April 08, 2005
Why Brandon Mayfield Matters
Defenders Of PATRIOT Act Push The Spin
There are a couple of items in today's Oregonian regarding Brandon Mayfield and the on-again/off-again/on-again admissions by the U.S. Department of Justice that provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act were used against him last year.
Between the article and the commentary on the matter, it becomes clear that the DOJ indeed was attempting to last week to avoid, derail, and prevent any mention of the PATRIOT Act by focusing on the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act.
The problem, as we've discussed before, is that the authority of FISA was expanded (and the safeguards loosened) under PATRIOT, and it's only because of those PATRIOT changes that the Federal government was able to use FISA against Mayfield. So was it FISA authority, as the DOJ argued? Sure. But they could make use of such FISA authority in this particular case because of PATRIOT. That's the part they never wanted you to learn.
But, as we said, we've covered those rhetorical tricks before. What's important now is to not lose sight of just why the Brandon Mayfield case is important -- because supporters of PATRIOT Act authority are working very hard to convince people otherwise.
We're not going to belabor this, because we've done this bt before as well. Mayfield's case is important because, as it turned out, it involved the Federal government engaging in secret searches, seizures, and surveillance against an innocent American.
So while the right-wing Heritage Foundation, as reported by The Oregonian today, may claim that this is only about the fact that "people that don't know how to read a fingerprint" and not about the law, the reality is that it's very much about the fact that Congress granted to the DOJ the authority to secretly operate against its own citizens.
That's not merely some sort of "technical and administrative problem" as suggested by Heritage, it's a fundamental question of Federal law enforcement powers against American citizens.
Let's put it this way: If the Federal government agreed with the Heritage Foundation that there's nothing in the Mayfield case to cause any concern regarding the PATRIOT Act, why would they bother trying so hard to cover up the fact that the PATRIOT Act gave them the authority to act against Mayfield the way that they did?
Comments (9)
Jack Peek on 08 Apr 2005
I promised myself to stay out of this, but the Mayfield case does matter, that it points out what can go wrong.
If the future proves Mayfield is as "pure" as ahh, well snow, then you advocate to "toss" all things that could catch a terror cell operative before he strikes.....because we might violate his civil rights.
I'm asking you to support just that, lets toss all the ways to handle this problem, cause we are a tolerent people, and the hate these people have towards us, must be our fault.
Lets join now, and wish for open borders to let all these religous extremist in, and be not a problem for their "jihad".
I invite you all to post a statement of support for the need to not just dilute the "Patriot Act", but "kill" it.
The so-called terror cell people are not here in Portland, you posters have been right along.
Just because their Muslim,an have possible ties to some type of groups that we just don't need to concern ourselfs about at all, after all it's our country and we invite these wonderful people to show us that our way is the way of true corporate evil, then we must allow these borders to remain open..damn the "Minutemen".
myrln on 08 Apr 2005
One solution is to deport all the racists. Thus being out of the country, Jack, you would not be troubled at all by those who insist the Constitution trumps the misnamed "Patriot" Act.
Again, I urge you to read the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Ninth Commandment.
You'll never pass this course if you don't do the required reading.
Jack Peek on 08 Apr 2005
Lets hear why you won't post your support to dump the "horrible" Patriot act.
After all it isn't needed according to some who post here and is a direct offense to our Muslim neighbors, like Mayfield an Hawash.
I finally agree...get the FBI and the Patriot act out of our lives her in Portland.
AND YOU SAID: One solution is to deport all the racists. Perhaps you missed my post, I SAID,I don't want too offend the Muslims, but possibly a few "progressive" mentally ill people for sure.
myrln on 09 Apr 2005
"'Progressive' mentally ill" people. I didn't mean for you to be that hard on yourself, Jack.
Jack Peek on 09 Apr 2005
They came to call themselves "Katibat Al-Mawt," which prosecutors said loosely translated to "squad of death."
Nothing loose about it. That's what it means.
Court documents that depicted the seven as a loose-knit group who studied books and films on jihad and participated in firearms and martial-arts training before the Sept. 11 attacks. Members expressed interest in becoming martyrs.
The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, whose Taliban government supported Osama bin Laden, prompted the six men of the group to join the fight against U.S. forces.
The question of the day: Who were these folks, and what were they doing here?
If folks like Randy Leonard think there is no "sleeper cells' in this area, then what the hell is a Katibat Al-Mawt doing here?
If sleeper cells are in the community's midst, no one from the Portland FBI has ever told him, Leonard said.
"It's frightening people and having government based on fear rather than acceptance" said Randy!
HELLO RANDY..HELLO,What the hell a Katibat Al-Mawt doing here?
There is a reason to fear, I fear people who don't fear.
A big PS: You people who jumped me for one "terror handbook" found...the training, and planning and firearms stuff didn't come from the "INTOLERENT" BOY SCOUTS HANDBOOK ...YOU INFIDELS!
Alan DeWitt on 11 Apr 2005
Nothing loose about it. That's what it means.
Wow, Jack. I didn't know you spoke Arabic. Are you sure you're not a terrorist? :-)
Jack Peek on 11 Apr 2005
NO ALAN..NOT YET!
Alan DeWitt on 11 Apr 2005
Not yet? Geez, that sounds pretty threatening. I'm calling the FBI.
Jack Peek on 15 Apr 2005
To: Jack Peek,
Jack, forgive me for my ignorance - simply attribute it to sleep deprivation from an overwhelming workload that has consumed my short-term memory, but I need to ask you - do you have a web site? Now I know I could spend some time to look this up, but are you actually Dat5Racer@aol.com? I am interested in your writings and the topics of the same. Again, please excuse my temporary ignorance amid a chaotic schedule.
Thanks in advance for your patience and understanding..
Douglas J. Hagmann
Director, Northeast Intelligence Network
www.HomelandSecurityUS.com
ALLAN, Since you haven't much better to offer, call or EMAIL Mr. Hagman with your "stress" over the Patriot act, the JTTF, and terror cells and civil rights, he is an expert on all these subjects, and when you get your respose, enlighten us all...Please.