Police chiefs meet at WH on homegrown terror fight

[Paslode]

Better stop speaking out about the government on the internet, buying guns and ammo...

Posted on Wed, Jan. 18, 2012
Police chiefs meet at WH on homegrown terror fight
By EILEEN SULLIVAN
Associated Press

State and local law enforcement officials convened at the White House on Wednesday for a daylong discussion about how police can maintain the trust of their communities while identifying and preventing violent extremism and homegrown terrorism - an effort the administration considers critical to national security.

It's a delicate balance, as the violent extremism that has erupted across the U.S. in the past few years has been motivated by an ideology, whether a violent interpretation of Islam or white supremacist beliefs. Ideologies in and of themselves are not illegal. But police now find themselves struggling with identifying the ideologues who plan to commit violence among the many others who hold similar beliefs but have no intention of hurting anyone.

"Where do you draw the line between what they say and what they do," Cambridge, Mass., Police Commissioner Robert Haas said in an interview during a break. Police can't be seen as violating the trust they've built in local communities to ferret out information that potentially could prevent an attack, he said. Haas was one of the 46 senior federal, state and local law enforcement officials who participated in the event that was closed to the public.

The conference marked the first time the Obama administration hosted a meeting with so many of the nation's top law enforcement executives on how to counter violent extremism.

"The important role of local law enforcement is a key part of the administration's approach to countering violent extremism in the homeland," President Barack Obama's counterterrorism adviser, John Brennan, said. "Law enforcement officials work with communities every day and understand how to build partnerships to address this tough challenge."

There has been an uptick in attempted attacks by Americans and other legal U.S. residents in the past few years, prompting the Obama administration to place a priority on finding ways to stop this type of violence. The administration rolled out a thin strategy last year that put local communities - not Washington - in charge of countering violent extremism in the U.S.

Analysts from the FBI, Homeland Security Department and National Counterterrorism Center studied 62 cases of homegrown violent extremists and identified basic similarities that might help local law enforcement better understand and detect threats. The warning signs identified for police include someone joining a group advocating violence, receiving support from a network that plans attacks or seeking out charismatic leaders who encourage violence. An overview of the findings was shared with the AP.

In the 62 cases reviewed, the subjects increasingly spoke out against the government, blamed the government for perceived problems and did so in a way that caught the attention of other people in their communities, according to the senior counterterrorism official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private White House event. Subjects became active on the Internet to espouse extremist views. And in some cases, the subjects purchased weapons, ammunition or explosive materials.

Analysts also found that a person's origin, ethnic background and socioeconomic status are not good indicators for potential violent extremist activity, the senior counterterrorism official said.

That finding is key, as the FBI came under fire last year for some controversial training sessions that focused on Islam and portrayed it as a violent religion. And the New York Police Department also has been criticized for singling out Muslim communities and collecting information about their daily lives, in some cases without any indication of criminal activity.

The White House has encouraged law enforcement to reach out to Muslim communities to build relationships, insisting that these communities are partners in the fight against terrorism. At the same time, law enforcement has stepped up investigative efforts to stave off attacks.

In the decade since the September 2001 attacks, New York government officials have done just that: They've met with Muslim leaders, exchanged cellphone numbers, attended religious services, dinners and teas, and spoken at community meetings. As the only U.S. city that al-Qaida has successfully attacked twice and continues to be the target of terror plots, New York also has the most aggressive local police department investigating terrorism, and this duality of missions has caused tension in the city's Muslim communities, where many people have lost trust in the police and wonder whether they are partners in the fight against terrorism or terror suspects.

While the White House conference did not broach the issues between the NYPD and New York's Muslim community, the consistent message was that police can't violate public trust, Haas said. Communities that have solid relationships with the police feel empowered to come forward with tips about suspicious activity, Haas said.

"We don't want to be seen as taking a step back and violating that trust that we have with folks," he said.

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/18...o-discuss.html

[Penn]

Its VERY broad, what I find interesting is the increasingly expansive nature, the inclusiveness of all to prevent decent.

distributive justice ( a democratic ideal ) linked to political silence of the populace (a totalitarian imperative in order to rule)

―the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to
intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any
segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.‖
(DoJ, including FBI).

