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FBI agents rebel over new powers
London Observer ^ | Sunday December 2, 2001 | Ed Vulliamy in New York

Posted on 12/01/2001 8:12:17 PM PST by OKCSubmariner

The US Attorney General, John Ashcroft, was yesterday reported to be ready to relax restrictions on the FBI's powers to spy on religious and church-based political organisations.

His proposal, leaked to the New York Times, would loosen limits on the FBI's surveillance powers, imposed in the 1970s after the death of its founder J. Edgar Hoover.

The plan has caused outrage within the FBI itself with agents expected to act upon new surveillance powers describing themselves as 'very, very angry'.

The spying, wiretapping and surveillance campaign unleashed by Hoover against church and political groups was called 'Cointelpro', and was aimed mainly at the movement behind civil rights activist Martin Luther King, the Black Panthers, the anti-Vietnam war movement and, on the other wing, the Ku Klux Klan.

When the system was revealed, upon Hoover's death, restrictions were put on the security bureau, in the form of two sets of regulations pertaining to foreign-based and domestic groups. The rules forbade FBI agents from sending undercover agents into churches, synagogues or mosques unless they found 'probable cause or evidence' that someone in them had broken the law.

A Justice Department spokeswoman, Susan Dryden, said no final decision had been made on their reintroduction.

According to sources, the plan has caused a sharp rift within the department and the FBI. Ashcroft and the new FBI director, Robert Mueller, are pushing the plan eagerly, but there is strong opposition among officials inside both the bureau and the Justice Department.

Internal opposition to the plan will exacerbate an already fractious atmosphere in the FBI since President Bush took office.

Some agents told the New York Times that they considered any weakening of the guidelines 'a serious mistake', and that the Justice Department had 'not clearly described' the proposed changes. 'People are furious right now,' said one agent.

The changes would become part of what civil liberties groups regard as a dangerously changing legal landscape in the US: 1,200 people with connections to Islamic groups have been taken into custody, and Draconian security measures, such as wiretapping of lawyers, pushed through Congress.

Further plans are now afoot to seek out and interview some 5,000 immigrants, mostly Muslims, who have entered the US since January.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; News/Current Events
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To: MindBender26; Uncle Bill; Fred Mertz; roughrider; golitely; LSJohn; Judge Parker; Nita Nupress...
You wrote in reply #27 "...please do not post ....more stupid rumors about OKC. "

What I posted were facts about the OKC bombing that I know about very directly. Where have you been the past year, putting your head in the sand or are you also another apologist for corruption in the Federal government?

If you do not like what I post, then go read something else and stay off my article post threads. Do not waste everyone else's time with your stupid dribble on these threads.

41 posted on 12/01/2001 8:52:50 PM PST by OKCSubmariner
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To: OKCSubmariner
I think this response by LarryLied is a fitting response to this article

"Heck..as if we don't know. Bush is a NWO sell out. Bush and his family supported Lenin,Hitler, Pol Pot and Ted Kennedy (Barney Frank too but they don't like to talk about that).

The Bush family made Rush Limbaugh what he is today and the family rakes off 42.3% of the GROSS

Bush, Rush, Roger Ailes , Richard Melon Scaife, the Illumanti (who prefer that their names not be mentioned) and the Rockerfeller family met at their secret Manhatten lair on August 13th at 2:21 EDT and decided how they would divide up the world. Cheng Kai Kit, Ng Lap Seng waited the tables. Roger Tamaz was on drums. The centerpiece was, of course, the skull of John Lennon. Rush had his trusty aides dig up the skull earlier in the evening."

42 posted on 12/01/2001 8:53:07 PM PST by MJY1288
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To: Fred Mertz; OKCSubmariner
I'd say that's a natural reaction after the way radical mosques have abused their privileged position under the First Amendment. Can you suggest an alternative?
43 posted on 12/01/2001 8:53:42 PM PST by aristeides
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To: _Jim
We see you have the graveyard shift tonight. You're doing fine. Your handlers will be proud.
44 posted on 12/01/2001 8:54:03 PM PST by Fred Mertz
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To: _Jim
Do you have ANY other cliches??

