Americans Would Be Alarmed If They Knew

[hvactec]

Obama Expands the Patriot Act

The police-state Patriot Act which was rammed through Congress in the wake of the 9/11 attacks by the Bush-Cheney Administration, and which set into place surveillance measures which would identify citizens to be rounded up in a Hitler-style coup, now belongs completely to Barack Obama. Last May, after Obama had run into strong bipartisan opposition to extending its most controversial provisions, he cut a deal with Republicans to cram a bill down Congress's throat extending the Patriot Act for four years (!) — without even holding any hearings.

The three provisions which were extended were: (1) Section 215, the "business records" provision, which allows the FBI to obtain all types of financial records—telephone, email, travel, credit card, etc.—without a subpoena; (2) roving wiretaps under FISA (the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act), using much looser standards than exist for criminal investigations; and (3) the "lone wolf" provision, allowing the use of FISA surveillance without showing any connection to a foreign power or international terrorism.

While the Patriot Act generally operates "below the radar," it is currently in the news again:

First, the New York Times and its reporter Charlie Savage have sued the Justice Department for the Administration's classified interpretation of the Patriot Act, particularly that relating the "business records" section. Last May, after having received a classified briefing in the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) warned his colleagues that there are two Patriot Acts: one which Congress has approved, and a second, secret program based on the Obama Administration's secret interpretation of the law—which is what the Times FOIA suit is seeking.

"When the American people find out how their government has secretly interpreted the Patriot Act, they will be stunned and they will be angry," Wyden said, citing the public outrage that was sparked by the discovery of other secret surveillance programs, such as Project Shamrock that came to light in the mid-1970s, the Iran-Contra affair, and the Bush Administration's secret program of warrantless wiretapping. Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), also a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, backed Wyden's account, declaring that "Americans would be alarmed if they knew how this law is being carried out."

Second, in a House Intelligence Committee hearing on Oct. 6, as well as a Senate Homeland Security hearing on Sept. 13, the question of "lone wolf" terrorists, or what are now termed "homegrown violent extremists," played a prominent role. Traditionally, national security wiretaps and surveillance required showing a connection to a foreign power or an international terrorist organization. But no longer.

At the House hearing, FBI Director Robert Mueller said that "one of the greatest concerns now are lone actors, lone wolves," and claimed that "the threat from 'homegrown violent extremists is among our most serious terrorism threats today." Because the operate alone, they are harder to detect and disrupt, Mueller said, adding that "the FBI, along with our partners, is focused more than ever on this threat."

read more "Americans Would Be Alarmed If They Knew": Obama Expands the Patriot Act

 

[OohPooPahDoo]

Obama Expands the Patriot Act

The police-state Patriot Act which was rammed through Congress in the wake of the 9/11 attacks by the Bush-Cheney Administration, and which set into place surveillance measures which would identify citizens to be rounded up in a Hitler-style coup, now belongs completely to Barack Obama. Last May, after Obama had run into strong bipartisan opposition to extending its most controversial provisions, he cut a deal with Republicans to cram a bill down Congress's throat extending the Patriot Act for four years (!) — without even holding any hearings.

The three provisions which were extended were: (1) Section 215, the "business records" provision, which allows the FBI to obtain all types of financial records—telephone, email, travel, credit card, etc.—without a subpoena; (2) roving wiretaps under FISA (the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act), using much looser standards than exist for criminal investigations; and (3) the "lone wolf" provision, allowing the use of FISA surveillance without showing any connection to a foreign power or international terrorism.

While the Patriot Act generally operates "below the radar," it is currently in the news again:

First, the New York Times and its reporter Charlie Savage have sued the Justice Department for the Administration's classified interpretation of the Patriot Act, particularly that relating the "business records" section. Last May, after having received a classified briefing in the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) warned his colleagues that there are two Patriot Acts: one which Congress has approved, and a second, secret program based on the Obama Administration's secret interpretation of the law—which is what the Times FOIA suit is seeking.

"When the American people find out how their government has secretly interpreted the Patriot Act, they will be stunned and they will be angry," Wyden said, citing the public outrage that was sparked by the discovery of other secret surveillance programs, such as Project Shamrock that came to light in the mid-1970s, the Iran-Contra affair, and the Bush Administration's secret program of warrantless wiretapping. Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), also a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, backed Wyden's account, declaring that "Americans would be alarmed if they knew how this law is being carried out."

