PENTAGON SPYING ON ANTI-WAR GROUPS

The Department of Defense has admitted spying on nonviolent anti-war
groups across the country over a 10-month period. A secret 400-page
Defense Department database, obtained by NBC News, includes nearly
four dozen anti-war meetings or protests, including some that have taken
place far from any military installation, post or recruitment center.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/121405Z.shtml

The threatening events in the database included handing out literature in
front of military recruiting stations and commemorating the second
anniversary of the Iraq War.

One "incident" included in the database is a large anti-war protest at
Hollywood and Vine in Los Angeles last March that included effigies of
President Bush and anti-war protest banners. Another incident mentions
a planned protest against military recruiters last December in Boston and
a planned protest last April at McDonald's National Salute to America's
Heroes - a military air and sea show in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The DOD has strict guidelines adopted in December 1982, that limit the
extent to which they can collect and retain information on U.S. citizens.
(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/DOD.1982.
IntelligenceCollectionOnU.S.Persons.pdf)

Two years ago, the Defense Department directed its Counterintelligence
Field Activity (CIFA) to establish a domestic law enforcement database
that included information related to "potential terrorist threats directed
against the Department of Defense." The Pentagon is using this system
to collect information on peaceful gatherings and counter-recruiting
activities.

Other documents show that the Defense Department is clearly increasing
its domestic monitoring activities. One DOD briefing document stamped
"secret" concludes: "[W]e have noted increased communication and
encouragement between protest groups using the [I]nternet," but no
"significant connection" between incidents, such as "reoccurring
instigators at protests" or "vehicle descriptions."

ACTION
Support our right to speak truth to power. Tell Congress that you
support our fundamental right to speak our mind and organize on the
issues of the day. For decades, Cold Warriors criticized foreign
governments for exactly these types of activities.

Write your Representative and Senators.
(SEE SAMPLE LETTER BELOW)
Go to the following site and enter your Zip code for contact info:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/officials/

SAMPLE LETTER
(please personalize the letter in order to be more effective)

Dear (Senator/Representative)__________

I hope that you have been following the breaking story that the
Counterintelligence Field Activity, an agency of the Department of
Defense, has been spying on nonviolent individuals and organizations
who opposed the US invasion of Iraq and the ongoing occupation. Since
NBC and the Washington Post broke the story, I have been increasingly
concerned about this threat to our fundamental rights.

The Department of Defense has characterized these groups as threats. I
see a government agency spying on Americans exercising their rights as
the real threat.

I know that Congress is about to take its holiday recess, but this is an
incredibly important issue. Please write back to me and let me know what
you plan to do in the new year to protect our country's bedrock
principles against this outrageous behavior.

Sincerely,