one nation, under surveillance
number 68 09.03.06
|
FBI Secretly Reviews College Student Financial Records
The US Department of Education was
revealed to have cooperated with the
FBI between 2001 and 2006 reviewing
the financial records of millions of
American college students with no court
order and without advising the students
of the surveillance.
The program, called Project Strike Back,
was developed after the 9-11 terror
attacks and was intended to identify
terrorists who gain entry to the US by
applying for student visas. In the end,
more than 14 million financial aid
applications filed by American students
were reviewed each year to make sure
that students on a “select list of a couple
of hundred names” did not apply for
revealed to have cooperated with the
FBI between 2001 and 2006 reviewing
the financial records of millions of
American college students with no court
order and without advising the students
of the surveillance.
The program, called Project Strike Back,
was developed after the 9-11 terror
attacks and was intended to identify
terrorists who gain entry to the US by
applying for student visas. In the end,
more than 14 million financial aid
applications filed by American students
were reviewed each year to make sure
that students on a “select list of a couple
of hundred names” did not apply for
financial assistance.
Documents that revealed the existence
of the program were obtained by
journalism students at Northwestern
University’s Medill School through a
freedom of information request.
Memorandums from the FBI Office of
the Inspector General obtained by the
student journalists reported that “details
developed during this project will be
disclosed to the FBI and Justice
Department attorneys.” The memo also
disclosed that Project Strike Back was
initiated 13 days after the 9-11 terror
attacks.
The FBI data-mining project was just one
Documents that revealed the existence
of the program were obtained by
journalism students at Northwestern
University’s Medill School through a
freedom of information request.
Memorandums from the FBI Office of
the Inspector General obtained by the
student journalists reported that “details
developed during this project will be
disclosed to the FBI and Justice
Department attorneys.” The memo also
disclosed that Project Strike Back was
initiated 13 days after the 9-11 terror
attacks.
The FBI data-mining project was just one
of many agency initiatives, according
to FBI spokespersons, where records
of US citizens were disclosed to
government agents with no warrant
or court order.
The FBI said that the warrentless
surveillance of college student’s
financial records was legal because
law enforcement agencies
investigations are exempt from
adhering to privacy laws. A spokes-
person for the Justice Department
said that the project is "one of the
many utilized by the FBI to identify
potential people of interest”. No
arrests resulted from the
surveillance. its all true
to FBI spokespersons, where records
of US citizens were disclosed to
government agents with no warrant
or court order.
The FBI said that the warrentless
surveillance of college student’s
financial records was legal because
law enforcement agencies
investigations are exempt from
adhering to privacy laws. A spokes-
person for the Justice Department
said that the project is "one of the
many utilized by the FBI to identify
potential people of interest”. No
arrests resulted from the
surveillance. its all true
| interpreting the constitution crowd control spread of the red one nation, under surveillance fun d' mental in bed with the red red state rebate verbatim |
Traffic
spread of the red
Pentagon, Transportation Testimony Flies in Face of Facts
To Contain Leaks,
NSA Will Spy on Itself
NSA Will Spy on Itself
Members of the independent
commission that investigated the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001
strongly suspected that Pentagon and
Federal Aviation Administration officials
deliberately misled the panel when they
provided testimony that later proved to
be inaccurate or simply false. According
to recent accounts, frustrated
commissioners considered bringing their
suspicions to the Justice Department for
criminal investigation, but decided
instead to refer the matter to the
inspectors general of the agencies
involved. Now two reports, by the
Department of Defense and the
Department of Transportation, have
concluded that there is no evidence that
any officials knowingly made false
statements to the commission.
commission that investigated the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001
strongly suspected that Pentagon and
Federal Aviation Administration officials
deliberately misled the panel when they
provided testimony that later proved to
be inaccurate or simply false. According
to recent accounts, frustrated
commissioners considered bringing their
suspicions to the Justice Department for
criminal investigation, but decided
instead to refer the matter to the
inspectors general of the agencies
involved. Now two reports, by the
Department of Defense and the
Department of Transportation, have
concluded that there is no evidence that
any officials knowingly made false
statements to the commission.
