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| Federal spy probe begins into California National Guard unit | |||
| 2005-07-07 | |||
| SACRAMENTO – U.S. military authorities on Wednesday began investigating whether a California National Guard unit was established to spy on U.S. citizens, as about 30 demonstrators outside guard headquarters confronted officials backed by armed soldiers. The federal probe of the nation's largest National Guard force involves the U.S. Army's inspector general, the federal National Guard Bureau's inspector general and the National Guard Bureau's legal division. The unit has raised concern among peace activists that the Guard is resorting to the same type of civilian monitoring that characterized Vietnam War-era protests.
Under scrutiny is a California National Guard unit with a tongue-twisting name – the Information Synchronization, Knowledge Management and Intelligence Fusion program. It was created last year and came to public light after a recent story in the San Jose Mercury News. Investigators also are looking into the Guard's monitoring of a Mother's Day anti-war demonstration at the state Capitol that was organized by several peace groups. The activities were documented in an e-mail chain originating in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's press office and made public by the newspaper. That monitoring was by a second unit, the Guard's Domestic Watch Center. Both units were under the command of Col. Jeff Davis, who has since retired and left the state. Guard spokesman Col. Doug Hart said monitoring activities merely meant tracking media coverage of the protest, which included the Gold Star Families for Peace, Raging Grannies and Code Pink. "Even with a seemingly innocent act as watching TV, they're breaking the law," said Natalie Wormeli, a member of Code
California National Guard officials defended the unit. "We do not spy on people," Hart said. "Never have, never will." The Guard has described the unit as consisting of two members who monitor the military's classified e-mail system and seven others who help gauge terrorist threats to bridges, buildings and other structures. Officials in the guard and the governor's office said they will cooperate in the federal inquiry. Hart said the federal units were declining comment on their probe. Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Pamela Hart declined to even acknowledge that an investigation was under way. Meanwhile, a state senator has begun his own investigation into the guard unit. Sen. Joe Dunn, D-Garden Grove, said he is concerned that Davis, who oversaw the unit, not only has retired but that the hard drive on his computer was erased. Doug Hart said Davis' retirement and the cleansing of the computer were routine and happened before Dunn began investigating the unit last week.
The acting adjutant general for the California National Guard, Brigadier General John R. Alexander, said he would provide no details to Dunn while the federal investigation is ongoing. Dunn questioned federal jurisdiction in the case and suggested that Schwarzenegger, as the state's commander in chief, should order the Guard to cooperate. He also said the governor should consider involving the California Highway Patrol to ensure that no evidence is destroyed or removed from the state. State Guard officials said they expect to be able to convince Dunn that they have done nothing wrong. Schwarzenegger originally sought a federal review of possible accounting irregularities under the Guard's former commander, Major Gen. Thomas Eres. Eres resigned abruptly in June amid questions about whether he falsified passing a required marksmanship test and tried to arrange a flight on a military aircraft for members of a Republican group. The governor's office expanded the request after questions arose about the special unit arose. | |||
| Posted by:Steve |
| #8 Sarge to Private watching the wimmin of Code Pink(o): How's the surveillance going, private? Private: You couldn't get me a job watching porn? |
| Posted by: badanov 2005-07-07 22:40 |
| #7 come on Sarge, locals know it as the San Jose Jerkry News. |
| Posted by: Dog wearing red hair 2005-07-07 17:12 |
| #6 (amused snort) |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-07-07 13:41 |
| #5 The San Jose Mercury News should be renamed "Moonbat Central News" for the good it does. They are the ones that broke the story of the CIA selling crack in black communities. Of course you know this is another poo poo fling at Arnold and has nothing to do with the Guard. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2005-07-07 13:03 |
| #4 I'm with you all on this one. Although, I'd have to say, you'd have to pay me one he!! of a salary to watch the Raging Grannies and Code Pink. Sure hope those Guardsmen are mentally o.k. still after that! |
| Posted by: BA 2005-07-07 12:59 |
| #3 They were fulfilling the part of their service oath about "enemies both foreign and domestic". |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-07-07 12:42 |
| #2 When I read the headline, I thought maybe the feds were probing the NG for real spying - the type on behalf of foreign agents. Oh well, nothing to see here; move along. |
| Posted by: Xbalanke 2005-07-07 12:05 |
| #1 Hmm.. looks like a witch hunt by the dems. If I was the commander of the Guard unit, I would watch the protesters too, in the off chance I was called out to surpress a riot. Happens all the time and is NOT illegal on public property. Now if the guard unit snuck into the homes of the nut-jobs, different story. Much ado about nothing and as I said, a witch-hunt by the dems and LLL. Two words for you groups. FUCK OFF! |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-07-07 11:51 |