DoJ Official Blows Cover Off PATRIOT Act

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phr

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DoJ Official Blows Cover Off PATRIOT Act
Ryan Grim
Huffington Post
9.23.09


In the debate over the PATRIOT Act, the Bush White House insisted it needed the authority to search people's homes without their permission or knowledge so that terrorists wouldn't be tipped off that they're under investigation.

Now that the authority is law, how has the Department of Justice used the new power? To go after drug dealers.

Only three of the 763 "sneak-and-peek" requests in fiscal year 2008 involved terrorism cases, according to a July 2009 report from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Sixty-five percent were drug cases.

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) quizzed Assistant Attorney General David Kris about the discrepancy at a hearing on the PATRIOT Act Wednesday. One might expect Kris to argue that there is a connection between drug trafficking and terrorism or that the administration is otherwise justified to use the authority by virtue of some other connection to terrorism.

He didn't even try. "This authority here on the sneak-and-peek side, on the criminal side, is not meant for intelligence. It's for criminal cases. So I guess it's not surprising to me that it applies in drug cases," Kris said.

"As I recall it was in something called the USA PATRIOT Act," Feingold quipped, "which was passed in a rush after an attack on 9/11 that had to do with terrorism it didn't have to do with regular, run-of-the-mill criminal cases. Let me tell you why I'm concerned about these numbers: That's not how this was sold to the American people. It was sold as stated on DoJ's website in 2005 as being necessary - quote - to conduct investigations without tipping off terrorists."

Kris responded by saying that some courts had already granted the Justice Department authority to conduct sneak-and-peeks. But Feingold countered that the PATRIOT Act codified and expanded that authority -- all under the guise of the war on terror.

Feingold, the lone vote against the PATRIOT Act when it was first passed, is introducing an amendment to curb its reach. "I'm going to say it's quite extraordinary to grant government agents the statutory authority to secretly break into Americans homes," he said.

Link!
 
One might expect Kris to argue that there is a connection between drug trafficking and terrorism...
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The connection between the War on Drugs and the War on Terror is that they are both bogus wars designed to increase government power at the expense of personal rights.
 
=\ what's happened to us? This is so far from what we were raised to believe our country was.


O'er the land of the frrrreeeeeeeeeee
and our hooomes
they iiiin-
vaaaaaaade....
 
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"Those who would sacrifice a little freedom for a little security deserve neither." - Benjamin Franklin

One day people will notice how fucking despicable this shit is... until then I get to watch all freedoms bequeathed to me from my forefathers get systematically gang raped. Worst part is that the majority out there either don't know what's happening or they encourage it.
 
The Bush White House simply followed in the footsteps of previous Republican administrations using drug laws or another scare tactic for other purposes that results in diminished civil liberties or geopolitical agendas. Example: Reagan and the disproportionate crack vs powder sentancing guidelines and mandatory minimums (which were exclusively used against the poor minority communities), and Nixon's 'Poppy Eradication' programs to win domestic political points and gain influence over the military junta in Turkey, etc.
 
It is complete BS that they are using the law that was voted in to supposedly protect our citizens from terrorists and now it is being used against us.. the people it was created to protect. Sounds like its working efficiently screwing over our citizens and doing nothing to protect us.
 
ReSilience said:
"Those who would sacrifice a little freedom for a little security deserve neither." - Benjamin Franklin

One day people will notice how fucking despicable this shit is... until then I get to watch all freedoms bequeathed to me from my forefathers get systematically gang raped. Worst part is that the majority out there either don't know what's happening or they encourage it.
Click to expand...

I hope people notice. The majority seem so apathetic or to actively hate drug-users because they have been spoon fed propaganda and misinformation their whole lives.

It is so fucking frustrating watching this happen to our country. What is the small minority that recognizes/ opposes Constitutional rape supposed to do? Just give up and leave? To where?

I honestly am lost in this regard, and its really god damn depressing. It really saddens me that the voters of this country have given up right after right and freedom after freedom (that their forefathers shed blood for) in the name of "security".:X:X:!:!
 
While I find this totally disgusting it does not surprise me in the least. They have been milking the fuck out of this 'war on terror' as an excuse to take more and more rights away from people and put all the power in the hands of the Government.

The Government is totally fucked, I really do hope that people start to notice all these changes they made to help fight terrorism are being used to invade peoples lives without due process or proper investigation.
 
Many don´t know that Bush took advantage of 9-11 history to pass ¨Fast Track¨which gives the president the right to present an ¨up or down vote¨ on all trade related legislation. Legislators can´t amend these deals, nor attach riders...it was Bush´s way or the highway. And all under the auspicious of national security.
 
drug_mentor said:
The Government is totally fucked, I really do hope that people start to notice all these changes they made to help fight terrorism are being used to invade peoples lives without due process or proper investigation.
Click to expand...

I think this little fact right here says it all:





phrozen said:
Only three of the 763 "sneak-and-peek" requests in fiscal year 2008 involved terrorism cases, according to a July 2009 report from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Sixty-five percent were drug cases.
Click to expand...


Makes me wonder how many Americans are actually aware of this
 
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Although I agree that the war on drugs and searching peoples houses for drugs without cause is also bullshit, the war on terror is real. If they have to go into Achmed's or some other fanatical muslim's house and tear it apart because of a tip off, I'm all for it.
 
Terrorism is a valid concern, but it pales in comparison to the real dangers Americans face on a daily basis; Like getting in a car accident for example. Depending on where you live in the US the probability of getting killed in a terrorist attack is statistically laughable.

My point: Giving up freedoms, even to prevent terrorism, is not acceptable.
 
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Im interested to know how may terror plots were foiled per year before the patriot act. Or pre-9/11 for that matter.

If the numbers are roughly the same (3) then it seems a little unnecessary to have to give up personal liberties in order to achieve the same results. Honestly I think 9/11 wouldve happened with or without the patriot act in place.
 
^
Yes, but we live in such a place where not all laws are there because they make sense or because they work.
 
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