[Think] Justice Dept. Drafts Sweeping Expansion of Anti-Terrorism Act

[Fen Labalme]

If you haven't yet, act now.  It may be your last chance.

If not, you may want to unsubscribe from this list, as reading this may be
cause for expatriation...

>From the Center for Public Integrity <http://publicintegrity.org/>:

    (WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2003) -- The Bush Administration is preparing a
    bold, comprehensive sequel to the USA PATRIOT Act that will give the
    government broad, sweeping new powers to increase domestic
    intelligence-gathering, surveillance and law enforcement prerogatives,
    and simultaneously decrease judicial review and public access to
    information.

Note Section 501, "Expatriation of Terrorists":

    This provision, the drafters say, would establish that an American
    citizen could be expatriated "if, with the intent to relinquish his
    nationality, he becomes a member of, or provides material support to, a
    group that the United Stated has designated as a 'terrorist
    organization'." But whereas a citizen formerly had to state his intent to
    relinquish his citizenship, the new law affirms that his intent can be
    "inferred from conduct." Thus, engaging in the lawful activities of a
    group designated as a "terrorist organization" by the Attorney General
    could be presumptive grounds for expatriation.

Just remember that the USA PATRIOT Act has nothing to do with patriotism.  It
is merely an acronym for creating a stronger, more robust surveillance state:
Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to
Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism.


Fen
===
"It is the duty of a patriot to protect his country from its government"
                                -- Thomas Paine