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Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group

By Jeralyn, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Tue Jan 10, 2006 at 10:46:10 AM EST
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Raw Story reports that the National Security Agency conducted surveillance on members of a Baltimore peace group. It even has the reports to show it. Kevin Zeese, of Democracy Rising and a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maryland, writing at Raw Story has more:

According to the documents, the Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore, a Quaker-linked peace group, has been monitored by the NSA working with the Baltimore Intelligence Unit of the Baltimore City Police Department....The documents came as a result of litigation in the August 2003 trial of Marilyn Carlisle and Cindy Farquhar. An NSA security official provided the defendants with a redacted Action Plan and a redacted copy of a Joint Terrorism Task Force email about the activities of the Pledge of Resistance activities.

The NSA should not be conducting surveillance of American protestors. It's time to rein in the agency in. This should be a bi-partisan issue. Will Congress be up to the task?

Let's assume for a minute one of the aggrieved persons sues, goes to trial, gets a huge verdict and the Government appeals. When the case reaches the Supreme Court, how is Judge Alito likely to rule, based on his past record?

Kevin Zeese interviews Maria Allwine of Baltimore's Iraq Pledge of Resistance here.

< Sam's Journey From NORML | Alito Hearing: Gender Discrimination >

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    Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group | 28 comments (28 topical)
    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#1)
    by Dadler on Tue Jan 10, 2006 at 11:22:15 AM EST
    This is just what we were all worried about, isn't it Jeralyn? Not only should they NOT do it, they should, if true, PAY for having done it. And this certainly follows a pattern of behavior documented in the past, so I'm not shocked, just outraged more than previously. The offensive stupidity and raging ignorance of surveilling groups like this is beyond comprehension to me. Did they NOT see Farhenheit 9/11? They're ADVERTISING their own utter ineptness. They should wear a sign that says "The World is Flat and We're Gonna Prove It No Matter What!!" It shows me a government that has NO idea who the real threats are, no idea how to really investigate them, no idea what their own COUNTRY is, and instead treats protest as insidious and to be feared, like dictatorships do. They're blind mice looking for cheese in the radiator. Dunces with power. Is it election time yet? Can't we get British for a few days and call one? Please?

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#2)
    by Edger on Tue Jan 10, 2006 at 11:37:37 AM EST
    It's a good thing they were out there saving the world, and tapping these evil Quaker fanatical leftist peaceniks. By now those balloons would be exploding in your city, in your neighborhood, and even in your bedroom. From the NSA report published by RawStory:
    Update: 1300 Hrs, The SOC was advised the protestors were proceeding to the Airplane Memorial with three helium balloons attached to a banner that stated " Those Who Exchange Freedom For Security Deserve Neither And Will Ultimately Lose Both"
    Whew... that was a close one. Are they looking for volunteers to help with shredding the Constitution?

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jan 10, 2006 at 11:49:32 AM EST
    How are they getting away with considering this to be anything other than a 5-alarm scandal. I don't get it. What's the legal loophole that's keeping this off of the front pages?

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jan 10, 2006 at 12:44:58 PM EST
    Did it ever dawn on any of you that just the name itself "Iraq Pledge of Resistance" would (should) draw some attention..??? Especially since many of you on the left view terrorists in Iraq as 'resistance' (aka - freedom) fighters?

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#5)
    by Dadler on Tue Jan 10, 2006 at 01:00:55 PM EST
    BB, Aside from the fact neither the group's name nor their QUAKER affiliation are anything approaching probable cause, I was once shot in the as* by a BB from my buddy's Daisy air rifle. ;-]

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#6)
    by Dadler on Tue Jan 10, 2006 at 01:03:39 PM EST
    BB, Niether the group's name nor their QUAKER affiliation are anything approaching probable cause. But I was once shot in the thigh by a BB from my buddy's Daisy air rifle. I'm scare of you, man. ;-p

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#7)
    by Dadler on Tue Jan 10, 2006 at 01:05:02 PM EST
    oop, thought i lost that first one.

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#8)
    by Edger on Tue Jan 10, 2006 at 01:06:57 PM EST
    Dadler, you're twice as good today as you always were... ;-)

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jan 10, 2006 at 01:14:48 PM EST
    Dadler... But I was once shot in the thigh by a BB from my buddy's Daisy air rifle. I'm scare of you, man. ;-p LOL.. not to worry... I own no weapons of any kind! So which was it...as* or thigh?

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#10)
    by Dadler on Tue Jan 10, 2006 at 01:29:34 PM EST
    BB, Kinda both, in that borderzone there, don't know why i didn't use as* the second time, it sounds so much more dramatic. Edge, Always a pleasure.

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#11)
    by Sailor on Tue Jan 10, 2006 at 03:20:56 PM EST
    For those who haven't lived thru this before, THERE IS A REASON WE PASSED LAWS AGAINST EXACTLY THIS TYPE OF THING HAPPENING AGAIN!

