Spying on the South

The ACLU has released a disturbing report about a secret Pentagon database on peaceful protesters. According to an ACLU press release, their "No Real Threat" report (PDF format, web article here) found that the Defense Department's Threat and Local Observation Notice (TALON) database had more than 2800 reports on at least 186 anti-war protests.

The TALON reports reviewed by the ACLU targeted anti-war and anti-recruitment activities in fourteen states, six of which are in the South -- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas.

Among the organizations investigated are Veterans for Peace (in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and Georgia), Broward Anti-War Coalition (Florida), Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition, Students for Peace and Justice (Texas, Georgia), Iraq Veterans Against the War (Georgia), Military Families Speak Out (Georgia), and Georgia State University Students for Peace and Justice.

According to the ACLU, recent Freedom of Information Requests revealed that "the surveillance of peace groups and anti-war activists was more widespread than previously known."

From their press release:

"It cannot be an accident or coincidence that nearly 200 anti-war protests ended up in a Pentagon threat database," said Ann Beeson, Associate Legal Director of the ACLU. "This unchecked surveillance is part of a broad pattern of the Bush administration using 'national security' as an excuse to run roughshod over the privacy and free speech rights of Americans."

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The ACLU said the Pentagon's misuse of the TALON database is just one example of increased government surveillance of innocent Americans. With the help of phone companies, the National Security Agency has been conducting warrantless wiretapping of U.S. phones and reading the e-mails of countless Americans, all without a warrant. The FBI has gathered information about peace activists and recruited confidential informants inside lawful advocacy organizations like Greenpeace and PETA. Less than a month ago, President Bush signed a statement declaring that he is authorized to open the domestic mail of American citizens without a warrant. This weekend, The New York Times revealed that the Pentagon has been using "National Security Letters" to obtain banking and credit records of hundreds of Americans.

"Congress should not let this president off the hook for inappropriate surveillance by the Pentagon," said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. "Americans must once again be confident we can exercise our constitutionally protected right to protest without becoming the subject of a secret government file."

TALON documents obtained by the ACLU and included in the No Real Threat report reveal that activist groups' websites and e-mail communications are closely monitored. The documents include "incident types" such as "Suspicious Incidents/Activities" and "Specific Threats". Information sources include websites, e-mails, and agents/informants.

The reports have a disclaimer stating "This TALON report is not fully evaluated information," and concluding with "This information is being provided only to alert commanders and staff to potential terrorist activity or apprise them of other force protection issues."

Threats of "civil disobedience" and "vandalism" and "threats to DOD personnel" are frequently mentioned, although some reports cite as the basis for concern previous incidents in which individuals went beyond peaceful protest, even when it isn't clear if the individuals were associated with the protest organizers. One report states "It appears this protest will most likely be peaceful, but some type of vandalism is always a possibility."

A "Suspicious Activities/Incidents" report on the Broward (Florida) Anti-War Coalition's plans to stage a protest at a naval and air show says "BAWC plans to counter military recruitment and the 'pro-war' message with 'guerilla theater and other forms of subversive propaganda.'"

In a "Specific Threats" report on college campus protests being organized by the Veterans for Peace around the South, a Military Intelligence officer cites a New Mexico protest in which the group "set up hundreds of white crosses in an open field, representing soldiers killed in Iraq and were handing out anti-war/anti-military literature," noting that the group had "applied for and received permission for their protest the previous day."

The officer's report concludes "Veterans for Peace is a peaceful organization, but there is potential future protest could become violent. It is unknown at this time if Veterans for Peace has applied for or been granted permission to hold protest on the campuses listed in this report."

Having been around long enough to remember the Nixon years, it's like déjà vu all over again. Back then, "subversive propaganda," civil disobedience, handing out literature, failing to get a permit, and unspecified and/or unsubstantiated future potential for vandalism or violence made you a Communist. It appears the only thing that has changed is that now you're a Terrorist. And the government has better technology to keep track of you.