Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Spies r'our neighbors? Well, snitches, anyhow...
In Nazi Germany, the domestic security agencies were very small. Almost everything they acted upon came from tips—informers. We know they’re unreliable. But busts look good when the Feebs go for more funding, whether or not the people they bust are actually guilty of anything.
Onward, Christian soldiers, and while you’re at it, better learn German.
The FBI's Domestic Spying
07.25.07 -- 2:01PM
By David Kurtz
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/015815.php
Justin Rood reports:
The FBI is taking cues from the CIA to recruit thousands of covert informants in the United States as part of a sprawling effort to boost its intelligence capabilities.
According to a recent unclassified report to Congress, the FBI expects its informants to provide secrets about possible terrorists and foreign spies, although some may also be expected to aid with criminal investigations, in the tradition of law enforcement confidential informants. The FBI did not respond to requests for comment on this story.
The FBI said the push was driven by a 2004 directive from President Bush ordering the bureau to improve its counterterrorism efforts by boosting its human intelligence capabilities.
The aggressive push for more secret informants appears to be part of a new effort to grow its intelligence and counterterrorism efforts. Other recent proposals include expanding its collection and analysis of data on U.S. persons, retaining years' worth of Americans' phone records and even increasing so-called "black bag" secret entry operations.
Just the sort of thing you would want Alberto Gonzales ultimately in charge of.
Onward, Christian soldiers, and while you’re at it, better learn German.
The FBI's Domestic Spying
07.25.07 -- 2:01PM
By David Kurtz
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/015815.php
Justin Rood reports:
The FBI is taking cues from the CIA to recruit thousands of covert informants in the United States as part of a sprawling effort to boost its intelligence capabilities.
According to a recent unclassified report to Congress, the FBI expects its informants to provide secrets about possible terrorists and foreign spies, although some may also be expected to aid with criminal investigations, in the tradition of law enforcement confidential informants. The FBI did not respond to requests for comment on this story.
The FBI said the push was driven by a 2004 directive from President Bush ordering the bureau to improve its counterterrorism efforts by boosting its human intelligence capabilities.
The aggressive push for more secret informants appears to be part of a new effort to grow its intelligence and counterterrorism efforts. Other recent proposals include expanding its collection and analysis of data on U.S. persons, retaining years' worth of Americans' phone records and even increasing so-called "black bag" secret entry operations.
Just the sort of thing you would want Alberto Gonzales ultimately in charge of.
