Leahy wants to know about Pentagon spying on protests

[sabra]

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=4299035&ClientType=Printable

Leahy wants to know about Pentagon spying on protests

COLCHESTER, Vt. -- Sen. Patrick Leahy wants the Defense Department to give him the details about two Vermont anti-war protests that were monitored by government officials.


Leahy, a Democrat, said Vermont had a long tradition of peaceful political protest.

"I want to know the extent of it. I want to know under what conceivable, conceivable legal justification they are doing it," Leahy told Vermont Public Radio.

"And even if they could legally justify it, what dunderhead policy reason (is there) for doing it," he said. "And again, I'd like to know how much it cost. The Department of Defense says we don't have enough money to get the kind of armor and protection our troops need in Iraq, but we've got money to go around and spy on Quaker meetings?"

[Lindsay]

1. Bless you, Sen. Leahy.

Let's hear the same questions from other congresspeople. (And the rest of us as well, but something tells me officials get more action than I will.)

[MrPrax]

2. Straight talkin'!!

Easy to read and easy to follow--no spin needed, no nuance, no hedge.

Regardless of some phoney side issue of Constitutionality or legality, he's nailed the core of the real issue.

[Robeson]

18. Yep.....

...you nailed it on the head...:thumbsup:

[mom cat]

3. The last line is priceless:

"The Department of Defense says we don't have enough money to get the kind of armor and protection our troops need in Iraq, but we've got money to go around and spy on Quaker meetings?"

[Quakerfriend]

4. I'm going to write to Sen Leahy and let him know

that they have been spying on me! Quaker, x-scientist turned stay-at-home mom who has not even been to Meeting in years. Never been to a peace protest either.

But, nonetheless the DoD visits my computer on a daily basis! Firewalls are great. I suspected this for quite some time but, now I've got proof.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Leahy wants to know about Pentagon spying on protests

December 29, 2005

COLCHESTER, Vt. --Sen. Patrick Leahy wants the Defense Department to give him the details about two Vermont anti-war protests that were monitored by government officials.

Leahy, a Democrat, said Vermont had a long tradition of peaceful political protest.

"I want to know the extent of it. I want to know under what conceivable, conceivable legal justification they are doing it," Leahy told Vermont Public Radio.

"And even if they could legally justify it, what dunderhead policy reason (is there) for doing it," he said. "And again, I'd like to know how much it cost. The Department of Defense says we don't have enough money to get the kind of armor and protection our troops need in Iraq, but we've got money to go around and spy on Quaker meetings?"

http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2005/12/29/leahy_wants_to_know_about_pentagon_spying_on_protests/


Spying on American anti-war protesters has nothing to do with protecting America from terrorists. This is grounds for impeachment.

[Dunvegan]

6. Good on you, Leahy...

He was even a target of a very deadly "terrorist" anthrax attack...and he still gets it that giving up liberty for safety gets you neither.

Hurrah.

(Edited to say: And extra points for using "Dunderhead" in a rant.)

[NanceGreggs]

7. Not only extra points for the creative use of the word ...

... 'Dunderhead', bonus points for the restraint shown in using that word in place of the many, more graphic and accurate words that would have been appropriate!

[politicaholic]

8. Oh, is he speaking of the FBI Photo Club photo contest?

Soon he'll be complaining about the FBI softball team "The Fighting Liberal Hunters".

[stop the bleeding]

9. I love your posts but this one is a dupe - see here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2011848

[jillan]

10. In Phoenix, the police videotaped the last anti-war protest.

Drove around in their cars video-taping the peaceful people lined up on the sidewalks.

Now what do you suppose they did that for?^&^$$%$@#@#%^%^$%$##~!!

[flyarm]

13. they were doing that and the reich wing assholes were doing that to

us here in fla before the primaries last year for pres!!

we were constantly putting our signs in front of our faces...

plus they disguised it with women with baby carriages trying to get protestors to sign petions that were bogus..i stopped many protestors from signing anything..

unless they gave the names of disney characters!
but here in jeb land they are always driving past taking pics of us..

and they gloat when they do it!!

fly

[jillan]

16. OMG - I signed a petition at the protest.

Didn't even think about it. They said it was for Amnesty Int'l.
:banghead: :banghead:

[wildwww2]

20. Sounds like Maricopa county tax dollars being put to use spying on

peaceful protesters. What country do we live in? Iraq maybe? Oh no. We have not been shock and awe bombed by an idiot cowboy wannabe yet.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[progressivebydesign]

11. Can Leahy ALSO find out WHY DoD is spying on OUR computers??

Many DUers here were freaked out to find that the DoD has been regularly trying to (and succeding if we dont' have a firewall) our computers at home.

[texpatriot2004]

12. Thank you Sen. Leahy nm

[oasis]

14. The Pentagon spied on the Quaker's meeting houses too. Who next?

Rummy and Bush are "unchecked" and out of control.

[glitch]

15. Welfare queens sucking off the government teat, wasting taxpayer money on

frivolous, meaningless and zero risk operations.
Oooh scary spooks spying on Quakers! This is why you became a spy? That mission impossible life you were looking for is spying on Quakers.
Don't you just love working for pukes?

Edit to add: blow the whistle guys. If not for America then for your own self-esteem.

[stickdog]

17. The Quakers have BushCo quaking in their boots.

[0007]

19. Let's get this show on the road.

junior is not above the law and he is not in charge of my life.

[f-bush]

21. Yeah, I want to know too!

I have coordinated four vigils (including the Sheehan vigil in August) which was one of the largest in the nation at our Church in Tacoma, Washington.

The FBI has admitted monitoring (ie spying) on the Sheehan vigil sites. It would be good for us to know what the fuckers are up to.

So much for the "home of the free" it's turned once again into a semi gulag. Happens everytime the repukes get too much power.