FBI plans to interview Florida Muslims ahead of election

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Fri, Oct. 08, 2004

FBI plans to interview Florida Muslims ahead of election
Associated Press


ORLANDO, Fla. - Arab-Americans and Muslims in Florida are questioning the FBI's latest plan to interview people nationwide to uncover possible terrorist plots that could disrupt the presidential election next month.

For the past week, FBI officials have held meetings across Florida with Islamic community leaders to explain a July directive from FBI Director Robert Mueller to seek new information about suspicious activity ahead of the Nov. 2 election.
(snip)

FBI officials said the questioning was not in response to any specific threat and wouldn't focus on only Muslims or Arab-Americans. For example, federal agents plan to question people who may store chemicals or explosive materials or operate rental businesses, said Sara Oates, an FBI spokeswoman in Tampa.

"We have done this before, and we're going to have to do this as many times before in order to prevent a terrorist attack," Oates said.

"The intent is not to influence the elections. It's to keep the nation under the democratic process," Oates said. "Our interest is to make sure that we don't have an incident because of not getting some information and not being able to prevent an attack."
(snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/9865899.htm

[displacedtexan]

1. Is Jeb that despicable?

Would he really sacrifice the people of Florida for a fake election terrorist attack?

That's the first thing I thought of when I read that story.

A Florida attack would divert our attention from BBV vote manipulation in other states, wouldn't it?

Those of us screaming about full and fare elections in Iraq and Afghanistan would be hard pressed to accept a Rumsfeld Not-So-Perfect election, wouldn't we?

[Arancaytar]

2. "to keep the nation under the *democratic* process,"

Amazing, that these people still dare to use the word democratic. Have they no shame?

[havocmom]

3. Voter intimidation; isn't that a felony

Sounds like that is what's going on here.

[Dem2theMax]

4. "FBI officials said the questioning was not in response...

...to any specific threat" blah blah blah. If I hear that sentence one more time I'm going to :nuke: explode.

And of course I heard it today in regard to the 'not in response to any specific threat' warning about our public schools.
Sure, let's scare the crap out of our kids while we get the 'security moms' :puke: all riled up (read 'vote for * or the terra rists will get your kids.) Double :puke:

I am really trying to figure out how I could go to bed one night and wake up the next morning in a totally different country. WHAT the hell happened to America? I could swear I didn't move, but I'm sure as heck not living in the country of my birth anymore.

If this weren't so blatantly untrue, I could 'almost' fall on the floor laughing at it. "The intent is not to influence the elections. It's to keep the nation under the democratic process," Oates said. "Our interest is to make sure that we don't have an incident because of not getting some information and not being able to prevent an attack."

I LIVE for the day when this country will be under the DEMOCRATIC process.

In the meantime, if you have seen this country - 'The United States of America' - please call your local Democratic National Committee and let them know where it can be found. Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT call any Republican, FBI office or the White House.


Hi Agent Mike. :hi:

[booksenkatz]

5. FBI sure wasn't interested when the terrorist was a white Xian

I don't recall the FBI hounding the white Xian community after the OKC bombing, do you?

[kayell]

6. It's starting - this is a big part of the October Plan

FBI field offices and Homeland Security agencies will be advised of "extraordinary measures" that will go into place "beginning the first week of October through the elections."

An internal e-mail advisory to supervisory agents this week from the FBI's "'04 Threat Task Force" said the purpose of the counter-offensive is "to foster the impression that law enforcement is focused on individuals who may be a threat."

Specifically, the plan calls for "aggressive - even obvious - surveillance" techniques to be used on a short list of people suspected of being terrorist sympathizers, but who have not committed a crime. Other "persons of interest," including their family members, may also be brought in for questioning, one source said. "

snip

The bureau also knows it can expect to be criticized for the strategy if it goes too far. One element of the plan calls for addressing what some officials fears could be a wave of protests from Arab-Americans and civil libertarians once the so-called "October Plan" kicks off.

See my sig for the link

[izzie]

7. I once had them come to my home and ask about the man next door.

The guy left laughing as I would not tell him one thing. He ended up saying you must be from NE as they will never say a thing. I was in the South at the time. The man next door was a Capt. in the air force and I figured the FBI should know all they needed to know for him to fly a plane in Vietnam. What could I tell them? Maybe that he did not mow his lawn or cut his roses right? It was silly but the FBI talked to every one around his home.The FBI guy kept saying I had to talk to him and the more he said that the madder I got. What law states I must talk to the FBI about the man next door? I have never read that law.

[dqueue]

8. Why ???

Why the hell don't they do something useful, like interview Diebold, the Florida Elections Commission? Instead, they're throwing up smoke screens to scare the people into staying home, rather than prosecuting the real criminals...

[saigon68]

9. kick