Rothschild Spy Bone
Rumsfeld Spies on Quakers and Grannies. Cute headline for demonizing the Pentagon and Rumsfeld (both so deserving). From the Progressive by Matthew Rothschild. Read on.
"Not to trouble you or anything, but the next time you’re going to a protest, the eyes of the government may be upon you.
And I’m not just talking about local police filming your activity.
I’m not talking about the FBI under cover in your midst.
I’m talking about the Pentagon, too, getting into the act.
According to an MSNBC story on December 13, Rumsfeld’s Pentagon is tracking some of the most innocuous and lawful protests."
Yep, MSM MSNBC tells us we're being spied on! and Mr. Rothschild runs with it, but before getting the knickers in a knot - think about it.
Mr. R's article seems to imply that spying on a November 2004 Quaker meeting in Lake Worth, FL was one of DoD's dastardly deeds but the .pdf file linked to doesn't explicitly state if the "spies" were standing outside the Quaker Meeting House watching or simply had this group on the roster - likely because of the group's previous summer long discussion with authorities to gain access to the local high school to counter recruitment efforts.
The Quaker group spoken of was written up in June of 2004 at CommonDreams in regard to a pilot program where Lake Worth High students would "see peace recruiters in the cafeteria, career fairs, assemblies, classrooms and JROTC classes -- all the places on campus they now see uniformed military representatives."
The most honest, and perhaps saddest, statement in Rothschild's article is "the most innocuous and lawful protests." The size and correctness of current "protests" are indeed very painless, safe, and law-abiding.
What the Pentagon/DoD is doing is not new, nor any different than what's been done under any other Secretary Of Defense. It's standard operating procedure (SOP) to keep tabs on protests or "anti-" events against, near, on, next to, or around military installations, recruitment stations or centers, bases, etc. There are certain protocols that have to be in place in case an event becomes less than innocuous. More akin to preparation for all possibilities, extra MPs, keeping personnel aware, etc. The silly piece of .pdf file doesn't tell me anything. If you are going to share, be on, or near turf with the DoD expect to be listed, or "watched", as they do keep tabs on the competition and protect their territory.
If Rothschild or MSNBC wants to throw a bone of contention, have a little meat on it please.
2 comments:
Thank you for the perspective. When I placed myself on the list last summer as an early supporter of Cindy Sheehan in Crawford, I was naive about SOPs in these situations. I was outraged and defiant when repercussions hit the mil fam fan (the military was a brand new world to me) but since then I’ve concluded that it is really no different the the civilian world of nosy neighbors and curious colleagues (with or without management prompting).
Speaking of fleeting indignation, Cindy became a celebrity traveling the globe with a disabled message while I remained sitting in the dirt in Texas and my stoplossed soldier-son went on to his second tour. However, unlike Cindy (who was undermined and overtaken), my son and I are each prepared to hang on to the rim when they hit the flusher.
My oldest deploys again next month, the youngest next August, and the middle son, who I thought had put MI behind him after 12 years, is leaving for other parts in April.
You state eloquently and accurately the "disabled message" of Sheehan.
Best to you and yours. Many of us are waiting, and hanging, on the rim.
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