Matthew Rothschild: Bush's Secret Army of Snoops and Snitches

[babylonsister]

Bush's Secret Army of Snoops and Snitches

By Matthew Rothschild, The Progressive. Posted July 9, 2008.

A new class of everyday spies, from paramedics to utility workers, are being recruited to be "terrorism liason officers."


The full scale of Bush's assault on our civil liberties may not be known until years after he's left office.

At the moment, all we can do is get glimpses here or there of what's going on.

And the latest one to come to my attention is the dispatching of police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and utility workers as so-called "terrorism liaison officers," according to a report by Bruce Finley in the Denver Post.

They are entrusted with hunting for "suspicious activity," and then they report their findings, which end up in secret government databases.

What constitutes "suspicious activity," of course, is in the eye of the beholder. But a draft Justice Department memo on the subject says that such things as "taking photos of no apparent aesthetic value" or "making notes" could constitute suspicious activity, Finley wrote.

The states where this is going on include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.

Dozens more are planning to do so, Finley reports.

more...

http://www.alternet.org/rights/90829/

[grasswire]

1. read the comments

First comment:

In Munich in late 1920, Hitler created the Ordnertruppen, a body of ex-soldiers and beer hall brawlers in order to protect gatherings of the Nazi party from disruptions from Social Democrats and Communists. On November 4, 1921 the Nazi party held a large public meeting in the Munich Hofbräuhaus. After Hitler had spoken for some time the meeting erupted into a melee in which a small company of Ordnertruppen distinguished itself by thrashing the opposition. The Nazis called this event "Saalschlacht" (meeting hall battle). After this the organization came to be called the SA. From April 1924 until late February 1925 the SA was known as the Frontbann to avoid the temporary ban on the Nazi party. The SA carried out numerous acts of violence against socialist groups throughout the 1920s, typically in minor street-fights called Zusammenstöße ('collisions'). As the Nazis went from an extremist political party in the turbulent times of 1920's Germany to the unquestioned government of the nation, the SA was no longer needed for its original purpose. After Hitler took power in 1933, the SA became increasingly eager for power and saw themselves as the replacement for the German army. This angered the regular army (Reichswehr) who already resented the Nazi party. It also led to tension with other leaders within the party who saw Röhm's increasingly powerful SA as a threat to their own personal ambitions. I guess if you're going fascist, go all the way.

[babylonsister]

3. I hadn't read the comments so thanks for the heads-up.

Germany in the 30s was my first thought, too. I didn't realize how the volunteers became part of the 'establishment' then. That's scary. This whole concept that's now being carried out is.

[grasswire]

4. wow, look at this comment

For myself, I figure may as well Internalize and Integrate all this and make it all more Efficient: I'll spy on myself in all places and at all times and in all contexts. I am training myself (disciplining) in a completely rationalized and perfect and excellent way to prepare, on a regular basis, a Report which I'll submit to the Police on a weekly basis, complete with bullet-ed items in their order of significance to the Stasis of the State and an analysis of potential threats to Utter Stability and Continuity.

This week for instance I Reported that myself, together with several other like-minded and loyal members of my Cell conspired together and proceeded to carry out an Action. We agreed to meet at an assigned place and time, known only to us, this place being known as the I-HOP on Elm and Mission St. wherein we would daringly and in full zealous and ideological purity participate in ordering the employees of such place to bring before us, post-haste, a hearty and full breakfast. We coerced them to follow to the letter and under the penalty of non-payment and thus a threat to their continued existence to provide such breakfast in the exact and precise way as demanded and commanded by us.

Given the fact that we are such a disciplined and organized force in these endeavors, I figured these qualities we shared together constitue a potential threat to the over-all Security of the United States of America, since these qualities we exhibited in this Action may just well be put to use for OTHER purposes, such as composing letters to Editors and Congressmen and such expressing our opinions on the significance of Breakfast, its Safety and Stability and Position in the Scheme of maintaining complete and efficient management of approved daily activities of the population.

If each one of us simply integrates and absorbs this habit of spying on ourselves, it will not only save immense and tedious labors in recruiting others to do it for us, but it will go a long, long way to creating this Totally Pure, Totally Efficient, Totally Rational Self-sustaining Law and Order that constitutes The Homeland. After a bit of practice, it'll all just be "second-Nature". A bit of Training, a bit of Discipline, a bit of Coaching and Practice, and soon each one of us will be able to say, always and forever and in all places: L'Etat c'est Moi. Exact and Perfect Life, Exact and Perfect Liberty, and Exact and Perfect precise ways and means in the Pursuit of Happiness.

Save them all this trouble; spy on yourself and Report, on a Regular Basis to your Authorities. No aspect of your Personality or Activities is beyond Scrutiny; each is a Potential Threat and thus must be at all times presented to those who ARE (and not only "Represent") Law, Order and Security. They, themselves, are exempt. Why? Because they said so.

Report that you might dis-agree. This threatens Stasis, and they need to Know so as to contain and if necessary snuff-out such potentials. This is your Duty, as a member of The Homeland.

A Fuehrer can take many forms, as can Thousand Year Reichs... .

Arise, Volk! And Report to your Father-land. Your partisanship to Pancakes may not be wholesome and may disrupt the standing determination that the Best and Most Healthful and Purifying nutrition for the American Body consists of a cup of yogurt, a slice of dry whole-wheat toast and fruit of your choice (you HAVE Free Choice!!). Serve The Homeland and fulfill your Destiny. Carry out your Duty to the State: spy on yourself and Report. A Good American can only be this way... all the way.

[babylonsister]

5. Whoever wrote that had his tongue planted firmly

in his cheek, probably to keep from screaming in frustration that this is happening in this country.
But I have no doubt there are some people who would get off on this additional 'power' granted to them, and would carry out their duties diligently. Those are the ones I'd be afraid of.

[BB1]

6. 4th rec. It rewminded me of some dead Russian poets.

And other things I know about the former Sovjet Union. One out of every four people worked for the secret service. Great way to get to know your neighbours.

Combined with the internal camps in the US, the wartalk with Iran, the plunge of the dollar, the scam of the millennium, the dumbest prez in history and the general lack of objectivity within the US government, I think it will be a hot summer and a cold winter.

Oh, and I forget. What's that Prez Directive in which * states he can declare Martial Law in case of an emergency? Iran is quickly becoming a new Golf of Tonkin. Get ready to show your ID to a Blackwater representative while commuting to your slave-workplace.

It was nice knowing you, United States of America. Goodbye, and thanks for the films.

[grasswire]

2. when will they add shrinks and clergy to the "watchers"?

How long before they refuse to license professionals who will not spy on citizens?

[Demeter]

7. Like Living In a Co-op of Post-Menopausal, Economically Strapped Women

which is what I do for real.

House Rules, anyone?

[OhioChick]

8. K&R

:kick: