US enlists citizens in anti-terrorism strategy

[jakeXT]

Source: AFP

NEW YORK — A top US domestic security chief announced Wednesday a strategy to make ordinary citizens the first line of defense against an increasingly multi-faceted terrorist threat.

"For too long, we've treated the public as a liability to be protected rather than an asset in our nation's collective security," Janet Napolitano, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said in a speech in New York.

"This approach, unfortunately, has allowed confusion, anxiety and fear to linger."

Napolitano, who also announced an extra 78 million dollars in anti-terrorism funding for 15 mass transit systems nationwide, said modern communications had increased the sophistication of threats since the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j0iDP29v8HayIawDmx2FGNbla3Jw

[PSPS]

1. This must be more of that U-bama changiness thingy

Napolitano even called on children to join an effort previously shouldered by police and other security services.

"There's actually an important role we can play in educating even our very young about watching for, and knowing what to do, if you're in an airport and you see a package left with no one around," she said.

However, she stressed she was not advocating "a culture of spying on one another."

She insisted that President Barack Obama's administration was committed to repairing the erosion of civil liberties that took place under his predecessor, George W. Bush.

I guess if she proclaims this isn't the same thing the bush cabal's "TIPS" program, then it's OK! Let's all become spies and inform on our neighbors!

[Downwinder]

2. The minute Men worked so well for her in Arizona, get them all over. n/t

[Zhade]

12. She's a straight-up LIAR with that "repairing" comment. HE LET CRIMINALS WALK!

NT!

[Amos Moses]

3. Let me guess, we're supposed to "remain vigilant".

DANGER LURKS!

[Ian David]

4. Join The Night Watch!

One Step away from Nightwatch

So I was a big fan of the science fiction TV series Babylon 5. It was created by and for fans of written science fiction, and it didn't shy from social and political criticism.

One continuing plot involved the rise of authoritarianism in "EarthGov". Securitiy guards as well as ordinary citizens were recruited by an organization called "Nightwatch". In order to ensure the "security" of humanity, Nightwatch encouraged its members to report any suspicious activities of their fellow citizens. They'd put up posters saying things like "TRAITORS CAN'T HIDE". And so forth.

I watched this stuff back in the mid-90s... I remember thinking, "It never hurts to repeat these warnings against totalitarianism... After all, my parents went through a lot of these types of things. But still.. This seems a bit heavy-handed and unnecessary in our modern democracy. I can't really imagine this sort of thing happening again any time soon. After all, we've learned our lesson from McCarthyism and all that."

Ha!

<snip>

More:
http://subjunctive.net/klog/2003/09/middle_class_familie/
Posted on September 11, 2003

[jakeXT]

9. correct link

http://subjunctive.net/klog/2003/09/one_step_away_from_n/

[Ian David]

10. thanks. n/t

[IndianaGreen]

15. Stalin's block surveillance committees

Under the pretext of spying to protect us from terrorism, it will soon evolve into another spying on Americans engaged in First Amendment activities.

[dipsydoodle]

5. I suppose you do realise

that is more or less how the Gestapo functioned - watch your neighbours and report any signs of mental disorders , being gay, either looking Jewish or showing sympathy towards Jews..................

Apparently it was a popular secondary occupation with most librarians.

Watch your backs !

edit - missed a comma out.....doh.

[Robb]

6. Ooo! Godwin's law in 5!

:D

[dipsydoodle]

7. Indeed

but it is however an exact historic comparison of how things happen almost without notice.

[jakeXT]

8. reminds me of STASI

The MfS infiltrated almost every aspect of GDR life. In the mid-1980s, a network of IMs began growing in both German states; by the time East Germany collapsed in 1989, the MfS employed 91,015 employees and 173,081 informants.<20> About one of every 63 East Germans collaborated with the MfS – one of the most extensive police infiltrations of a society in history. In 2007 an article in BBC stated that "Some calculations have concluded that in East Germany there was one informer to every seven citizens."<21> Additionally, MfS agents infiltrated and undermined West Germany's government and spy agencies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stasi

[No Elephants]

11. Not only the Gestapo. The KGB, too. Children turned in their parents.

That is what I thought of as soon as I started reading the OP. Then I saw the line about even children having a role.

*Shudder*

[QC]

24. Ah yes, Pavlik Morozov, the Child Hero of the Soviet Union!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlik_Morozov

[Zhade]

13. "Change"

NT!

[Tim01]

20. Eh, not so much. nt

[chrisa]

14. This is a stupid idea.

[ShamelessHussy]

16. TIA: The gestapo like program, resurected?

http://www.information-retrieval.info/docs/IAO-logo-stmt.html :rofl:

[QC]

25. It was only bad when Bush did it.

Now that our guy is doing it, it's OK.

[ShamelessHussy]

17. delete

http://www.information-retrieval.info/docs/IAO-logo-stmt.html :rofl:

[TheWatcher]

18. "Oh, their spying was bad, but ours will be much nicer and done correctly."

Yes, they really DO Think you are THAT Stupid.

I don't NEED this Criminal Government to keep me safe.

I'm more interested in WHAT is going to keep me safe from THEM.

[IndianaGreen]

23. Unlike Cheney, Obama will use KY Jelly for our dose of BOHICA

The real problem and threat here is the huge national security infrastructure that has been growing since day one of the Cold War, which we started.

The American people will have to seize their own government and clean house from top to bottom if we are to restore the Republic our Founding Fathers envisioned.

[jakeXT]

26. I'm surprised it was unreced a couple of times

[Tim01]

27. Yeah, that's kind of odd.

Do you suppose it was people so loyal to Obaba they don't want to hear this kind of thing? That's the only reason I can think of.

[Tim01]

19. It's for the good of the fatherland.

I really was very hopeful that the Bush-corp big brother citizen control type crap would not increase under Obamas administration.
Silly me.

[The abyss]

21. I am impressed!

<>

<>

[rug]

22. I can't wait.