FBI Tells Senate they want to grab PRIVATE documents

[Clio]

FBI asks Congress for power to seize (PRIVATE) documents

By Alan Elsner

Reuters

Tuesday, May 24, 2005; 6:53 PM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI on Tuesday asked the U.S. Congress for sweeping new powers to seize business or private records, ranging from medical information to book purchases, to investigate terrorism without first securing approval from a judge.

Valerie Caproni, FBI general counsel, told the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee her agency needed the power to issue what are known as administrative subpoenas to get information quickly about terrorist plots and the activities of foreign agents.

Civil liberties groups have complained the subpoenas, which would cover medical, tax, gun-purchase, book purchase, travel and other records and could be kept secret, would give the FBI too much power and could infringe on privacy and free speech.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/24/AR2005052400746.html

[Pockey]

I've always thought this type of thing was already happening now with echelon, and the carnivore or DCS1000 software, although I think they're abandoning DCS1000 with something newer.

[Nicodema]

I've known from the beginning that "terrorism" would be the big bugaboo word for the misuse and abuse of power, ever since all the post-9/11 propaganda about how the "world has changed now" and all that tommyrot. I wasn't fooled then and I'm not fooled now and I don't buy the garbage for one second. Neither does any other intelligent person; we KNOW what is going on here.

[Pockey]

Exactly. This is just hoop jumping.

[Nicodema]

Not to mention a convenient excuse for the erosion of any and all civil liberties, and an easy way to target any individual or group for any 'secret' reason whatsoever, without needing to be accountable to any other authority for their actions (and grotesque errors of judgment, too).

[Pockey]

Their thought processes and reasoning have so mutated that even laypersons, who further their cause by any means necessary, are deemed acceptable...i.e. the border patrol posse etc.

[wicklunds]

The thing they don't yet realize is that today it may seem justifiable and expedient for business, but tomorrow they will all be finger pointing at each other and then killing one another because of chaotic paranoia and subplots. Not long now until Ellen White and our Bibles will be deemed hate literature. Now there's an excuse to hide your religious literature.

[Clio]

Erhm... Dennis?

You are late. The Bible has already been deemed hate literature in two international treaties to which the US is a signatory. The only reason it is enforced in Canada, and not in the US, is because our Congress has not enforced it.

All it takes is a vote... and *snap* it will be enforced. Part of the reason Congress hasn't voted is because Bush refuses to accept the jurisdiction of the world court for the US. But that will to stand is fast eroding given current world sentiment regarding the US and his need to bolster it.

I have a friend who attends a non-SDA church in Toronto... and her minister has prepared all his personal business and put his affairs in order, because he has already been warned about using hate speech from the pulpit and the Bible as his source.

He teaches marriage is between a man and a woman... period. With all the attendant reasons why....

clio

[Nicodema]

Maybe he should focus on teaching the gospel instead, teaching others how to connect with and know Jesus personally, and then letting Jesus convict the individuals' hearts about sexual practices and morals.

Just an idea ... whose time has come.

[wicklunds]

To know Jesus personally, is to know His Word personally, and we know that in His word He teaches the truth about marriage. I believe the man in Toronto is doint the right thing.

[Clio]

Oh... He does Nico. It's just he's in step with them all on Sunday, but isn't afraid to talk straight from the Bible according to his light...

It's just ... hate speech now.