← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Centinel
Thread ID: 4855 | Posts: 10 | Started: 2003-02-08
2003-02-08 00:44 | User Profile
From The Associated Press, available online at: [url=http://www.austin360.com/aas/news/ap/ap_story.html/National/AP.V7791.AP-Anti-Terror-Law.html]http://www.austin360.com/aas/news/ap/ap_st...Terror-Law.html[/url]
Expansion of Patriot Act Criticized
By CURT ANDERSON Associated Press Writer February 7, 2003
WASHINGTON (AP)--The Justice Department is preparing to expand the 2001 Patriot Act to increase surveillance within the United States while restricting access to information and limiting judicial review, a nonprofit government watchdog group asserted Friday.
The Center for Public Integrity said it obtained a copy of the draft legislation from a government source. The document, labeled ``confidential,'' was posted Friday on the organization's Internet site along with an analysis.
Justice Department officials said no final decisions have made on any such legislation, and it could change substantially before it is completed. Spokeswoman Barbara Comstock acknowledged the department is ``continually considering anti-terrorism measures and would be derelict if we were not doing so.''
``The department's deliberations are always undertaken with the strongest commitment to our Constitution and civil liberties,'' she added.
The original Patriot Act, passed by Congress in the weeks following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, gave the government broad new anti-terrorism powers to use wiretaps, electronic and computer eavesdropping, searches and the authority to obtain a wide range of other information in it's investigations. It also broke down the traditional wall between FBI investigators and intelligence agents.
According to the Center for Public Integrity, the draft expansion of the Patriot Act would be called the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003.
Among other things, it would prohibit disclosure of information regarding people detained as terrorist suspects and prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from distributing ``worst-case scenario'' information to the public about a nearby private company's use of chemicals.
In addition, the measure would create a DNA database of ``suspected terrorists;'' force suspects to prove why they should be released on bail, rather than have the prosecution prove why they should be held; and allow the deportation of U.S. citizens who become members of or help terrorist groups.
``It really is a broadening and a deepening of the government's powers,'' said Charles Lewis, executive director of the Center for Public Integrity.
Congressional aides said they had not been consulted by the Justice Department on the development of such a bill and department officials say it has not been transmitted to Capitol Hill. However, several aids have said they considered it likely that the Bush administration would propose some changes this year.
Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said the legislation ``turns the Bill of Rights completely on its head.''
This draft bill constitutes yet another egregious blow to our citizens' civil liberties,'' Conyers said.Among other things, the Bush administration now wants to imprison suspects before they are tried and create DNA databases of lawful residents who have committed no crime.''
Associated Press writer Jesse Holland contributed to this report.
On the Net: Center for Public Integrity: [url=http://www.publicintegrity.org]http://www.publicintegrity.org[/url]
Justice Department: [url=http://www.usdoj.gov]http://www.usdoj.gov[/url]
2003-02-08 00:47 | User Profile
From Reuters, available online at: [url=http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=2192053]http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=...storyID=2192053[/url]
U.S. Considers New Anti-Terrorism Legislation
Fri February 7, 2003 07:32 PM ET By James Vicini
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department, which won broad new powers after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to eavesdrop and detain immigrants, is drafting legislation that would authorize the creation of a terrorist identification database, department officials said on Friday.
They said the proposals, which already have been criticized by civil liberties groups, also would limit the disclosure of certain information and allow pretrial detention of people suspected of terrorist activity without bail.
The officials said the proposals, still in draft form and called the Security Enhancement Act of 2003, would require congressional approval. They said the proposals remain under active discussion, but final measures were not imminent.
The American Civil Liberties Union denounced the draft legislation, warning it would harm civil liberties.
"The initial USA Patriot Act undercut many of the traditional checks and balances on government power -- the new ... proposal threatens to fundamentally alter the constitutional protections that allow us to be both safe and free," said Gregory Nojeim of the civil liberties group.
Justice Department spokeswoman Barbara Comstock said Justice Department employees have not presented any final proposals to Attorney General John Ashcroft or to the White House.