Eaker

45 posted on 12/01/2001 8:55:07 PM PST by Eaker
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To: _Jim
What have we here? Another nutty, angry old man?

Naw, just one who don't like people who get great pleasure out of roasting people alive.  You do know who I'm talking about don't you BATF _JimYOU.

WarHawk42

46 posted on 12/01/2001 8:58:10 PM PST by WarHawk42
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To: aristeides
Can you suggest an alternative?

It's like they are making a big deal about the security folks at the airports. Dirty little secret: they did their job on September 11th.

This isn't about mosque wiretaps. It's about the failure of the feds to enforce existing immigrant rules.

We don't need any new stinking restrictions; enforce what's on the books.

47 posted on 12/01/2001 8:59:16 PM PST by Fred Mertz
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To: Fred Mertz; golitely; Uncle Bill
Have you noticed how many government disinformation diruptor slugs have crawled out of their holes on this thread tonight. They must really be touchy and desperate and very, very paranoid...

_Jim,MindBinder,MJY1288,ClintonEather,etc.

48 posted on 12/01/2001 8:59:16 PM PST by OKCSubmariner
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To: OKCSubmariner
Ignore the gov'mit disrupters and/or stupid...the fact is Bush has the potential to be the biggest NWO shill in history...but hey...he has a R next too his name.
49 posted on 12/01/2001 9:00:18 PM PST by alphadog
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To: OKCSubmariner
You call me paranoid????????? BRWWAAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAAA, you need to look in the mirror, that's is where you will find paranoia and disinformation
50 posted on 12/01/2001 9:03:41 PM PST by MJY1288
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To: OKCSubmariner; 2sheep
Yes, the disinfo slugs were here quick!
51 posted on 12/01/2001 9:06:02 PM PST by Fred Mertz
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To: OKCSubmariner
But, I will leave you to your conspiracy theories, have a great evening and try to get some sleep, if you can

Good night

52 posted on 12/01/2001 9:06:58 PM PST by MJY1288
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To: Fred Mertz
Yes, the disinfo slugs were here quick!

You would think they would have better things to do, like catching the terrorists in this country.  Oh oh, we are the terrorists according to the FBI.  We believe in the Constitution.

WarHawk42

53 posted on 12/01/2001 9:12:22 PM PST by WarHawk42
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To: MJY1288
May the idiots sleep tight.
54 posted on 12/01/2001 9:12:58 PM PST by alphadog
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To: F16Fighter
I know that. But there are people around here who can't figure it out. Thus, the widespread use of the </sarcasm> tag.

The same people squealing for civil liberties for terrorists now were out to lunch when the Clintons were using the FBI files and IRS audits to squelch their enemies.

55 posted on 12/01/2001 9:13:44 PM PST by Rubber Duckie
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Comment #56 Removed by Moderator

To: OKCSubmariner
I suspect that dissenters will be on the streets looking for new jobs.
57 posted on 12/01/2001 9:18:12 PM PST by Don Myers
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To: OKCSubmariner
I will not agree that President Bush sounds like or governs like Clinton. That is an insult to my intelligence.

I also will not pretend to know or understand all of the reasons things are being done as they are, for instance the OkC bombing. I do believe there were John Does involved, absolutely. But I don't know why Ashcroft would cover that up, IF he is. Neither does anyone else.

58 posted on 12/01/2001 9:18:25 PM PST by ladyinred
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To: Fred Mertz
It's about the failure of the feds to enforce existing immigrant rules.

And the states, and the cities, and the towns, and the schools and don't forget the Libs need their nannies...

The cry at a High School in Novato: "We don't need no stinkin' papers!"

And if a high school student thinks they need to be citizens to take advantage of our schools and hospitals and tax money and voting booths then the school authorties just stand back and let the illegals and their cohorts run amuck and gang up on the one that wants to uphold the laws of this Nation and attack him 5 to one...

Yes, Fred just like gun laws...if the current ones were inforced, no new ones are needed. Ditto immigration laws.

59 posted on 12/01/2001 9:19:01 PM PST by Syncro
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To: Lancey Howard
"Why would the FBI "spy on churches"?"

Do they mean Mosques?

60 posted on 12/01/2001 9:19:26 PM PST by Don Myers
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