*cough*
Posted on 05/08/2012 12:39:51 PM PDT by Theoria
U.S. Air Force policy permits the incidental collection of domestic imagery by unmanned aerial systems (drones), but ordinarily would not allow targeted surveillance of a U.S. person. The Air Force policy was restated in a newly reissued instruction on oversight of Air Force intelligence.
“Air Force Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operations, exercise and training missions will not conduct nonconsensual surveillance on specifically identified US persons, unless expressly approved by the Secretary of Defense, consistent with US law and regulations,” the instruction stated.
On the other hand, “Collected imagery may incidentally include US persons or private property without consent.”
“Collecting information on specific targets inside the US raises policy and legal concerns that require careful consideration, analysis and coordination with legal counsel. Therefore, Air Force components should use domestic imagery only when there is a justifiable need to do so, and then only IAW [in accordance with] EO 12333, the National Security Act of 1947, as amended, DoD 5240.1-R, and this instruction,” it said.
Legally valid requirements for domestic imagery, the instruction said, include surveillance of natural disasters, environmental studies, system testing and training, and also counterintelligence and security-related vulnerability assessments. Air Force units are authorized to acquire domestic commercial imagery for such validated purposes.
However, “Air Force intelligence components must not conduct or give the appearance of conducting collection, exploitation or dissemination of commercial imagery or imagery associated products for other than approved mission purposes.” See “Oversight of Intelligence Activities,” Air Force Instruction 14-104, April 23, 2012.
Another new Air Force Instruction deals with the basic operation of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems in domestic and foreign environments. Among other things, it recommends caution in the use of non-uniformed personnel in conducting drone combat missions.
“To ensure the noncombatant status of civilians and contractors is not jeopardized, commanders shall consult with their servicing judge advocate office for guidance before using civilian or contractor personnel in combat operations or other missions involving direct participation in hostilities,” the instruction advised. See “Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations,” Air Force Instruction 11-502, volume 3, April 26, 2012.
In its new mark of the FY2013 defense authorization bill, the House Armed Services Committee is proposing to provide the Air Force with even more money than it requested for its Predator and Reaper drone programs. See “Congress Funds Killer Drones the Air Force Says It Can’t Handle” by Spencer Ackerman, Wired Danger Room, May 7, 2012.
“We’re going off the proper path.”
We’ve been *in the weeds* for a longer time now, than most people even realize.
When you fight long, low-intensity wars, soldiers are forced to be cops, and eventually cops act like soldiers.
“Three Block War” —you’re picturing Somalia in your mind, right? Psshaw...!
Think darkly, and behold the truth.
Where were they REALLY planning for?
blah blah blah fvcking blah.
So....this means they WILL conduct CONSEQUENTIAL surveillance on specifically identified US persons! This is Fed-speak to the maximum.
Nutjob list?
Oh, THAT old thing?
It was SO old, they just threw it out.
May God give us strength.
Tatt
Next up: Google Drone View
Time to paint a Huge U.S. Flag on the roof.
Don’t do that. You’re making yourself a target. I wish that was sarcasm. :0(
See my tag line .....
These azzhats can go to he!!.
It get weirder and weirder. A surveillance state - not America - is what we are getting.
When is everyone going to realize that the FedGov will eventually see those that believe in the constitution as the terrorists? They have already published it. Janet Napolitano believes it. The idea is being spread through the bureaucracy. We have to stop thinking the “security state” is our friend - it is our worst enemy. This is not America of 50 years ago. This is a whole new animal that has grown in it’s place. The FedGov has to be clipped down to size, we have to stop enabling it - believing it is all for our “safety,” or America will resemble some soviet hellhole shortly.
The days of tin foil hats are over....
They were right all the time!
INCIDENTAL??? My backside!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.