FBI Terror Watch List 'Out of Control'

A terrorist watch list compiled by the FBI has apparently swelled to include more than half a million names.
Privacy and civil liberties advocates say the list is growing uncontrollably, threatening its usefulness in the war on terror.

(Snip)

"It grows seemingly without control or limitation," said ACLU senior legislative counsel Tim Sparapani of the terrorism watch list. Sparapani called the 509,000 figure "stunning."

"If we have 509,000 names on that list, the watch list is virtually useless," he told ABC News. "You'll be capturing innocent individuals with no connection to crime or terror."

U.S. lawmakers and their spouses have been detained because their names were on the watch list.

(Snip)

"There's a reason the FBI has a '10 Most Wanted' list, right? We need to focus the government's efforts on the greatest threats. When the watch list grows to this level, it's useless as an anti-terror tool," Sparapani said.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/06/fbi_terror_watc.html

Every peace group, every Quaker Church, all of Code Pink, etc. Those peace and political groups are oh so dangerous!!!

It's become a tool to harass political opponents. Not that it hasn't been know as such around here for a long time. It's just that finally someone in the MSM has noticed.

... great as a marketing tool.

Why subject yourself to the indignity of being pulled out of line when you can use our new "fast-track" service and be guaranteed a stress-free boarding every time?

Oh sure, you'll have to turn over all your valuable personal/financial information, but think of the convenience!

Brought to you by the same people who neglected your taxpayer-funded water supply, so they could sell you bottled water instead!

at this point..... Fortunately, for some, a $500 bill ought to convince most....:eyes:

Just show me the procedures/laws regarding REMOVAL of a name from the Watch List. Just show me the number of people who've had their names removed. I bet not even the media can find any such information. It ain't rocket science.

What a farce.

employed by the German BMW team that was denied access to the U.S. for this week's race in Indianapolis (he's currently in Canada following the race there last Sunday), and he just happens to be from IRAN!!! :mad:

Of course, that just brought out a couple of freepers over there to subject the rest of the board with their racist filth... :puke:

And ironically, the only and most logical response to improving security after 911 would have been a better watch list and better enforcement of the watch list. Two of the hijackers were on it. If that list can't be enforced, why are we worrying about 6 million Mexicans picking lettuce and other such jobs? You'd think the terrorist watch list would come first.

Making Americans returning from Canada or Mexico show passports does zilch. Why would a terrorist go to Canada first and sneak in from there as an American citizen when he can come to the U.S. directly on his Saudi passport with his visitor's visa, and still be around weeks after going on the terrorist watch list? (Let alone overstaying the visa).

the customs people let them pass for fear of causing an 'Incident' and being reprimanded.

Look what happened right after 9/11 with the Bin Laden family.

Is this another punishment technique by the GOP?

Self-perpetuating cycle. You see it everywhere. In psychiatry, for example, the more people are given a pathological label and the more funding they can get.

The easiest way to gather info is just to listen in when people voluntarily share information about what they believe... I may be paranoid...

for extra screening, including that stupid machine that puffs air on you. Very unpleasant. I am in my late 50's, while haired, well dressed and always wearing sandals with no socks, no jacket, etc. since I am headed to Thailand where it is very hot. My spouse, who is not a DUer is NEVER selected. Maybe paranoia, maybe not.

have wondered if DU would affect this...

I've been all over the world and have gone MANY times since 9/11. I've been on DU since the 2nd month of its existence. I've never been pulled out for special screening, and geez, i look like a middle eastern terrorist. You know, all dark-skinned, and black haired, with a Saddam mustache. I almost always wear a hat. So, if somebody that looks as suspicious as me doesn't get picked, i don't think it's DU. But, not once, have i.

I think you've just run into an unlucky streak.
GAC

That the overwhelming majority of people who are on said list are there because they oppose the war publicly, oppose Bush publicly and vocally, and oppose his policies. This isn't so much a terror watch list as it is a political enemies harassment list. Welcome to the USSA, papers please.

THE REPUBLICAN COMPUTERS MUST BE BURNING UP WITH ALL THIS DATA.

WINNER!

How long was Ol' Joe's List?

-Hoot

Welcome to DU

IMHO!
Check this out for a good explanation!

You stupid morans - they don't want a list of 500k citizens for any other reason than terror. Their war of terror against us.