"During our internal deliberations, many ideas are considered, some are discarded and new ideas emerge in the process along with numerous discussion drafts," she said.
"The department's deliberations are always undertaken with the strongest commitment to our Constitution and civil liberties," Comstock said in a statement.
The draft legislation, first disclosed by the Washington-based Center for Public Integrity, includes the following provisions, according to the officials:
-- further limit public disclosure of information relating to terrorism investigations by enhancing the Justice Department's ability to deny requests to get the data through the Freedom of Information Act;
-- set up a DNA database that would include people associated with suspected terrorist groups and noncitizens suspected of certain crimes or who have supported "terrorist" groups;
-- terminate state law enforcement decrees -- originally put in place to stop police spying abuses -- that limit the amount of information police can gather about individuals and organizations;
-- Allow pretrial detention without bail for people suspected of terrorist activity;
-- Allow for the expatriation of American citizens who were proven to have wanted to relinquish their nationality and becomes a member of or provides material support to a group designated by the United States as a "terrorist organization."
Less than six weeks after the hijacked plane attacks, President Bush signed the Patriot Act of 2001. The bill enhances the ability of the federal government to tap phones, share intelligence information, track Internet usage, e-mails and cell phones and protect U.S. borders.
2003-02-08 00:53 | User Profile
Well Jorge II is working hard to build his new MKVD!
2003-02-08 02:46 | User Profile
- Allow for the expatriation of American citizens who were proven to have wanted to relinquish their nationality and becomes a member of or provides material support to a group designated by the United States as a "terrorist organization." Don't suppose this means we can "expatriate' all the d@mned JEWS to Israel!? <_<
Jes' wishful thinking.....
2003-02-08 02:55 | User Profile
> - Allow for the expatriation of American citizens who were proven to have wanted to relinquish their nationality and becomes a member of or provides material support to a group designated by the United States as a "terrorist organization." **
Don't suppose this means we can "expatriate' all the d@mned JEWS to Israel!?
Jes' wishful thinking.....**
Theoretically, does this mean that a native-born American citizen could be deported to a country they've never actually visited? Talk about surreal.
2003-02-08 03:36 | User Profile
Originally posted by Centinel@Feb 7 2003, 22:55 ** > > ÃÂ - Allow for the expatriation of American citizens who were proven to have wanted to relinquish their nationality and becomes a member of or provides material support to a group designated by the United States as a "terrorist organization." **
Don't suppose this means we can "expatriate' all the d@mned JEWS to Israel!?
Jes' wishful thinking.....**
Theoretically, does this mean that a native-born American citizen could be deported to a country they've never actually visited? Talk about surreal. **
I interpret this passage to mean that the U.S. government wants to be able to turn Americans (even native-born ones like us here) over to the Israeli Mossad for interrogation, since the Mossad can use "persuasive techniques" that the U.S. is forbidden to employ.
2003-02-08 04:40 | User Profile
It's clearer than ever that Boosh, Ashcroft and their dogs are truly evil. I'm reminded of what William Seward said to a protester during the War of Northern Aggression: "Do you see that little bell there on my desk? I have only to ring it to put you in a place where you will never hear the dogs howl - and if you say just one more word, I will."
2003-02-08 05:16 | User Profile
From the "Center for Public Integrity" news release: "Assistant Attorney General for Legal Policy Viet Dinh,who was the principal author of the first Patriot Act..."
2003-02-08 05:33 | User Profile
He probably wasn't the real author, but he is used to rub our noses in it, to show us we have to bow down to all of our non-white overlords, along with licking the boots of Jorge and crew and their never mentioned Zionist string-pulling supervisors. Congoleeza Rice, Michelle Malkin, Viet Dinh ... it's a nefarious dog and pony show. All designed for maximum psychological impact on the sheeple.
2003-02-09 01:03 | User Profile
PaleoconAvatar,
You may be Right.
I interpret this passage to mean that the U.S. government wants to be able to turn Americans (even native-born ones like us here) over to the Israeli Mossad for interrogation, since the Mossad can use "persuasive techniques" that the U.S. is forbidden to employ.