Obama's Military Is Spying on U.S. Peace Groups

[Cronopio]

Source: Huffington Post

Anti-war activists in Olympia, Wash., have exposed U.S. Army spying and infiltration of their groups, as well as intelligence gathering by the U.S. Air Force, the federal Capitol Police and the Coast Guard.

The infiltration appears to be in direct violation of the Posse Comitatus Act preventing U.S. military deployment for domestic law enforcement, and may strengthen congressional demands for a full-scale investigation of U.S. intelligence activities, like the Church Committee hearings of the 1970s.

Brendan Maslauskas Dunn asked the City of Olympia for documents or e-mails about communications between the Olympia police and the military relating to anarchists, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) or the Industrial Workers of the World (Dunn's union). Dunn received hundreds of documents. One e-mail contained reference to a "John J. Towery II," who activists discovered was the same person as their fellow activist "John Jacob."

Dunn told me: "John Jacob was actually a close friend of mine, so this week has been pretty difficult for me. He said he was an anarchist. He was really interested in SDS. He got involved with Port Militarization Resistance (PMR), with Iraq Vets Against the War. He was a kind person. He was a generous person. So it was really just a shock for me." ...

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-goodman/obamas-military-is-spying_b_246655.html

---

I don't necessarily agree with what "Obama's Military" implies, but that is the exact title of Amy's report.

[rollingrock]

1. Keep in mind

this is the Obama who's DOJ defended the Bush warrantless wiretapping.

and this is the guy who was supposed to be a Constitutional scholar? Scary!

[SammyWinstonJack]

15. +1

:thumbsup:

[napoleon_in_rags]

44. From somebody who lives in this neck of the woods, local politics:

I'm posting it as a response to you for visibility.

As I recall, our city council passed some ordinance blocking military (naval) vehicles from the Puget sound around here, which was kind of silly. But I think some nuclear submarine was supposed to come into the bay for people to see, this interfered. They overturned that and then some military thing was going on at the bay, but the local peace protesters tried to blockade it (this was late in Bushes term) and they were all arrested. After that and in to Obamas term, I've noticed more military vehicles flying over. Maybe unrelated, but part of me has always wondered if somebody in the military wanted to make a point. But that totally aside from that, the conflict between military and local peace protesters goes back to that, and that happened in Bush's term. I really don't think this is Obama's creation, which some people seem to be reading into the OP.

[ControlledDemolition]

61. 'Elections' are more and more becoming puppet shows. n/t

[frog92969]

2. I hope this one doesn't get swept under the carpet

I mean how lumpy can it get?

It's VERY hard to "look forward".:puke:

[booley]

3. he probably inherited this issue from Shrub

HOWEVER.... inherited or not it is now his.

He can fix it or do a another "look away" like he's done so far with torture.

Time will tell

[Swagman]

4. isn't it a bit too early to be blaming the current president for this ?

[natrat]

5. no, they have shown no signs of reversing course

not that it matters what we think anyway

[Zywiec]

13. Absolutely not. n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. When will it be time?

:shrug:

[ThomCat]

49. I swear apologists will still be asking that when Obama's administration

is preparing to leave office. :eyes:

[geek tragedy]

71. If people who insist on fairness to Obama are 'apologists'

doesn't that make you "Blame Obama First" people his political opponents and enemies?

Never mind. You believe every accusation against the guy that isn't mouthed by a Birther. Might as well debate John Kerry's medals with a Freeper.

[HamdenRice]

18. The infiltration happened in 2007. How is that "Obama's Military"? nt

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HamdenRice]

30. Where is the evidence this is continuing? There's zero evidence. Obama hatred is irrational.

Did you read/listen to the full story? This happened back in 2007. The reason the story came out now is because the Obama administration complied with a Freedom of Information Act request that allowed these people to find out they were being spied on.

Do you have any evidence this group is still being spied on? Any evidence that Obama even knows about this?

[quickesst]

48. Ha ha...

..."Do you have any evidence this group is still being spied on? Any evidence that Obama even knows about this?"

