This morning, thanks to Instanpundit, we know that The Wall Street Journal is reporting on the FBI's Operation VIGILENT EAGLE. This is an operation that started when George Bush was still President of the United States. It is being done in cooperation with the Department of Defense. And, we are promised they are concerned about our civil rights.
Michael Ward, FBI deputy assistant director for counterterrorism, said in an interview Thursday that the portion of the operation focusing on the military related only to veterans who draw the attention of Defense Department officials for joining white-supremacist or other extremist groups.The government, at all levels, need to be vigilent with regard to extremists of all stripes. They need to do that while protecting the rights of all citizens (including the extremists) and avoiding actions that polarize the people.
"We're not doing an investigation into the military, we're not looking at former military members," he said. "It would have to be something they were concerned about, or someone they're concerned is involved" with extremist groups.
Mr. Ward said that the FBI's general counsel reviewed the operation before it began, "to make sure any tripwires we set do not violate any civil liberties."
Regards — Cliff
Ironic how violations of civil liberties rarely hit home quite as hard as they do once things become focused on a particular group with which one has an affiliation.
ReplyDeleteMartin Niemoeller's classic words should be required reading for everyone everywhere who considers themselves a patriot:
Als die Nazis die Kommunisten holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Kommunist.
Als sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Sozialdemokrat.
Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten,
habe ich nicht protestiert;
ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter.
Als sie die Juden holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Jude.
Als sie mich holten,
gab es keinen mehr, der protestieren konnte.
"Als sie mich holten"--"And then they came for me".
Chilling.
Civil liberties are our most precious possession, and the government should NEVER be allowed to steal them from ALL OF US.
Ah, Pastor Niemoeller. He was so right.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I am not sure what Kad Barma is saying here about me. Is he suggesting I am a right wing wacco? I hope not.
And, he is smack on about not letting Government take our civil liberties from us.
Regards — Cliff
Simply suggesting, as a veteran, that FBI programs targeting veterans are obviously going to get your attention. The point for the rest of us is to stand up with veterans (and citizens of Mexican and/or Arab descent) and insist that our government behave better.
ReplyDeleteI'm also suggesting that the "patriot" act is something the Nazi's would have loved.