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#12)
    by Edger on Tue Jan 10, 2006 at 03:48:07 PM EST
    Sailor, Exactly. And here are FOUR of them... ALISON KRAUSE, JEFFREY MILLER, SANDRA SCHEUER, WILLIAM SCHROEDER Kent State

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#13)
    by aw on Tue Jan 10, 2006 at 05:29:56 PM EST
    Did it ever dawn on any of you that just the name itself "Iraq Pledge of Resistance" would (should) draw some attention..??? Especially since many of you on the left view terrorists in Iraq as 'resistance' (aka - freedom) fighters?
    BB: Aside from what the NSA might think, do you personally think these people are some kind of threat. If so, why? Real question. I'm curious.

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 11, 2006 at 07:37:12 AM EST
    aw... BB: Aside from what the NSA might think, do you personally think these people are some kind of threat. If so, why? Real question. I'm curious. I have no idea if they are or not.... but (unlike most on the left) I don't automatically assume the Government is trying to do something bad. What's the harm in giving them a look to see if there is a problem with them or not? I do know there are many organizations (people) in this country that would like to bring it down and, I for one, expect my government to keep a close eye on them.

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#15)
    by aw on Wed Jan 11, 2006 at 08:12:45 AM EST
    And these organizations that would like to bring our government down, what would they then do? Eliminate government of, by, and for the people? Curtail our civil rights? Tax us and tell us to butt out and brook no protests? Hose us with propaganda? Seems to me you can bring a government down quite easily without making everyone dress in Mao jackets.

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 11, 2006 at 09:08:56 AM EST
    aw... And these organizations that would like to bring our government down, what would they then do? Good question. I guess that would depend on which particular group you were talking about? As far as the radical wing of (Islam) muslims are concerned... they want the US to go completely away and all it's citizens dead. Other's (dare I say the liberal left?) want America as we all knew it to go away. They are all for open borders, letting most everyone out of jail, aid & comfort our enemies by giving them access to our legal system, legalize most drugs, get rid of any reference to religion... etc..etc... I could go on & on....All of it bad!

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#17)
    by aw on Wed Jan 11, 2006 at 10:25:58 AM EST
    Well, I am liberal-left, and I say you're wrong. There are certainly some Muslims who would like us all dead. But these people are not capable of killing us all, or even very many of us. All for open borders? Says who? But I'm not for building walls, either. How can we determine if someone is an enemy without giving them access to our justice system? We are barely giving our own citizens access. Aren't you worried about that? Aren't you worried about becoming what we used to hate? Without getting into the whole drugs good/bad debate, I am for decriminalizing most drug use. The drug war doesn't make any sense and has gained us nothing. It deprives us of important medical research into cannabis while other plant-based drugs are well known and accepted as medicine. Getting rid of any reference to religion? No. Just not mixing government and religion. That still leaves a whole lot of room to practice one's religion. I want America as we knew it (or imagined it) to come back, not go away. I want to live without being told how to do it. I want our tax dollars to benefit us, not be used to enslave us. I would like to exercise my own religious faith, not that of the majority ruling party. I want to be a free citizen. I can't speak for all the liberal left, but I'm probably fairly typical. Why are you so afraid of people like me?

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#18)
    by Dadler on Wed Jan 11, 2006 at 10:53:08 AM EST
    BB, I disagree that you don't automatically assume the government is trying to do something bad. You just don't assume that in THIS case. As for taxation, affirmative action, etc., I don't think you assume anything as positive as you do with this issue.

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 11, 2006 at 11:02:36 AM EST
    aw.... But these people are not capable of killing us all, or even very many of us. How can you be so sure? Would you have thought 9/11 possible before that happened? All it takes is one dirty nuke and we are talking millions dead! Are you saying that they wouldn't do that if they could? All for open borders? Says who? Most of the libs I know..! Most of them on here! Many are appalled that we want to stop the influx of illegals at all. How can we determine if someone is an enemy without giving them access to our justice system? Usually when they are shooting at you...it's a pretty good sign! At NO time in our hustory have we given combatants access to our legal system. Can you imagine the thought of that happening in any war? Germans caught in WWII hiring lawyers to get them released? It's amazing that anyone would even consider such a thing! We are barely giving our own citizens access. Aren't you worried about that? I don't see that happening. In fact most criminals have too much access... hence 25 year appeals before death sentences are carried out. That's the real crime. Aren't you worried about becoming what we used to hate? No...not yet anyway. I don't see that as a problem. And believe me, if I did, I'd be right there with you. The drug war doesn't make any sense and has gained us nothing. I'd agree on that...but that has been the law of the land for many years now. I get ticked when I see people blaming GW for it...like it was all his doing. Getting rid of any reference to religion? No. Just not mixing government and religion. But like it or not...religion is there and has been since day one. I'm not religious but saying "GOD" in the pledge doesn't get my panties in a bunch & shouldn't anybody else's. I want America as we knew it (or imagined it) to come back, not go away. I'd like to hear your efinition of that? I want our tax dollars to benefit us, not be used to enslave us. Such as? I can't speak for all the liberal left, but I'm probably fairly typical. Well...I'm not so sure of that, but I'd sure like to believe it. Unfortunately, I think most are like Soccerdad, Charley, Dark Avenger...etc. Why are you so afraid of people like me? I'm not... but as I said...most aren't like you. I am afriad of those others I mentioned because all they preach is doom & gloom... our Government is bad, evil, we are scum...and the rest of the world should hate us.... Our military are the real terrorists... blah..blah..blah. It's sickening and those are (in my opinion) the generic 'liberal' talking points. I hope I'm wrong. I truly belive liberals are ruining this country.... that is the bottom line.