Look, it doesn't matter if this happened in 2007 under shrub's watch, and even if there is no proof that Obama is continuing the spying, he's president now, and that makes him culpable, and responsible. It's so easy to understand if you look at it from the perspective of someone who just cannot cope with having a winner in the white house. Damn that Obama for beating McShame. :sarcasm:

The stare right through you with glassed over eyes, and never registering result of your request is sadly, par for the course for many here. Thanks.
quickesst

[clixtox]

69. The way I read the story it was the Olympia Police...

not the federal government that complied with a request, I don't know why, to release their communications, included were these super-sensitive bits of information.

Obama's administration might get some credit for not litigating this release on some bogus pretext or another. Whoops, I guess not...

"Larry Hildes, an attorney representing Washington activists, says the U.S. attorney prosecuting the cases against them, Brian Kipnis, specifically instructed the Army not to hand over any information about its intelligence-gathering activities, despite a court order to do so." From the article cited in the original post.

Which is why Dunn's request to Olympia and the documents he obtained are so important. The military is supposed to be barred from deploying on U.S. soil, or from spying on citizens.
I do hope that if Obama wasn't aware of this particular situation before, he will be now. He may have not even known of this program before this news story or whether it is still extant now, or not. This is a perfect opportunity to make some fundamental changes including terminating ALL illegal domestic spying on American citizens.

Or not...

[geek tragedy]

36. Why can't you haters learn to read?

I triple dog dare you to quote the part of the interview where they talk about the spying that happened under Obama.

[ThomCat]

50. The issue is that it happened under bush

but Obama hasn't dismantled any of it. None of the surveillance powers have been disavowed, disowned or dismantled. Obama has retained the surveillance powers, and pushed for immunity for the telecom companies that cooperated in the spying (and might still be cooperating).

That is where Obama's involvement is. If Obama really was against spying he would come out and say he was against it. He would condemn it. And he would allow the means of spying to be revealed and dismantled. But he's doing none of those things.

You can't play dumb and insist that Obama is not involved in any way when he's embracing the means of spying on citizens and protecting the people who have done it.

[geek tragedy]

52. The accusation is that he is using the military

to spy on US citizens on US soil. That accusation is false and this thread us the usual Obama hating, Ron Paul humping nutjobs letting their overactive imaginations and paranoid fantasies get the better of them.

[ThomCat]

54. Now you are saying something completely different.

Saying that it happened under Bush, and it hasn't been proven that it's still happening under Obama, that's okay. That's based on known fact.

Saying that it ISN'T happening under Obama, that's not based on known fact. That's faith. Now you're just making things up. If you're going to slam people for supposedly making things up then you should stick to known facts.

It is known that Obama has not dismantled the means and methods of spying. It is known that Obama is protecting those who participated in the spying. It is suspected that he MIGHT be continuing the spying but there is no evidence yet of this. If you want to argue intelligently then present evidence that Obama is not or could not be spying. Present evidence that he is dismantling or intends to dismantle the means of spying on US citizens.

Otherwise you're just as much of a nutjob as you accuse others of being.

[geek tragedy]

56. Accusations must be based in fact. The accuser has the burden.

All that is known is that a Bushie US attorney who hasn't been replaced yet is mucking things up.

[ThomCat]

59. Everyone has a burden of fact.

Everyone should speak based on fact as much as we're able. Just because you're supporting someone doesn't mean you can spout fantasy based on faith.

And, yes, if a Bush attorney hasn't been replaced, then guess what. He's now an Obama attorney.

That doesn't change the need to speak based on facts.

[geek tragedy]

72. You treated an subsubstantiated smear against Obama

as a fact. So, yes, we 'apologists' will stand up to you leftwing Swiftboaters.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

60. You said it ThomCat. ...I love smart people. K&R

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ControlledDemolition]

62. With every new President the military should restate their oath to the constitution. n/t

[KG]

6. so much change to make believe in!

:woohoo:

[gimama]

53. YOU nailed it

...& I needed a smile!
This story, & the accused 7 "terra-ists" in NC story is really getting to me, today..
please ck. out www.cnn.com/crime , see the interview of Mrs. Boyd, her details, "the fbi tricked me", turns my stomach. And YES, these CRIMES happened under Pres. Obama.

