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December 29, 2005
DoD's Domestic Threat Matrix
SMASH
January 29, 2003
SHANNON, IRELAND -- A woman scales a security fence at the Shannon International Airport, walks across the tarmac to a Boeing 737 with U.S. Navy markings, and proceeds to smash the nose cone and hydraulics system of the aircraft with an axe. She manages to do several hundred thousand dollars in damage before she is stopped by airport security.
The woman is later identified as 51-year-old Mary Kelly of the anti-war Ploughshares group. An Irish judge awards her two years in prison, but suspends the sentence.
October 14, 2003
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA -- Vandals set fire to two military vehicles, shatter office windows, and spray-paint the words "pre-emptive attack" on the walls of a military recruiting center.
The FBI, ATF, and San Jose Police investigate the incident, but no arrests are ever made.
January 20, 2005
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON -- While manning an information table at Seattle Central Community College, two Army recruiters find themselves surrounded by dozens of angry student protesters. The students shout obscenities, jump on the table, and begin pelting the soldiers with newspapers and water bottles. Campus security finally defuses the situation by escorting the recruiters off campus under a hail of insults. Fortunately, no one is injured.
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U.S. Army SFC Jeff Due is escorted off SCCC campus
The confrontation, initially described as a "spontaneous protest," had been planned and coordinated by the campus chapter of Students Against War. The school administration threatens disciplinary action against the group, but none is ever taken.
August 10, 2005
WOENSDRECHT AIR BASE, NETHERLANDS -- A man jumps over the fence of a Dutch Air Force Base, walks into an aircraft hangar, and proceeds to sabotage two F-16 fighter jets by smashing them with a hammer. By the time he is caught, he has destroyed the cockpit of one jet and the steering system of another, causing millions of dollars worth of damage.
The man is identified by Dutch authorities as Turi Vaccaro, a 50-year-old Italian peace activist with the Ploughshares group. He is later sentenced to six months in prison and fined 750,000 euros. His sentence is currently under appeal.
December 14, 2005
NBC NEWS uncovers a "secret database" maintained by an agency of the Defense Department tasked with tracking 'suspicious' domestic groups. Anti-war activists across the nation express outrage at the revelation, declaring that such government activities are unjustified because the groups involved are all "peaceful" and "nonviolent."
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Car windshield shattered by "peaceful" protester in San Diego
Right.
I've seen documents like the "secret" (actually unclassified) one that NBC uncovered, but in a different context (i.e. force protection missions outside the United States).
It's called a threat matrix.
The Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA) is tasked by the DoD to keep tabs on potential domestic threats to military equipment and personnel. Most of the information found in the threat matrix is publicly available on the Internet -- anti-war groups typically use such open forums as Indymedia or other public websites to announce, plan, and advertise their actions. Much of the rest likely comes via coordination with local law enforcement.
There are rules governing how, why, and what information DoD agencies can gather on people residing within the United States. Many of these rules are spelled out in a DoD directive dating back to 1982.
C2.3.7. Physical Security. Information may be collected about a United States person who is reasonably believed to threaten the physical security of DoD employees, installations, operations, or official visitors. Information may also be collected in the course of a lawful physical security investigation.
Is this a 'slippery slope' towards a totalitarian state, or is the DoD merely taking prudent and lawful measures to protect their own people and assets?
You be the judge.
NATO AIR said:Excellent dose of perspective there.
I didn't even realize the Euro wackos were able to do so much damage.
They should have been shot on sight of their assault on military property.
