-Caveat Lector- What Scott may not be aware of is that the FBI is not even a legally chartered law enforcement entity. Perhaps this would be a more important issue than challenging the FBI's continuous and well known efforts to marginalize any and all activists- religious, racial, and otherwise. Cointelpro was never discontinued- Here it is again, aimed at Christian and White groups on one side of FBI's attack - portrayed as likely to perpetrate violence upon the other side of FBI's attack: Black folks- who FBI portrays as violence prone looters. Pehaps the Black people and the White people and the Christians have a COMMON ENEMY in this ROGUE agency? Dave Hartley http://www.Asheville-Computer.com/issues http://www.ioa.com/~davehart http://www.Asheville-Computer.com/ SCAN THIS NEWS 11.11.99 Free Congress Foundation calls for Project Megiddo hearings I am very pleased to announce that Lisa Dean of the Washington-based Free Congress Foundation has today announced a timely and appropriate letter which is being sent to key members of Congress calling for hearings into the FBI Project Megiddo report. This should set the stage for an opportunity to remind the FBI of the notion of innocent until charged and proven guilty. And, that it is not acceptable for government to use either religion or mere affiliations as tools to try and "predict" individual human behavior. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. As a consequence of this prohibition, the federal government may not "regulate" religious activity directly or indirectly by either edict or administrative policy. For the federal law enforcement arm of the United States government to create an air of public alarm with regard to certain religious beliefs, and to categorically associate those beliefs indiscriminately with a perceived threat of domestic violence, makes the adherents to those beliefs subject to suspicion due solely to their religion. Such suggestive notions of potential criminality based upon religious beliefs, in effect, serves to place an equal or greater chilling effect on the expression and exercise thereof than would any direct prohibition. This cannot be tolerated. Please distribute. Scott McDonald -------------------------------------------------- TO: SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, DENNIS HASTERT MAJORITY LEADER, DICK ARMEY MAJORITY WHIP, TOM DELAY FROM: UNDERSIGNED ORGANIZATIONS SUBJECT: "PROJECT MEGIDDO" REPORT DATE: OCTOBER 11, 1999 The organizations listed below join to encourage the House Leadership to undertake an investigation, including public hearings, of the threat to the privacy and Constitutional liberties of Americans posed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's latest report entitled "Project Megiddo." This report assesses the potential threat of domestic terrorism in the United States in anticipation of the new millenium. We realize that the FBI's concern regarding terrorism may be legitimate based on certain historical evidence of such activity being committed by individuals and groups at the turn of the First Millenium. These people believed that the world would end and as a result, attempted to bring it about through violent means of their own accord. We are also aware of groups and individuals in the United States, on both the political Right and Left, who have, in the past, engaged in violent and terrorist activity in the US. We also understand that there is concern within the public at large about potential terrorist activity and it is law enforcement's responsibility to respond to the public's concern to ensure the safety of the population. For those reasons we are hesitant to dismiss the FBI's concerns about this potential problem. However, while the FBI's concern may be a legitimate one, nevertheless, for several reasons, the public version of the "Project Megiddo" report available on the Bureau's website is of legitimate concern to our respective organizations. The FBI describes the report as an effort "to analyze the potential for extremist criminal activity in the United States by individuals or domestic extremist groups who profess an apocalyptic view of the millennium or attach special significance to the year 2000." As is typical with the Clinton Administration, understanding and clarifying the definitions they use are critical to understanding their intentions. 1. The report defines an 'extremist' as one who believes in the end of the world and the Second Coming of Christ. It cites specifically Christian Identity churches, Odinism and apocalyptic cults as fitting that description. But also implies that anyone who believes in the end of the world and the Second Coming of Christ also fits that description though they may not ascribe to the beliefs of the specific cults mentioned in the report. The logical conclusion to be drawn from reading such a report is that religious people, specifically Christians of all denominations, are 'extremists' and should be watched. 2. A point made repeatedly in the report is the idea of those who are stockpiling food and weapons in anticipation of Y2K are also likely targets for acts of violence. This claim is beyond the ridiculous. With all the conflicting reports regarding the issue of Y2K, it is rather difficult to have a fact-based discussion or argument on the subject. Most articles and reports regarding that issue are speculative and quote people who are taking precautions because they want to protect their families and loved ones from any danger that might result from Y2K, not because they intend to cause civil unrest or acts of terrorism against society and see Y2K as an extraordinary opportunity to do so. 3. According to the FBI, those who believe that the United Nations has exercised too much influence over the policies of the United States, particularly with regard to the Second Amendment, are also extremists. The report cites statements made by Larry Pratt, Executive Director of Gun Owners of America, with regard to the UN's agenda on gun control and the effect it is having on US policies toward the Second Amendment. The paragraph concludes "Speculation like this [Larry Pratt's statements] only serves to fuel the already existing paranoia of militia and patriot groups." The logical conclusion is that Larry Pratt and others who express concern for our nation's sovereignty, Constitutional liberties and who report the truth based on evidence, are dangerous because they assist the other groups. While Larry Pratt is a well-respected conservative activist on Second Amendment issues as well as other Constitutional rights issues, he is not the only individual who believes that the United Nations has a strong influence on