re P Grimes

Peter's posting re Echelon, and by inferrence, Carnavore is extremely
significant the the globalization of the Corporate police state.  It is
unlawful for American intelligence agences to spy on Americans.  This rule
exists in other countries.  However, the British part of Echelon spies on
the US citizenry, the US part spies on European transmissions, and Australia
spies on the rest.
    This tactic has been used for decades.  In the sixties and early
seventies, intellligence agencies ran operations against citizens.  When
caught, the press spin was that there were a few "rogue elephants" running
amuck in the agencies, but we should not concern ourselves too much.  There
was a much more insidious movement afoot at this time.  Intelligence
collection, set up by FBI and CIA at local police depts. were privatized.
The LEAA set up a program for the creation of Law Enforcement Intelligence
Units, which were private corporations, and thus not subject to the
supervision of the courts or elected officials.  Files were deliberately
kept from prosecutors with no consequences.  (shades of FBI conduct
regarding McVeigh and Nichols)  The only persons at that time who seemed to
be concerned were defense attorneys and anti-war "radicals". The mainstream
meadia called the objections paranoid and the police establishment cried
that such measures were necessary to protect us from the radicals
(terrorists) and left wing threats like the Berrigan Brothers and the like.
    Now, those concerned about spying and intelligence agency abuse are
called right wing threats.  Once the critics are labeled, the general public
can disregard the problem and the threat, because the concern comes from the
fringe.  We should all be concerned about this blatent ruse to disregard the
rights of citizens and the constraints of constitutional government.
Dennis L. Blewitt