Department of Defense lists 6 Catholic-school students as terrorist threats

KTUU ^ | January 9, 2005 | Angela Unruh

[NYer]

Anchorage, Alaska - It was 16 months ago, near Fort Greely, Alaska, when six students gathered to protest the missile site. What they didn't know was that the government listed them as a potential terrorist threat.

The students from Vanier Catholic Secondary School and their chaperones were placed on a threat-index list by the U.S. Department of Defense. The secret 400-page document was leaked to NBC News and lists 1,500 suspicious incidents over a 10-month period.

Armed with placards and slogans, the students made the trip to Delta Junction in September 2004 to protest the deployment of interceptor missiles at Fort Greely. Students were surprised to hear they were on the list.

But the threat was eventually discounted because it was determined to be a “peaceful protest.”

[NYer]

Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[Viet Vet in Augusta GA]

However, they should be listed in the Idiots Roster.

[Sloth]

Non-news.

[icwhatudo]

Realizing they are following in the footsteps of other like minded protestors who think hitting missle silo's with hammers is a good idea...I think its smart to make sure they are nowhere near any ordinance being transported.

[theDentist]

But the threat was eventually discounted because it was determined to be a “peaceful protest.”

IN other words, until the authorities were sure these kids weren't going to attempt to break into the base for nefarious reasons, they were treated accordingly. Sounds fine to me.

[television is just wrong]

note: Muslims can attend catholic school just as anyone else.

Local catholic high school had an article a few years back advertising a muslim student who was a 'star' basketball player.

[Lokibob]

"The secret 400-page document was leaked to NBC News and lists 1,500 suspicious incidents over a 10-month period."

There is the real terrorist threat!!!

[Publius6961]

Let's see.
Either this is faux news created to get us used to a constant stream of leaks, or a sorry attempt at satire...

Either way, it is lame.

[Mcirrus]

"However, they should be listed in the Idiots Roster."

I can see the merit in not wanting one near your home. It would be a potential target... while at the same time it might also be a potential lifesaver. If they were simply protesting the proximity of the missle base that's understandable. If they're protesting the missle base in general, that's just stupid.

[xzins]

This is a non-story.

So what that a protester outside a military installation is listed as a potential threat? That SHOULD be happening.

When they get checked out and are found to be harmless, then the gov't dropped any concern.

[Joe 6-pack]

"The secret 400-page document was leaked to NBC News and lists 1,500 suspicious incidents over a 10-month period."

There is the real terrorist threat!!!"

Yes, but the threat posed by NBC is already well known.

[moog]

Like other posters, I wonder about this story too. I wonder what they did with the names of the Catholic High School students who led an anti-war demonstration here.

[Romulus]

IN other words, until the authorities were sure these kids weren't going to attempt to break into the base for nefarious reasons, they were treated accordingly. Sounds fine to me.

In other words, in your ideal Security State, we're all guilty till proven innocent. You disgust me.

[Little Ray]

Good. Never let 'em fly again.

[theDentist]

We are at war. People have broken into bases before to sabotage weapons in their protests. The mil need to be sure if someone is a threat or not when they'll be right at their gates.

You're walking down the street. You hear a bunch of teens 10 steps behind you, loud and boisterous, and directing comments at you. Do they mean you harm?

[Steve_Seattle]

"IN other words, until the authorities were sure these kids weren't going to attempt to break into the base for nefarious reasons, they were treated accordingly. Sounds fine to me."

Precisely. In recent years, there have been numerous incidents in which Catholic - and other - protestors have attempted to illegally enter military installations with the intent to disrupt activities. The government would be negligent if it made no attempt to monitor these protests to assess whether there is intent to illegally gain access to military installations. Once the assessment is made that there is no threat or intent of disruption, the suspected individuals are removed from the list. There is no story here.

[theDentist]

Well, according to Romulus, we're all wrong on this.

[Steve_Seattle]

"In other words, in your ideal Security State, we're all guilty till proven innocent. You disgust me."

Guilty? Who was arrested? Who was jailed? Who was tried? Who was convicted? No one. You need to be more precise in your language. There have been many incidents in which protestors have attempted to gain illegal access to military installations; the government is just protecting the security of those installations by doing routine checks on people who present themselves at the gates without legitimate business.

[conservativewasp]

They should remain permanently listed