Vera Katz extends a new welcome mat for the city of Portland

Lars Larson ^

[SAMWolf]

Portland police have rejected U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft's request for help in questioning thousands of young Middle Eastern men because the interviews likely would violate state law, the bureau's acting police chief said Tuesday.

Andrew Kirkland, an assistant police chief who is in charge of the Portland Police Bureau while Chief Mark Kroeker is on vacation this week, said the bureau was immediately troubled by the request when it arrived late last week.

Ashcroft has announced a plan to interview 5,000 men on an FBI list as part of the nation's developing anti-terrorism efforts. But Kirkland said the federal government's multiple-page document on the plan and a list of 200 men in the Portland area contained "no specific information" about crimes for which they might be suspected.

"It was fairly general," Kirkland said, "and some of the things it asked of us we questioned if we could do them or if we wanted to do them."

Without giving details, Kirkland said he, Kroeker and city attorneys were concerned the request violated Oregon law prohibiting local police from questioning immigrants when there is no evidence they are connected to a crime and foreign citizenship is the only issue.

"You can't use personnel and equipment just to go out and randomly interview people solely on immigration," Kirkland said. Portland's is the only police department known to have refused to cooperate with Ashcroft's request for assistance in questioning people in an attempt to gather more information in the nation's intensifying terrorism investigation.

Because of the length of the national list, and Ashcroft's desire to complete the interviews within 30 days, the attorney general sees the help of local police departments as crucial.

Kirkland said he had heard that police departments in Ann Arbor, Mich., and Tucson, Ariz., were beginning to raise similar concerns.

Michael Mosman, the U.S. attorney for Oregon, said he wasn't concerned about the Police Bureau's decision and that other law enforcement agencies in the state "are more than willing to help." He added that he is confident the plan doesn't violate any state or federal laws.

Not all of the men on the list are from the Middle East and none is a suspected terrorist, Mosman said. "They're not people with a criminal history," he said. "As far as we know, every one of them is here lawfully and engaging in lawful lives... They didn't get on the list because of race or ethnicity."

When asked how they wound up on an anti-terrorism list, Mosman said they had come to the United States in the past two years on tourism, student and business visas from countries with terrorist links.

He said the effort was tantamount to a traffic officer arriving to the scene of a car wreck and attempting to interview everyone standing around. "We are interviewing a number of people nationwide just to get more information," he said.

Portland's decision, he said, was "a tempest in a teapot," especially since the bureau is actively involved with other efforts to fight terrorism.

Kirkland said he was personally concerned that a city with a growing immigrant population might view the interviews as racial profiling. But the decision, ultimately, was based on "troubles with (Ashcroft's) directive," he said.

Mayor Vera Katz had not seen the request, yet was aware of the bureau decision, calling it "a wise one." "I do have a concern when we're asked to do something that violates state law," she said.

[Grampa Dave]

We have too many of the homeless with some very dangerous pit bulls on our streets. About once a quarter, one of these dogs bites/attacks some one or kills their dogs in an un provoked attack!

Ask you household insurance company about their policies if you own a pit bull! Those policies are based on attacks on people and other dogs!

[Grampa Dave]

Actually, I think that is the university in Madison and their socialist cops. See WIMom's posts here on this thread!

[contessa machiaveli]

the mayor should be ashamed of herself to go along with this idiocy, but maybe it's a good thing for the rest of the country. all the little islamic terrorists will hightail it to portland and leave us alone. i wonder if a muslim mayor would be so hospitable to jews.

[afraidfortherepublic]

From the Portland Convention Center Calendar for New Years Eve:

Arabic Concert/New Years Eve Party Mon Dec 31 - Jan 1, 2002

Show Dates & Times:
December 31, 2001 8:00pm

Ticket Prices:
$118.50 includes premium seating and dinner
$78.00 does not include dinner

Tickets available at all Ticketmaster Outlets (including GI Joes and selected Fred Meyer stores) or by calling Ticketmaster at (503) 224-4400.

Music will be provided by Fadi Hanania and The Arabian Knights. Dinner package includes a sit down 3-course steak dinner scheduled to be served beginning at 9:30pm.

[blackie]

I don't burn wood, the house is all electric, fireplace has an insert that's never been used and I capped the chimney...
No one wearing a gas mask had better show up at my door, he'll get a 12 ga shoved up his nose...
Gotta watch out for those terrorist's wearing a disguise... {:~)

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

The Right Of The People To Keep And Bear Arms Shall Not Be Infringed !!

An Armed Citizen, Is A Safe Citizen !!

No Guns, No Rights !!

Molon Labe !!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Kirkland said he was personally concerned that a city with a growing immigrant population might view the interviews as racial profiling. But the decision, ultimately, was based on "troubles with (Ashcroft's) directive," he said.

More political correctness from the useful idiots.

[Grampa Dave]

Isn't this an absolute kick. Only reality can beat fiction. I posted this on a link last night to SamWolf, (Guess who is coming for New Years's at the Portland Convention Center?)

