nationals, allegedly because they represent security risks. This is mostly nonsense, and even the FBI is saying so. When Americans have been treated like this in foreign countries in the past we have been outraged. Twelve hundered security risks? no, more like 12, and even for them, the evidence is shaky, admit FBI officials.
See today's NY Times for moredetails: (you have to register, but it's free) Ashcroft Seeking to Free F.B.I. to Spy on Groups
Palema
7:03 AM
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Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
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