[Penn]

I should follow that up. First, I would not know how address/advise the current Congressional leaders on a legal response to terrorism that was substantive, that specifically could practically, institutionally, be correct-which I think translates as the legal framework, and which is politically aligned with our sentiment, sensibilities concerning personal freedom and expression. What should Congress do?

[Pete]

.......as you ignore the elephant in the room don't be surprised if you get trampled.

"..........Analysts also found that a person's origin, ethnic background and socioeconomic status are not good indicators for potential violent extremist activity, the senior counterterrorism official said.

That finding is key, as the FBI came under fire last year for some controversial training sessions that focused on Islam and portrayed it as a violent religion. ........"

[ddoering]

You three have made "the list."

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by Penn

Its VERY broad, what I find interesting is the increasingly expansive nature, the inclusiveness of all to prevent decent.

distributive justice ( a democratic ideal ) linked to political silence of the populace (a totalitarian imperative in order to rule)

―the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to
intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any
segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.‖
(DoJ, including FBI).

That that is what crossed my mind when you add TSA, If you see something, Say something campaign, NDAA, SOPA and PIPA to the mix. It looks like another another nail in the coffin so to speak.

And as Pete pointed out, ethnic and socioeconomic are no longer good indicators of who is a bad guy.......I would speculate that this is because the government is pissing off an increasing number of people in every walk of life.



I find it quite ironic and worrisome that our government appears increasing worried about The People taking to the streets and they the Government is taking measure to prevent it from happening....while at the same time our very own Government endorses and assists the same behavior in other countries through productions such as as the Arab Spring.

[Badger52]

Originally Posted by Paslode

I find it quite ironic and worrisome that our government appears increasing worried about The People taking to the streets and they the Government is taking measure to prevent it from happening....

Actually, I absolutely expected nothing less from such an administration.

[Penn]

the government is pissing off an increasing number of people in every walk of life

The Government is the "socio-elite political class and those that support it", both parties. It really doesn't matter who you vote for, in the end you are going to have to choose sides, the SE will waive the patriot flag and all it represents, to lure you in, don't be fooled, they have killed enough of us under that banner.

Thomas Paine refers to it as "Aristocratic tyranny". In that sense, I cannot see myself defending Barry Frank’s right to life, or Mitt Romney's pretense, or Pelosi idea of distributive justice. Especially, as her husband’s $751MM dollar contract examples everything that in unjust and unfair; while we have to hold fundraiser to care for our Brothers horrendously wounded, or care for their sons and daughters as an unspoken promise keep between Brothers, who believe in the propaganda of an honor code. A code, which is used as a weapon against us by the socio-elite to remain in power. If we believe in what they say we will defend them, even if it is against our best interest.


This visceral anger is what the "socio-elite political class” was reacting to through their spoke person Janet Napolitano, when she referenced that the threat to America would be its returning Combat Veterans. The shit storms that follow those remarks were appreciated, but the truth is it established the consciousness in the public that veterans could be and will be a threat. That release has a specific purpose, and that is stage programming of the populace: “If you see something, if you suspect something, report it”! Conditioning; conformity, submission, make no mistake we are on a collision course…

[Richard]

Preppin' for the return of Coxey's Army...

And so it goes...

Richard

[Badger52]

Whether it's co-opting local/regional LE by the creation (with commen$urate a$$i$tance) of fusion centers and giving people titles like Threat Liaison Officers, "minders" is an older term for the asset. They worked like gangbusters in the DDR.

And based on their analysis apparently the Sr Cdr at Ft Hood is remiss due to fostering a climate where extreme "workplace violence" could occur. There's that damned elephant again.

I made Big Sis' list a long time ago, and probably cemented it awhile back when I asked some Fed-types at a seminar what mechanism they had in place for vetting source info & removing the innocuous stuff when Joe Grudgeholder called in just to get someone jammed up. (JAG guy next to me had same concern but remained in his foxhole.)

"We can assure you that information entered into the database as result of a Suspicious Activity Report is used only for the purposes for which it was collected."

Thanks, I feel so much better...

http://blog.dhs.gov/2011/12/expandin...thing-say.html

[Penn]

My frame of mind is July 14th

[tom kelly]

Congress has a "Favorable" rating of 11%; Iam supprised it is that high; If the House and The Senate continue the lies and BS I would expect their rating to be a minus % of favorable approval in the very near future. The Exeuctive Branch is no better, Their talking head is a "Natural Lier" everything he say's and does is for one reason; To get re-elected....TK

[plato]

Originally Posted by Penn

My frame of mind is July 14th

I couldn't resist tossing in my $.02.