[clixtox]

7. Olympia? Who would have thought!

If this is happening in Olympia, WA, what must be happening across the nation?

This information has huge implications.

The true nature of the hoax about our "rights" and "liberty" is becoming apparent to even the congenitally obtuse.

It's a police state, folks!

The government is horrified that the coming hard times will cause that ol' revolutionary spirit to manifest again...

The "government" means the super rich folks who actually run things through the politicians they own, or rent(cheap!) as needed.

Lumpy rug indeed!

[Senator]

8. Too Much Drama For Obama. (again)

He'll have to ask the Joint Chiefs to "make a determination" as to the feasibility of acknowledging this reality sometime next year. Or perhaps trumpet another (oxymoronic) "banning" order -- this time for something that's been a crime for 130 years.

Something like this could really distract from placing the optional fig leaf over the "public area" of our healthgraft system.

--

[MadHound]

9. Some more of that change we were all promised

Yep, changing from Bush to Nixon, mmm-hmm. I wonder when the enemies list will be drawn up, or perhaps it already is.

[geek tragedy]

41. Put up or shut up.

What spying activities happened under Obama. Quote from the interview please.

[L. Coyote]

10. Some people think Obama controls the goverment? LOL.

Panetta doesn't even know hat programs the CIA has running! Bush USAs are still in place. The list goes on.

Just because he took the oath has little to do with actually being in charge of the USG.

It is like a blind mouse trying to control an elephant with a giant R branded on it.

[Echo In Light]

11. Why is the US govt comprised of so many fascist cocksuckers?

...and why do passive Americans accept their fascist cocksuckery with such indifference?

[wuvuj]

14. Visualize lots of sheep...

...being guarded by herd dogs...ostensibly to protect them from the marauding wolves? The sheep have been constantly told that the dogs are there to protect them from the wolves....some sheep are having "hallucinations" where they can't really tell the guard dogs from the wolves. Some think that maybe the guard dogs and the wolves have some kind of agreement.

The top 1 to 5% are standing along the fences at the edge of the field...watching it all happen....dog biscuits at the ready...fleecing the sheep on a systematic basis. But the sheep like the grass and calm and raising lambs so well...what do they care? Except when they hear more scary stories about the wolves. But the top 1 to 5% are getting worried that their scam might be upset by the few sheep that are starting to wake up....and there might be problems with keeping the grass green...there might be just too many sheep...somebody might knock the fence down...some sheep might be on to their fleecing...

[flyarm]

21. very astute analogy wuvuj!!!! eom

[Echo In Light]

23. Apropos analogy

[cali]

34. why do fucking idiots try to pin something that happened under bush on Obama

stupid little sheep.

[clixtox]

66. Which "fucking idiots" are you referring to as "stupid little sheep"?

Everyone on this thread seems to understand the fact that this infiltration of a politically active group initially occurred during the Bush administration.

No one posting here, that I have noticed, has tried "to pin something that happened under Bush on Obama".

The issue now is whether such blatantly proscribed activities are still happening today, 6 months into the Obama presidential term.

Every freedom loving American, regardless of political party or perspective, has to be concerned.

Either we are a nation of laws, enforced and adjudicated regardless of any criteria except justice for all, or we are not.

That is the question.

[geek tragedy]

74. That's why they're saying Obama=Nixon.

That's why the title says "Obama's military is spying on peace groups."

[ControlledDemolition]

65. Hitler got into power with less than 35% of the popular vote. GWB swindled over 50%!

It's simply a question of.. 'dumb... and dumber'. But which is which?

[Orwellian_Ghost]

12. K&R

[HamdenRice]

17. How could it be "Obama's military" if this happened before he was elected? More lies

According to the DemocracyNow story, these groups were infiltrated IN 2007.

How was it "Obama's Miliary" in 2007?

[SunsetDreams]

19. +1

[Tim01]

20. Is it going on now? I guess that is the question.

You make a very good point.

[BuyingThyme]

26. Because he REFUSES to do anything about it.

[HamdenRice]

31. Any evidence of that? Because the DN story is that the Obama administration gave them FOIA documents

that enabled them to find out that they were being spied on. Sounds like contrary to the hysteria, the administration is doing something about it.