Second, in a House Intelligence Committee hearing on Oct. 6, as well as a Senate Homeland Security hearing on Sept. 13, the question of "lone wolf" terrorists, or what are now termed "homegrown violent extremists," played a prominent role. Traditionally, national security wiretaps and surveillance required showing a connection to a foreign power or an international terrorist organization. But no longer.

At the House hearing, FBI Director Robert Mueller said that "one of the greatest concerns now are lone actors, lone wolves," and claimed that "the threat from 'homegrown violent extremists is among our most serious terrorism threats today." Because the operate alone, they are harder to detect and disrupt, Mueller said, adding that "the FBI, along with our partners, is focused more than ever on this threat."

read more "Americans Would Be Alarmed If They Knew": Obama Expands the Patriot Act

We didn't start the fire

 

[Lakhota]

See what a great Patriot Obama is!

 

[zonly1]

Obama Expands the Patriot Act

The police-state Patriot Act which was rammed through Congress in the wake of the 9/11 attacks by the Bush-Cheney Administration, and which set into place surveillance measures which would identify citizens to be rounded up in a Hitler-style coup, now belongs completely to Barack Obama. Last May, after Obama had run into strong bipartisan opposition to extending its most controversial provisions, he cut a deal with Republicans to cram a bill down Congress's throat extending the Patriot Act for four years (!) — without even holding any hearings.

The three provisions which were extended were: (1) Section 215, the "business records" provision, which allows the FBI to obtain all types of financial records—telephone, email, travel, credit card, etc.—without a subpoena; (2) roving wiretaps under FISA (the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act), using much looser standards than exist for criminal investigations; and (3) the "lone wolf" provision, allowing the use of FISA surveillance without showing any connection to a foreign power or international terrorism.

While the Patriot Act generally operates "below the radar," it is currently in the news again:

First, the New York Times and its reporter Charlie Savage have sued the Justice Department for the Administration's classified interpretation of the Patriot Act, particularly that relating the "business records" section. Last May, after having received a classified briefing in the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) warned his colleagues that there are two Patriot Acts: one which Congress has approved, and a second, secret program based on the Obama Administration's secret interpretation of the law—which is what the Times FOIA suit is seeking.

"When the American people find out how their government has secretly interpreted the Patriot Act, they will be stunned and they will be angry," Wyden said, citing the public outrage that was sparked by the discovery of other secret surveillance programs, such as Project Shamrock that came to light in the mid-1970s, the Iran-Contra affair, and the Bush Administration's secret program of warrantless wiretapping. Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), also a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, backed Wyden's account, declaring that "Americans would be alarmed if they knew how this law is being carried out."

Second, in a House Intelligence Committee hearing on Oct. 6, as well as a Senate Homeland Security hearing on Sept. 13, the question of "lone wolf" terrorists, or what are now termed "homegrown violent extremists," played a prominent role. Traditionally, national security wiretaps and surveillance required showing a connection to a foreign power or an international terrorist organization. But no longer.

At the House hearing, FBI Director Robert Mueller said that "one of the greatest concerns now are lone actors, lone wolves," and claimed that "the threat from 'homegrown violent extremists is among our most serious terrorism threats today." Because the operate alone, they are harder to detect and disrupt, Mueller said, adding that "the FBI, along with our partners, is focused more than ever on this threat."

read more "Americans Would Be Alarmed If They Knew": Obama Expands the Patriot Act

He was against the Patriot Act before he was for..another gaffe of hypocrisy
and know he's waging wars w/o congressional approval. NO media coverage either....The media picking winners and losers.

Instead of protesting on WS, why not the media in there lack luster attempt of reporting journalism or this very story???? only selective reporting.

 

[zzzz]

All it takes is one lawyer to interpret the law they way they want. That is their justification.

We are living in a paranoid society that is getting worse. People, not all, live and see the all the crimes, terrorist activity on the 24-7 news cycle and think their world is dangerous. In reality it is not any more dangerous than it was years ago, its just that these things are hyped up more and the resulting paranoia produces more laws and surveillance. And it builds upon itself to where we can expect constant surveillance of our activities 24-7. For those living in the city this is almost there. The only private place is inside your apartment or home and that privacy is gradually being eroded by technology.

 

[editec]

The US police state continues to expand.