Before 9/11 analysis was my "Bread and Butter". I had a group of folks who did that for over 17 years. (God, I'm Old)"

I've never seen someones analysis in an area where I knew the terrain, that I found to be correct. Analysts peel half the onion, and quit unless prodded.
My folks were so good that the famous RAND used to send their analyses on military ground vehicles to us for corrections before they published. Nuff said.

Couple of thoughts to toss into this. CBO cites Civil Service as "fixed benefits" vs. "fixed contributions". That's half true. That old system went out in 1986.

Under the old CS system, your pension caused the cancellation, or at least a significant partial cancellation of your Soc Sec benefits just because you worked for the Govt. My "loss" is about $500 per month, but it beats h$ll out of the current system. AFAIK corporate retirees get their full SS.

Under the current system, the pension is base salary x years of service x 1%. (The old system was 2%)

So, a civilian who retired after 20 years gets 20% of their previous salary. If they previously made as much as an E-8 with 20 years, they would get 20% ($953) of pay but would also get social security. Actually, with a reduction for health insurance of about $400 and another reduction of $100 to continue half your pension for a surviving spouse, your retirement check hits $453 (10%) per month plus Soc Sec.

Ah, and if the cost of living goes up 3% or more, you get 1% less than that increase, so your $453 drops over the years in terms of buying ability.

There is a 401k matching plan for current CS employees where the Gov matches up to 5% of your salary, which, after 20 years gives you one years salary (not including whatever the individual put away.

One years salary and $453 per month is better than private sector?

I'd love to see CBO's actual machinations.

[Penn]

The silencing propaganda program of the ruling elite is continuing to expand, the ruling elite are setting the stage incrementally, by creating perceived threats that scare the public. This is the exact same process employed by government to manufacture public support for war.
Create a threat, advertise the threat, denounce anyone who disagrees as irresponsible and a danger to public safety, then lower the hammer on anyone who disagrees.

We need to encourage, in every way possible support for the Occupywallstreetmovement and those like them, to attend/Occupy the Democratic National Convention this Summer, much like a revisit of the DNC in 1968. It may restore our civil rights, the subject matter of this thread, or result in in the ruling class instituting Marshall law. either way its a win.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...81600V20120207

[Paslode]

On top of the FBI's warning, there's this interesting article from Pajamas Media.....

Its definition of “militia extremists” states:

(U//FOUO) Groups or individuals who facilitate or engage in acts of violence directed at federal, state, or local government officials or infrastructure in response to their belief that the government deliberately is stripping Americans of their freedoms and is attempting to establish a totalitarian regime. These individuals consequently oppose many federal and state authorities’ laws and regulations, (particularly those related to firearms ownership), and often belong to armed paramilitary groups. They often conduct paramilitary training designed to violently resist perceived government oppression or to violently overthrow the US Government. (Page 2 of 3, emphasis added)

Going back to the Bush administration, these “lexicons” have seemingly had a singular purpose: purging the use of “Islam,” “jihad,” and “Muslim” from any official discussion of terrorism. No one should be surprised that none of those terms can be found in the current DHS “lexicon,” despite the fact that even by the most generous estimates, more than 40 percent of domestic terrorism has come from within the Muslim community, which accounts for less than one percent of the population. In its place, federal bureaucrats have invented and promoted a patently meaningless and undefinable category, “violent extremism.”

In light of the recent publication of the DHS “lexicon” that violates their own guidelines, it seems clear that under Secretary Napolitano, DHS officials are intent on continuing to target innocent citizens merely exercising their constitutional rights.

Meanwhile, groups and individuals that federal prosecutors and even federal judges have identified as supporting foreign terrorist groups are actively courted and legitimized by the Obama administration. Leaders from these terror-tied organizations are even being used to help write the DHS department guidelines on “countering violent extremism.”

http://pjmedia.com/blog/homeland-sec...inglepage=true

Domestic Terrorism and Homegrown Violent Extremism Lexicon is Here


There is nothing to see here, just move along.