FOIA = Freedom of Information Act.

[BuyingThyme]

35. I don't give Obama credit for following the FOIA laws.

But I do blame him for his "looking ahead" crap because it's his job to look back.

The thing about crimes is that they've all happened in the past.

[HamdenRice]

38. So you admit you have no evidence this practice is continuing, but change the subject?

As I said, Obama hatred is mostly irrational.

[BuyingThyme]

42. If the law is not being enforced, it's being thwarted.

Your stance is not only irrational, but downright un-American.

Take that!

[clixtox]

75. Nope they didn't, the Olympia Police handed over their docs.

The feds were opposed, according to the article.

[TexasObserver]

22. Recommend

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cali]

32. piss off, honey.

and learn to read. this happened in 2007. oh and shove your "bunco obomber crap right back up the stinkin' orifice you pulled it out of.

alerted.

[newtothegame]

25. It's ok, his election made history. n/t

[Orwellian_Ghost]

27. Bump

[geek tragedy]

29. Obama-hating paranoid freaks should go back to Freeperville.

If you read the actual interview, there is no claim that any of this happened under the Obama admin or with his knowledge.

Good gawd this site draws all kind of Ron Paul-style militia loving nutters.

[cali]

33. it's fucking disgusting that this piece of stinking shit gets rec after rec

and no you little geniuses, I'm not saying that Obama is above criticism. This isn't criticism, it's calumny. Do try and learn the difference. Not that most of you have a clue as to what the word calumny means. Go look it up.

And calling Obama a swindler and murderer is just fucked up.

Sick little fucked up morons.

[BlooInBloo]

37. ^^^^^^^^ This.

[HamdenRice]

39. So, cali

Tell us how you REALLY feel.

:rofl:

[cali]

46. How I really feel? OK. I really feel that shit stains who post that Obama is a murderer should

do something unspeakable and horribly painful to themselves. I really feel that it reflects badly on DU that posts like that aren't deleted.
And I know that some little moron sheep leap to believe lying ass stories about Obama.

[redqueen]

40. Yes, it is.

And yes, they are.

[NNN0LHI]

55. If it isn't Ron Paul nutters it is Ralph Nader loonies

We can't win.

Don

[clixtox]

68. You betcha! Everything is wonderful, our government loves and respects us...

and only horrible people could believe otherwise.

After all, this is the greatest country of all time!

Bar none, now or ever, we're number one!

Go USA

Damn extremists, trying to undermine the two-party system that has created America, this absolute paradise on Earth.

Liberty and justice for all!!!

:sarcasm:

[geek tragedy]

43. Unrec and alert this garbage!!!!! nt

[leftstreet]

63. You would alert on an Amy Goodman article?

Is there a full moon tonight?

[geek tragedy]

73. Goodman lied in this article.

She is a propagandist with generally good stands on political issues.

[Becky72]

45. Not nice

If this practice doesn't start lawsuits might come their way.

[gimama]

47. disgusting misuse of resources

& further dessimation of OUR Constitutional Rights.
No surprise, tho, to my Friends in Veterans for PEACE or Vietnam Vets Against war.
FYi: also avail. at www.democracyNow.org

[Vidar]

51. K&R.

[fascisthunter]

57. yeah.. because peace is so threatening to war, and it's profits

[leftstreet]

64. K&R

[ConsAreLiars]

67. I first became aware of this Very Common Practice under Johnson and Nixon.

What has changed is not that some President, this one or any past one, has issued an order stopping this, but only that the police-state agencies -- city, state, FBI, CIA, NSA and the several DEA and so on -- have become ever more tightly integrated, most recently through the "fusion centers."

The suggestion that some sillies here make that Obama has suddenly put a stop to all this is one of those ludicrous claims that really requires more than a little bit of evidence, certainly at least some.

(edit to fix some punctuation stuff and add NSA to the very short list)

[armyowalgreens]

70. I'm not seeing a lot of hard evidence to support the idea that this happened under Obama's watch...

I'm not saying that it couldn't have happened. But this seems like a lot of hearsay and little fact.