The investigation centers on testimony
before the 9/11 panel regarding the
response by NORAD, the North
American Air Defense Command, to the
hijackings of four civilian aircraft. The
recent publication of tape transcripts
from the morning of the attacks
confirms that, contrary to the sworn
statements of numerous officials from
both the Pentagon and the FAA, the
emergency response was slow, confused,
and inefficient, with NORAD personnel
unaware of key developments until after
the attacks had ended. The tapes reveal
that NORAD scrambled two fighter jets
in pursuit of American Airlines flight 11
after it had already crashed into the
World Trade Center.
The transcripts also cast doubt upon the
before the 9/11 panel regarding the
response by NORAD, the North
American Air Defense Command, to the
hijackings of four civilian aircraft. The
recent publication of tape transcripts
from the morning of the attacks
confirms that, contrary to the sworn
statements of numerous officials from
both the Pentagon and the FAA, the
emergency response was slow, confused,
and inefficient, with NORAD personnel
unaware of key developments until after
the attacks had ended. The tapes reveal
that NORAD scrambled two fighter jets
in pursuit of American Airlines flight 11
after it had already crashed into the
World Trade Center.
The transcripts also cast doubt upon the
accuracy of statements made by Vice
President Dick Cheney, who has
claimed that the White House
considered giving the order to shoot
down United Airlines flight 93, which
eventually crashed in Pennsylvania.
The tapes reveal that Cheney was
briefed on the situation just one
minute before the flight went down,
and that the executive authority to
engage the aircraft was given after it
had crashed.
Commission co-chairman Thomas
Kean told the Washington Post,
“We to this day don’t know why
NORAD told us what they told us. It
was just so far from the truth…It’s
one of those loose ends that never
got tied.” its all true
President Dick Cheney, who has
claimed that the White House
considered giving the order to shoot
down United Airlines flight 93, which
eventually crashed in Pennsylvania.
The tapes reveal that Cheney was
briefed on the situation just one
minute before the flight went down,
and that the executive authority to
engage the aircraft was given after it
had crashed.
Commission co-chairman Thomas
Kean told the Washington Post,
“We to this day don’t know why
NORAD told us what they told us. It
was just so far from the truth…It’s
one of those loose ends that never
got tied.” its all true
The National Security Agency has
amended its policies regarding
unauthorized disclosure of
classified information to the
media, in the wake of a series of
revelations about domestic
surveillance programs carried out
by the agency since 2001. In
addition to the updated policy
directive, NSA Director Lt. Gen.
Keith Alexander has issued four
separate memos to agency staff
this year on the subject of leaks,
according to a report by the
Baltimore Sun. The new policy
mandates that all NSA personnel
“actively monitor media” for the
purposes of identifying leaks and
their potential sources.
The policy document lays out a
detailed procedure for identifying
an unauthorized disclosure to the
media, assessing the significance
of the disclosure, and reporting
the incident to various officials
within the NSA and in other
intelligence agencies. The
directive defines “media” as “any
print, electronic, or broadcasting
outlet (including blogs) where
information is made available to
the general public.” A copy of the
document, marked “Unclassified /
For Official Use Only,” was
obtained by the Federation of
American Scientists.
According to the Sun, the NSA
Director's memos urge staff to
focus on their work and to avoid
speaking to the media, “as the
national debate on intelligence
oversight rages.” its all true
amended its policies regarding
unauthorized disclosure of
classified information to the
media, in the wake of a series of
revelations about domestic
surveillance programs carried out
by the agency since 2001. In
addition to the updated policy
directive, NSA Director Lt. Gen.
Keith Alexander has issued four
separate memos to agency staff
this year on the subject of leaks,
according to a report by the
Baltimore Sun. The new policy
mandates that all NSA personnel
“actively monitor media” for the
purposes of identifying leaks and
their potential sources.
The policy document lays out a
detailed procedure for identifying
an unauthorized disclosure to the
media, assessing the significance
of the disclosure, and reporting
the incident to various officials
within the NSA and in other
intelligence agencies. The
directive defines “media” as “any
print, electronic, or broadcasting
outlet (including blogs) where
information is made available to
the general public.” A copy of the
document, marked “Unclassified /
For Official Use Only,” was
obtained by the Federation of
American Scientists.
