Spying On Our Own Citizens. Things Must Change!
May 10, 2006I don’t know about you, but the recent revelation of notifying the Mexican government about the location of the Minutemen has to be one of the most insane events so far. Tracking down the person/people in our government that handed down this order will probably never be known. In fact I am willing to bet they will find a patsy similar to the soldiers charged in the torture episodes at Abu Grab or at Guantanamo Bay. We all know the real villains will not face the public, but instead some poor underling that was only following orders. Hopefully Darrell Issa’s letter to Michael Chertoff of the Department of Homeland Security will at the least generate some type of investigation. But oddly our liberal, mainstream media is ignoring this latest event.
Below is the letter that Congressman Issa is sending to Mr. Chertoff in regard to the passing of information about our own citizens to a foreign government. Since when did our government find the right to spy and then inform foreign powers? Of course, President Bush is mum on the whole matter.
May 9, 2006
The Honorable Michael Chertoff
Secretary
Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528Dear Secretary Chertoff:
I am greatly disturbed by reports that personnel from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and possibly other branches of the Federal Government, have compiled and shared surveillance information with Mexican authorities on law abiding American citizens who legally alert the U.S. Border Patrol about smuggling and other illegal border crossings. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I am concerned that your department lacks Congressional authorization to conduct domestic surveillance of law abiding citizens, as has been reported, and am disturbed by the allegation that Department of Homeland Security resources and personnel have been deployed as de-facto agents of a foreign government.
American citizens have a long tradition of forming community watch programs that report illegal activity to relevant law enforcement personnel. These efforts have been proven effective and deserve the support of our government.
As you well know, corruption in the Mexican government is rampant, and links among drug cartels, smugglers, and the Mexican government are frequently uncovered. By sharing information about the location and activities of law abiding American citizens who participate in community border watch programs, I am concerned that your department may be putting the lives and safety of these individuals at risk, as well as inadvertently aiding those who illegally attempt to cross our borders.
I strongly support community and border watch efforts to legally aid and enhance the resources of local police departments and federal agencies like the Border Patrol. The allegation greatly disturbs me that your department would intentionally undermine the efforts of patriotic American citizens who seek to provide information to Federal agents about illegal crossings and other activities.
I request that your Department immediately suspend all activities that provide the Mexican government with inappropriate surveillance information about law abiding American citizens and provide me with a detailed account about what information has been shared with Mexican authorities about U.S. citizens who engage in legal community watch programs.
Sincerely,
Darrell Issa
Member of Congress
Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, you should be angry that our own government is stepping up their efforts to allow the continuing onslaught of illegal aliens, as well as the erosion of our civil liberties and rights.
Cruise Control
I Have An Agenda…
The left gets all bent over the NSA program to monitor OVERSEAS calls (despite the spin, it’s NOT “domestic spying” guys) but they’re deafeningly quiet over this issue.
There is a point where spying on ones citizens if a violation of one’s rights. Right’s are things granted by the government or society that one lives in. The right to privacy is granted BUT that right can be curtailed IF it is deemed that the person is violating the laws of the government or society in which they live. Likewise, the right of freedom of speech does not allow people to scream FIRE in a movie, or use what are deemed to be fighting words. So rights do have limitations that are placed to protect the rest of society.
Now, should the NSA or other bodies in the U.S. government continue to be able to monitor phone conversations, yes and no. Yes when the person or persons are a clear threat to national security, or are criminal enterprises. Who determines what is a threat to national security is where it might get sticky in my opinion, and this issue should probably be addressed by the legislators to set guidelines.
The tapping of “regular” citizens should be outside the realm of the government. Actually it might be a business opportunity for those with the ability to make public key phone scramblers.
The Polish Syndicado
Homeland Security…the closest thing to a national police force. Yes. Needed? Probably not, if everyone else was doing their jobs, and there was a coordination system of law enforcement agencies, which as we know is not the case.
The sharing of information between countries has always been done. Is it in the best interest of the U.S. to share the location of the minutemen with the federalis, no, unless we are getting something in return, besides more illegals.
The problem will come to a peak when some Federali shoots an American, and then we see what the government has to say.
Okay, lets just look at this in reality. How does anyone think that their is even enough personnel to monitor “your” phone. In 2003, some 3 years ago, alone there was almost 200 million local loops, not to mention approx. 1.5 million pay phones, and 54.6% of all households had internet access. Now lets add in a number for cell phones…how about China’s 400 million, India’s 45 or so million, maybe we should hire more people to monitor those?
Just wondering…
You must be referring to the current stink on the ATT/Verizon phone number story. I am not sure on this one. While I have nothing to hide, and say catch the terrorist, I am not sure I feel good about our government starting to look at “everything”, it smells of “1984″. My real concern is if we are allowing extra intrusion into our personal lives, even if it’s just a bunch of numbers, the thing is this is what we are aware of as the public. What else are they doing we aren’t told or aware of? What if we have a new political regime that is not so trusting as the Bush team? I seem to remember the Clinton’s using the FBI and IRS in some rather questionable ways. Who is to say we allow this peek and they ask for more, or the new power does abuse our rights without any oversight?
Very Very nice information here… Thanks