Wait, I thought they told us this sort of thing didn’t happen:
The FBI has conducted clandestine surveillance on some U.S. residents for as long as 18 months at a time without proper paperwork or oversight, according to previously classified documents to be released today.
Records turned over as part of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit also indicate that the FBI has investigated hundreds of potential violations related to its use of secret surveillance operations, which have been stepped up dramatically since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks but are largely hidden from public view.
In one case, FBI agents kept an unidentified target under surveillance for at least five years — including more than 15 months without notifying Justice Department lawyers after the subject had moved from New York to Detroit. An FBI investigation concluded that the delay was a violation of Justice guidelines and prevented the department “from exercising its responsibility for oversight and approval of an ongoing foreign counterintelligence investigation of a U.S. person.”
I’ve often thought it would be easy to dissuade this type of behavior. We need several million people to commit odd, suspect yet legal acts that draw the attention of the FBI. Call the White House and ask for Bush’s EXACT schedule on a certain day. Then ask if there’s any info on a clear line of sight from any tall buildings during his visit. You know, for photographs. Send a letter asking if Laura can set you up with both the twins, at once, for a threesome. Visit DC and tell a guard near the Capitol you’ll be back the next day and everybody should stay away. If you’re stopped explain you were tired of the crowds, that’s all you meant. Send the WH e-mails claiming strange behavior from the people 2 or 3 doors down. Somebody calls or follows up you were mistaken, Bin Laden still has you spooked, nevermind. Sooner or later keeping tabs on a few hundred thousand “suspicious” people will overwhelm them.
My favorite quote (dog ate my homework defense) -
“…The vast majority of the potential [violations] reported have to do with administrative timelines and time frames for renewing orders.”
FBI Papers Indicate Intelligence Violations
The FBI has conducted clandestine surveillance on some U.S. residents for as long as 18 months at a
Steve Duncan has the right idea. Direct action.
Imagine ten thousand people in each of 100 cities parking their cars on the expressways and staying there for the day.
A million citizens refusing to send in their tax returns unless and until the Cheney Energy Task Force records are fully published.
Or until the President answers under oath what he knew and when he knew it about outing Valerie Plame.
These neocon pirates staged a coup in 2000, and repeated it in 2004. It’s time to revolt.
(And yes, I’ve sent a very suspicious request to the White House this afternoon).