According to the Sun, the NSA
Director's memos urge staff to
focus on their work and to avoid
speaking to the media, “as the
national debate on intelligence
oversight rages.” its all true
crowd control
| redstat |
Airport Security Enforces Dress Code
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A passenger traveling from New York to
Oakland was prevented from boarding a
plane because he was wearing a tee shirt
that said, “We will not be silent” in both
English and Arabic. Raed Jarrar, a recent
émigré from Iraq who is also an Arab
human rights advocate, was questioned
by officials who did not identify
themselves at Kennedy Airport in August.
Jarrar was selected for secondary
screening when he checked in for his
transcontinental flight. After he he sat
down in the waiting area at his departure
gate, Jarrar was approached by four
individuals who questioned him about
the tee shirt he was wearing.
After being advised that “people were
feeling offended“ by the tee shirt, Jarrar
was asked to change out of the shirt, but
Oakland was prevented from boarding a
plane because he was wearing a tee shirt
that said, “We will not be silent” in both
English and Arabic. Raed Jarrar, a recent
émigré from Iraq who is also an Arab
human rights advocate, was questioned
by officials who did not identify
themselves at Kennedy Airport in August.
Jarrar was selected for secondary
screening when he checked in for his
transcontinental flight. After he he sat
down in the waiting area at his departure
gate, Jarrar was approached by four
individuals who questioned him about
the tee shirt he was wearing.
After being advised that “people were
feeling offended“ by the tee shirt, Jarrar
was asked to change out of the shirt, but
he had checked all his luggage.
Jarrar told the officials that the message
on his tee shirt was not offensive and
that he felt he should be allowed to
wear the shirt as a matter of free
expression; after all the shirt said, ‘We
will not be silent’.
Jarrar was told by one of the airport
officials that “people here in the US
don’t understand these things about
constitutional rights.” The official
further advised Jarrar that, “We can’t be
sure that your tee shirt means ‘We will
not be silent’, we don’t have a
translator. It may mean something else.”
Jarrar eventually negotiated to have Jet
Blue buy him another tee shirt so he
could board the airplane. its all true
Jarrar told the officials that the message
on his tee shirt was not offensive and
that he felt he should be allowed to
wear the shirt as a matter of free
expression; after all the shirt said, ‘We
will not be silent’.
Jarrar was told by one of the airport
officials that “people here in the US
don’t understand these things about
constitutional rights.” The official
further advised Jarrar that, “We can’t be
sure that your tee shirt means ‘We will
not be silent’, we don’t have a
translator. It may mean something else.”
Jarrar eventually negotiated to have Jet
Blue buy him another tee shirt so he
could board the airplane. its all true
source: Institute for Policy Studies
fun d' mental
Weather
Oversight of Programs Demands Leap of Faith
Prices Set to Soar as
World Grain Stocks Fall
World Grain Stocks Fall
A study of the Bush administration’s
Faith Based Initiatives found that, while
the federal government has given billions
of dollars to religious organizations
under the program, the majority of
government grant recipients have failed
to establish protections against
discrimination in hiring practices and
measures that guarantee that the
services provided are available to all
citizens, irrespective of their religious
faith.
The Office of Faith Based and
Community Initiatives was established in
2001 by President Bush motivated by his
belief that religious organizations are
better equipped to tend to social
services than government. Bush believes
that “Much of today’s poverty has more
to do with troubled lives than a troubled
economy,” and ordered the government
to fund religious programs. Since its
creation the federal program has given
billions of dollars to Christian groups and
other religious organizations. In the year
2005 grants totaling over $2.1 billion
were awarded by the federal
government.
Government agencies that oversee the
usage of grant monies under the
Faith Based Initiatives found that, while
the federal government has given billions
of dollars to religious organizations
under the program, the majority of
government grant recipients have failed
to establish protections against
discrimination in hiring practices and
measures that guarantee that the
services provided are available to all
citizens, irrespective of their religious
faith.