Thanks for posting this"

From the Portland Convention Center Calendar for New Years Eve:

Arabic Concert/New Years Eve Party Mon Dec 31 - Jan 1, 2002 Show Dates & Times: December 31, 2001 8:00pm

Ticket Prices: $118.50 includes premium seating and dinner $78.00 does not include dinner

Tickets available at all Ticketmaster Outlets (including GI Joes and selected Fred Meyer stores) or by calling Ticketmaster at (503) 224-4400.

Music will be provided by Fadi Hanania and The Arabian Knights. Dinner package includes a sit down 3-course steak dinner scheduled to be served beginning at 9:30pm.

Makes you wonder if those potential terrorists that Katz is protecting, will be the featured guests on New Year's Eve at the Portland Convention Center?"

No Folks! We are not making this up!

[blackie]

I like living in a smaller and slower place than those you've mentioned, they remind me of the Bay Area: too many people and too much traffic...

I haven't been to Vegas since '58, when the TOC in golf was won by Mike Souchak... {:~)

[batter]

Thanks! Love the graphic. Vera is a true idiot.

[gundog]

I don't burn wood, the house is all electric.

I think that this is LRAPA's tacit goal. Burning trees for heat...how barbaric. :) I think Ira confines his activities to areas that are gun-free...most of Eugene, I'm sure.

[Redcloak]

One word: Burqa.

[gundog]

I don't presently have a Pit, but when I did, he was very well behaved, and heavily supervised. Most dog problems are people problems. I don't know if I'll get another...as much trouble to raise as triplets.

[Grampa Dave]

Vera Katz is a left wing socialist. Left wing socialists are never ashamed of what they do and the damage to others they cause. Is Clintoon sorry about 9/11 due to his 8 years. No, he blames you and I for slaves that we never owned.

So never expect shame or apologies from left wingers like Katz! Their dna does not allow that emotion or for them to ever tell the truth!

[glock rocks]

all the little islamic terrorists will hightail it to portland and leave us alone.

for the first few seconds following reading this article, that was my impression.
sorta similar to my two rottweilers... the burglars will find easier pickins elsewhere...
well then, i thought back about atta in florida... and he blew up new york.

we aren't safe anywhere with these vermin around.
(and we need to let the fbi flush out the terrorists, too.)

[Grampa Dave]

Yeah, they can stay and be protected in Portland. Then go rent a car and drive and kill and maim innocents. Or they can fly, then rent a car to kill and maim innocents. This why we can't allow sanctuaries for these scum bags to exist in America or any place in the world!

If there is more terrorism and violence against innocent Americans, and the terrorists can be traced to a terror friendly place like Portland. Bloody hell will break out as people take these scum bag left wingers to answer to God for sheltering these terrorists/killers!

[glock rocks]

and the terrorists can be traced to a terror friendly place like Portland.

behold... the xlinton legacy.

deny. deny. deny. it's for the childr... um, diversity. (read cash flow).

[blackie]

"I think that this is LRAPA's tacit goal. Burning trees for heat...how barbaric. :) I think Ira confines his activities to areas that are gun-free...most of Eugene, I'm sure."

There are many homes in Eugene that burn wood in the fire place; my neighbor has smoke coming from his all (during winter) the time, the only smoke you see from my place is the barbecue and I use it year round, too lazy to stack wood, etc...
He's a democrat and he owns almost as many guns as I do and is a member of the NRA and hates enviro-nazis...
His being a demo has something to do with the railroad workers union...
He, his wife and three sons all have concealed carry permits.

There are many Lane County residents who are guns owners, just because the liberal wacko, enviro-nazis get all the ink, they don't speak for everyone.

Rush Limbaugh has the most listeners in his time slot than anyone else.
US Congressional (Eugene is in) District #4 voted for GWB....

[Snow Bunny]

FallGuy, my husband is a city kind of person. I grew up in the country and for me the perfect place is some place with country roads, one store, one gas station etc.Like up on top of a mountain and go to town once a month for supplies. That would be perfect living to me.

FallGuy would never survive living so much in the country like that.

You must live in a great place. Thank you for your post my friend.

[WaterDragon]

Grampa Dave, I sent a letter to her saying exactly that, except that they'll be sued individually and the cities they work for will be sued as well. Nothing gets a taxpayer's attention like seeing his money blatantly wasted by the pols. He remembers such things at voting time.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for taking your time to write to these bozos. I wish that I had your confidence in the average joe tax payer. I see to often the demonicRats getting by with looting the tax system and most people just say, "What can I do about it?"

However when you look these bureaucrats right in the eyes or send them email or snail and say, "If anyone in my family is hurt or killed due to your protection of potential killers, I will sue your a$$ in civil court. The final touch after 9/11 is to say, "Any jury outside of Portland will see it my way. The trial will not be in Portland!" "When the trial is over, I will own everything you own and will own in your life!"

That makes it personal. They know that good citizens will be coming after them personally in civil courts not the city of Portland. You don't care if their net assets are only $50,000 or up to millions. You will go after their assets! Liberals get by doing what they do by avoiding personal consequences for their actions! 9/11 has changed the rules of the game. They will be held responsible!