US policies. Many of us on the Right share those beliefs based on the evidence that has been presented thus far. 4. We believe that similar arguments can be made for the New World Order. While the FBI's report considers it a "conspiracy theory", the term itself was resurrected after many years of disuse by former President George Bush and referred to on many occasions by the current Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott. Curiously, neither of these men is mentioned in the report itself, most obviously because they spoke positively about the New World Order. The Right, nevertheless, is mentioned because we criticize the New World Order and support efforts to preserve national sovereignty. Interestingly, given the fact that only the Right is subject to criticism in this report, coupled with the inconsistent writing style, hearings might well determine that it was actually authored by someone outside the FBI, perhaps the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization cited several times in footnotes throughout the report and some of whose writings echo the assertions made in the FBI report. 5. Jim Dempsey, co-author of the book Terrorism and the Constitution: Sacrificing Civil Liberties in the Name of National Security contends that the current mentality within the FBI is to equate those who terrorize with those who criticize. That assertion is consistent with the beliefs expressed in this report. Because those of us on the Right are not sympathetic to the views of the Administration on the United Nations, and perhaps even religion, our First Amendment rights to express those views are being squelched by the primary federal law enforcement agency whose job it is to protect and preserve the basic rights guaranteed to all Americans under the US Constitution, not to consider "threats" those who disagree with the Administration's positions on issues. This is simply not the behavior of law enforcement in a free society. 6. It is interesting to note that only the "right wing" is referred to and targeted in this report. There is no reference whatsoever to the political Left, despite the fact that the Left has been guilty of violent acts in the US in the past (e.g. the Unabomber). Terms such as "right wing", "right wing movement", "ring wing groups", "radical right" and "right wing extremists" are used throughout the report to describe those who should be the targets of law enforcement. One walks away with the impression that the Religious Right in America are lunatics who are a danger to society. 7. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that the Administration as well as the FBI would consider the Right, particularly the Religious Right, a threat. In an age where relativism reigns, anyone who takes a stance on religious or moral principle is labeled "judgmental," "moralistic" or perhaps even "hateful." As the Majority Leader has pointed out on the House Floor, the US Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Delinquency Prevention funds a middle-school curriculum, "Healing the Hate," which "suggests that among the warning signs for school counselors that a child may be dangerous is if he or she grows up in 'very religious' home." It does not take an active imagination to see the same mindset set forth in "Project Megiddo". 8. The concerns outlined in this memo are only reflective from reading the public version of the FBI's report. We understand that the classified version of the same report given to state and local law enforcement officials contains more specific targets on the Right, such as homeschoolers. It would behoove the Leadership to immediately obtain a copy of the classified version of this report in order to more properly pursue the hearings we suggest you hold. We see four fundamental questions that merit Congressional inquiry: (1) To what extent is the FBI anticipating or expecting terrorist or other acts of violence to occur at the turn of the millenium? The first step in answering this question is to determine what rules or evidence govern the FBI's assertions made about the potential for violence claimed in the "Project Megiddo" report. (2) Given that terrorist acts have been committed by the political Left (e.g. the Unabomber), what criteria does the Bureau use to suggest that the political and Religious Right should be considered a threat to Americans' safety? Getting answers to this second question is significant because it will determine the mindset that the Bureau is operating under, which we believe is one of paranoia. (3) Given the definitions and implications made in the public version of the "Project Megiddo" report, what, within the FBI, distinguishes the Religious Right in the US from the "extremists" currently being monitored by the FBI? (4) Given that the public version of the report excludes all but two of the names of organizations on the Right which are being targeted by the FBI, what other organizations are listed in the "classified" version of the "Project Megiddo" report and for what reason are they considered threats to public safety? We are not asking for any inquiry that would challenge the role of the FBI or other law enforcement agencies collecting intelligence on actual terrorists or foreign threats, so we do not believe that this is an inquiry solely for the Intelligence Committees. Our concerns focus (i) on the definitions under which law enforcement is currently operating and (ii) how they apply to religious/conservatives in the United States. We believe that a public inquiry into these legal and policy questions can be conducted without jeopardizing sensitive information about specific targets or techniques. We are available to meet with Members and staff about this and other related issues. We look forward to working with individual Members, the chairmen of the relevant Committees, and the leadership in addressing these issues, which are of growing concern to the American public. We have also enclosed a copy of the public version of the "Project Megiddo" report for your study and perusal. Sincerely, Paul M. Weyrich Chairman Coalitions for America Lisa S. Dean Vice President for Technology Policy Free Congress Foundation ----------------------------- Coalition for Constitutional Liberties Center for Technology Policy of the Free Congress Foundation Lisa S. Dean, Vice President for Technology Policy (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) Julie Malone, Coalition Coordinator (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) phone: (202) 546-3000 fax: (202) 544-2819 http://www.FreeCongress.org DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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