The Office of Faith Based and
Community Initiatives was established in
2001 by President Bush motivated by his
belief that religious organizations are
better equipped to tend to social
services than government. Bush believes
that “Much of today’s poverty has more
to do with troubled lives than a troubled
economy,” and ordered the government
to fund religious programs. Since its
creation the federal program has given
billions of dollars to Christian groups and
other religious organizations. In the year
2005 grants totaling over $2.1 billion
were awarded by the federal
government.
Government agencies that oversee the
usage of grant monies under the
president’s Faith Based program are
required to monitor grantees in the
same manner as they supervise monies
granted to secular organizations. The
report found that recipients of grant
money from the OFBCI were generally
non-compliant with reporting
requirements and also failed to
strenuously guard against discrimination.
The GAO found that in 60 percent of
the programs they investigated, federal
agencies failed to provide faith-based
organizations with a statement on
nondiscrimination in program
participation. This led to situations
where less than 15 percent of the
programs reviewed by the GAO had
policies that guarantee nondiscrimination
in hiring practices, and less than a quarter
had policies in place that separated
religious activities from provision of
services supported by federal grants.
Representative George Miller of
California, who is the senior Democrat
on the Committee on Education and the
Workforce, said that the lack of
information and oversight has led to a
situation where, “We don’t know if
Americans who are eligible for services
are missing out on them because of their
religious beliefs.” its all true
required to monitor grantees in the
same manner as they supervise monies
granted to secular organizations. The
report found that recipients of grant
money from the OFBCI were generally
non-compliant with reporting
requirements and also failed to
strenuously guard against discrimination.
The GAO found that in 60 percent of
the programs they investigated, federal
agencies failed to provide faith-based
organizations with a statement on
nondiscrimination in program
participation. This led to situations
where less than 15 percent of the
programs reviewed by the GAO had
policies that guarantee nondiscrimination
in hiring practices, and less than a quarter
had policies in place that separated
religious activities from provision of
services supported by federal grants.
Representative George Miller of
California, who is the senior Democrat
on the Committee on Education and the
Workforce, said that the lack of
information and oversight has led to a
situation where, “We don’t know if
Americans who are eligible for services
are missing out on them because of their
religious beliefs.” its all true
World grain production will fall short
of consumption this year by more
than 60 million tons, further reducing
critical carryover stocks, and setting
the stage for steep rises in grain
prices. 2006 will mark the sixth year
out of the last seven that grain
harvests have failed to meet growing
demand, according to a report by the
Earth Policy Institute. The report
calculates that world carryover stocks
of grain have fallen to just 57 days of
consumption, the lowest level in 34
years.
Rising average temperatures and
pervasive water shortages have made
it impossible for grain production to
keep pace with demand, as the world
population grows by about 70 million
a year. A sharp increase in the use of
grains for fuel production has also
squeezed the commodities market.
Wheat prices are up 14 percent for
the year, and corn prices have
increased by some 22 percent. Rice is
up more than 23 percent, and is
expected to double in price by the
end of next year. its all true
of consumption this year by more
than 60 million tons, further reducing
critical carryover stocks, and setting
the stage for steep rises in grain
prices. 2006 will mark the sixth year
out of the last seven that grain
harvests have failed to meet growing
demand, according to a report by the
Earth Policy Institute. The report
calculates that world carryover stocks
of grain have fallen to just 57 days of
consumption, the lowest level in 34
years.
Rising average temperatures and
pervasive water shortages have made
it impossible for grain production to
keep pace with demand, as the world
population grows by about 70 million
a year. A sharp increase in the use of
grains for fuel production has also
squeezed the commodities market.
Wheat prices are up 14 percent for
the year, and corn prices have
increased by some 22 percent. Rice is
up more than 23 percent, and is
expected to double in price by the
end of next year. its all true
redstateupdate.net
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verbatim number 13.3
"I'm a thoughtful guy, I
listen to people. I'm open
minded...
listen to people. I'm open
minded...
...I'm all the things you
know I am."
Washington DC 08.21.06
know I am."
Washington DC 08.21.06