Issues

Recent testimony on Homeland Security data-mining

March 23, 2009 - 3:20pm

The ACLU, a Liberty Coalition partner, testified on March 18 before before a House subcommittee about the strong need for oversight in intelligence gathering and dissemination at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

"It is patently false that the more information we have, the more secure we are," said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. "Unfortunately, DHS has been over-zealous in its information gathering and innocent Americans have been caught in the web of suspicion. From its involvement in the surveillance of Maryland peace groups to intrusive laptop searches at the border, DHS seems to see every American as a potential criminal. DHS cannot continue to vacuum up benign intelligence."

Open letter to the Justice Dept on ideological profiling

March 18, 2009 - 5:08am

March 17, 2009 
 
Hon. Eric H. Holder Jr.
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001 

Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20520 

Hon. Janet Napolitano
Secretary of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528 
 

Homeland Security fusion center advises Missouri cops be paranoid around freedom activists

March 18, 2009 - 4:53am

Associated Press, March 14

COLUMBIA, Mo. | A new document meant to help Missouri law enforcement agencies identify militia members or domestic terrorists has drawn criticism for some of the warning signs mentioned.

The Feb. 20 report called "The Modern Militia Movement" mentions such red flags as political bumper stickers for third-party candidates, such as U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, who ran for president last year; tal

NSA offering 'billions' for Skype eavesdrop solution

February 22, 2009 - 7:56pm

NSA offering 'billions' for Skype eavesdrop solution

Business model for P2P firm at last?
2/12/09 The Register

Counter Terror Expo News of a possible viable business model for P2P VoIP network Skype emerged today, at the Counter Terror Expo in London. An industry source disclosed that America's supersecret National Security Agency (NSA) is offering "billions" to any firm which can offer reliable eavesdropping on Skype IM and voice traffic.

BANDOW: Restore the Constitution, Mr. President-elect

December 7, 2008 - 3:01pm

President-Elect Barack Obama has a lengthy agenda when he takes office in January. One of his most important priorities should be to restore the Constitution.

"In Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for Our Constitution and Democracy," Bruce Fein, a former Reagan administration appointee, warns that constitutional governance in America is at stake. The problem is not a threatened attack from without, but the erosion of safeguards for liberty from within.