More than 755,000 on US terrorist watch list

Ouroboros · 10-24-2007, 09:11 PM

More than 755,000 on US terrorist watch list
Wed Oct 24, 7:17 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US terrorist watch list includes more than 755,000 names and continues to grow, the US Government Accountability Office said Wednesday.

The list exploded from fewer than 20 entries before the September 11, 2001 attacks to more than 150,000 just a few months later, after the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) was created in December 2003 to keep tabs on terrorist suspects, according to the GAO, the non-partisan investigative arm of Congress.

Including known pseudonyms of suspects, the list's 755,000 names as of May 2007 represents, in fact, around 300,000 people, according to TSC estimates.

Tasked with gathering data on individuals "known or appropriately suspected to be or have been engaged in conduct constituting, in preparation for, in aid of or related to terrorism," the TSC gets its information from Federal Bureau of Investigation intelligence and passes it on chiefly to immigration authorities.

Since 2003, the list has been used around 53,000 times to single out individuals for possible arrest or to prevent them from entering the country, the GAO said.

More often, however, people whose names are included on the list for reasons of caution are merely questioned and released, and left to face the same annoyance each time they enter the country, GAO said.

Despite the precautionary zeal, there have been mistakes, it said, adding that many suspects have been stopped by immigration authorities on arrival at US airports when their entries in the TSC list should have prevented them from boarding their planes in the first place.

Describing the list as "quicksand" that traps innocent people for the sake of security, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has called on the US Congress to step in.

"How much safer are we when the government turns so many innocent people into suspects?," ACLU senior legislative counsel Timothy Sparapani said in a statement.

VKMHVM2 · 10-24-2007, 09:29 PM

Who knew there were 755,000 anti-war activists in this country?

VKMHVM2 · 10-24-2007, 09:33 PM

Related:

Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007

"A bill to prevent homegrown terrorism, and for other purposes."

BillCosby · 10-25-2007, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ouroboros

More than 755,000 on US terrorist watch list
Wed Oct 24, 7:17 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US terrorist watch list includes more than 755,000 names and continues to grow, the US Government Accountability Office said Wednesday.

The list exploded from fewer than 20 entries before the September 11, 2001 attacks to more than 150,000 just a few months later, after the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) was created in December 2003 to keep tabs on terrorist suspects, according to the GAO, the non-partisan investigative arm of Congress.

Including known pseudonyms of suspects, the list's 755,000 names as of May 2007 represents, in fact, around 300,000 people, according to TSC estimates.

Tasked with gathering data on individuals "known or appropriately suspected to be or have been engaged in conduct constituting, in preparation for, in aid of or related to terrorism," the TSC gets its information from Federal Bureau of Investigation intelligence and passes it on chiefly to immigration authorities.

Since 2003, the list has been used around 53,000 times to single out individuals for possible arrest or to prevent them from entering the country, the GAO said.

More often, however, people whose names are included on the list for reasons of caution are merely questioned and released, and left to face the same annoyance each time they enter the country, GAO said.

Despite the precautionary zeal, there have been mistakes, it said, adding that many suspects have been stopped by immigration authorities on arrival at US airports when their entries in the TSC list should have prevented them from boarding their planes in the first place.

Describing the list as "quicksand" that traps innocent people for the sake of security, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has called on the US Congress to step in.

"How much safer are we when the government turns so many innocent people into suspects?," ACLU senior legislative counsel Timothy Sparapani said in a statement.

I have an older neighbor w/ the first name of kahlil ......... HIs last name is English........ He is not Arab or Muslim (born here) but was named by his father after his goat herder w/ that name............

He has received a phone call/ three hour "interview" & been called down to the local FBI headquarter twice............

I feel much safer knowing the fbi has this 67 year old retired suspect under surveillance.........

JeffinCO · 10-25-2007, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ouroboros

More than 755,000 on US terrorist watch list
Wed Oct 24, 7:17 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US terrorist watch list includes more than 755,000 names and continues to grow, the US Government Accountability Office said Wednesday.

The list exploded from fewer than 20 entries before the September 11, 2001 attacks to more than 150,000 just a few months later, after the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) was created in December 2003 to keep tabs on terrorist suspects, according to the GAO, the non-partisan investigative arm of Congress.

Including known pseudonyms of suspects, the list's 755,000 names as of May 2007 represents, in fact, around 300,000 people, according to TSC estimates.

Tasked with gathering data on individuals "known or appropriately suspected to be or have been engaged in conduct constituting, in preparation for, in aid of or related to terrorism," the TSC gets its information from Federal Bureau of Investigation intelligence and passes it on chiefly to immigration authorities.

Since 2003, the list has been used around 53,000 times to single out individuals for possible arrest or to prevent them from entering the country, the GAO said.

More often, however, people whose names are included on the list for reasons of caution are merely questioned and released, and left to face the same annoyance each time they enter the country, GAO said.

Despite the precautionary zeal, there have been mistakes, it said, adding that many suspects have been stopped by immigration authorities on arrival at US airports when their entries in the TSC list should have prevented them from boarding their planes in the first place.

Describing the list as "quicksand" that traps innocent people for the sake of security, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has called on the US Congress to step in.

"How much safer are we when the government turns so many innocent people into suspects?," ACLU senior legislative counsel Timothy Sparapani said in a statement.

Isnt this kinda vague?

Who decides what is "appropriate" suspicion?

I can get behind any legal police work that will help save lives, but that shit reads as though "suspicion" of any conduct related to terrorism puts you on the list.

Does that mean like anti-war posters on liberal message boards?

After all, the implication has been, that if we question the war in Iraq, we're helping the terrorists.

+ just releasing the information that the government has a "naughty" list.....is ENOUGH TO SUPPRESS democracy, by scaring the shit out of people, IMHO.

gorillamom · 10-25-2007, 01:33 PM

Reminds me of trying to go through the airport with that experimental gastric pacemaker. Talk about being violated! Took me to the "private search area" room! Damn, a strip search in jail would have been more pleasent compared to that!

BillCosby · 10-25-2007, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gorillamom

Reminds me of trying to go through the airport with that experimental gastric pacemaker. Talk about being violated! Took me to the "private search area" room! Damn, a strip search in jail would have been more pleasent compared to that!

??? You saying this happened to you.....???

What airport....???

What reason...???

VKMHVM2 · 10-26-2007, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VKMHVM2

Related:

Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007

"A bill to prevent homegrown terrorism, and for other purposes."

"Thought Crime Bill" Could Ensnare Peaceful Activists

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