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 11, 2006 at 11:05:48 AM EST
    Dadler... BB, I disagree that you don't automatically assume the government is trying to do something bad. Well...keeping a watchful eye on Uncle Sam (something we all should do anyway) and screaming foul at everything that happens are two different things. I'd like to think I'm on the "wait till all the facts are in" side.

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#21)
    by aw on Wed Jan 11, 2006 at 11:30:07 AM EST
    I don't agree with your responses, especially your characterizations of the posters you mentioned. I will try to rebut later, but your last post caught my eye.
    Well...keeping a watchful eye on Uncle Sam (something we all should do anyway) and screaming foul at everything that happens are two different things. I'd like to think I'm on the "wait till all the facts are in" side.
    I assume you are keeping a watchful eye. Just what would it take to make you scream foul? If the government continues to operate in such secrecy, how are you going to get the facts you need?

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#22)
    by Dadler on Wed Jan 11, 2006 at 12:13:37 PM EST
    BB, I'm ruining the country? Jeez, I love you too. I knew that whole getting shot in the ace with a BB when I was a kid incident was coming back to me for a reason. If I'm ruining the place, what're you doing, fertilizing it? All b.s. aside, tho... Rimshot! I love you folks, anyone here from Jersey?

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#23)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 11, 2006 at 02:18:52 PM EST
    aw... Just what would it take to make you scream foul? When I feel my rights are being violated with no respect to the rest of society. When I actually feel the government is out to get me "for no reason"... then I'd scream. Dadler... BB, I'm ruining the country? Jeez, I love you too.? LOL..well not you personally... but certainly the general 'liberal' ideas you believe in are. Apparently you disagree? Give me an example of a liberal talking point that you feel is actually helping us at this point... Go Bears!!!

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#24)
    by aw on Wed Jan 11, 2006 at 02:36:03 PM EST
    When I feel my rights are being violated with no respect to the rest of society. When I actually feel the government is out to get me "for no reason"... then I'd scream.
    I'm not sure I understand. Does that mean if all our rights are being violated, it's okay. By the way, did you see the news about the bill that would allow police to arrest people "for no reason"? BTW,did Gov Taft ever sign that bill? Dadler, I'm from NJ (northern Passaic county).

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#25)
    by kdog on Thu Jan 12, 2006 at 06:38:18 AM EST
    truly belive liberals are ruining this country
    Honestly BB? I don't think liberals or conservatives are ruining this country. Ideas never ruined anything. I think extremists of all stripes will ruin this country if given power. I think the Republican and Democratic parties are ruining this country with their corruption. I also think warrantless surveillance will ruin this country.

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#26)
    by pigwiggle on Thu Jan 12, 2006 at 09:00:51 AM EST
    If or not this group is potentially violent, it is still not the place of the NSA to spy on them. It is the job of the FBI. The NSA was designed to spy on foreign governments and groups and has never been restricted by the 4th, and can hardly be expected to respect it. Which, of course, is now painfully obvious. This couldn’t have been scripted better(ehhem Brazil). A declaration of war on a perpetual phantom enemy, the creation of new sinister departments (are they trying to creep us out), and now the turning inward of our foreign intelligence programs. I can’t help but think of Senator Kennedy’s now absurd out of hand dismissal during the Ashcroft nomination hearings for the need of firearms in deference to a potentially tyrannical government. What a tool, lecturing John Ashcroft about our benign and wholly benevolent federal caretakers; the irony.

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#27)
    by Dadler on Thu Jan 12, 2006 at 09:15:41 AM EST
    BB, I'd like to think liberals don't embrace "talking points". I know I don't. Liberals debate a lot, with themselves, with others, we tend to be like the old Jewish saying: get five of us in a room and you'll get ten opinions. Can be irritating and time-consuming, but it isn't a locksetp mindset. Be Self-Critical, however, might serve as a good talking point. I Have a Dream, that's a nice one too. We have nothing to fear but fear itself. I'd vote for that last one.

    Re: Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group (none / 0) (#28)
    by Edger on Thu Jan 12, 2006 at 09:22:22 AM EST
    we tend to be like the old Jewish saying: get five of us in a room and you'll get ten opinions. Can be irritating and time-consuming, but it isn't a locksetp mindset. Liberals are sort of analogous to cats in many ways, aren't they, Dadler? Maybe that's why the right is so threatened... Herding sheep is easy. Herding cats? Well... go try it sometime. ;-)

    Report: NSA Surveilled Baltimore Peace Group | 28 comments (28 topical)