SPECIAL PRIVILEGES FOR SECRET SNITCHES

I know you are sick of talking about the economy. And since the election is pretty much over (i.e. McCain, bye-bye!), lets try something new and very different.

Have you heard of The FBI's 'InfraGard', a secret and privileged organization formed to snoop and snitch on oftentimes innocent citizens? I have because I was asked to become a member of this secret organization about 1-1/2 yrs ago. I declined for what will become obvious reasons. In the 10/02/08 edition of Sacramento News and Review, InfraGard surfaced again as Amanda Witerall's No. 3 in "Censored! The Top 10 Stories Media Ignored". So what is InfraGard exactly? According to InfraGard's website, InfraGard is a "partnership between the FBI and the private sector". Its participants are "dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the United States". Not too bad, so far, huh? But haven't we been told that ALL Americans should report unusual and suspicious activity? Matthew Rothschild, editor of The Progressive, a watchdog publication in existence since 1909 and dedicated to social justice, reports that members of InfraGard "receive secret warnings of terrorist threats before the public does - and, at least on one occasion, before elected officials". As a matter of record, in November, 2001, a credible terrorist threat to California's bridges was relayed to then Governor Gray Davis by his brother, a member of InfraGard, BEFORE the fed's official notification. In return for this seemingly 'inside' info, InfraGard members provide information on potential and/or threatening suspects to the FBI. The members are also provided with special training to be utilized in case of a national or community emergency. They are given membership cards with secret phone numbers and website contacts giving them access to an FBI secure communication network complete with a VPN encrypted website. Mr. Rothschild goes on to say that card-carrying members tell of small InfraGard meetings where agents of the FBI and Homeland Security discuss, in frightening detail, what InfraGard members may be called upon to do. Members have been told that when martial law is declared in an emergency, it is their responsibility to protect their assigned portion of the infrastructure, and if they have to use deadly force to protect it, they will not be prosecuted. These are everyday citizens, folks. NOT law enforcement. Members of InfraGard can only be recruited by other members or by the FBI. In case of a national crisis, members have been assured of special treatment in regards to access to safe harbors for themselves and their families. I was told this, myself, when I was asked to join InfraGard. By the way, I was approached by someone many of you know and would probably not suspect was a member of a secret government club. InfraGard was established in 1996 and, until 9/11/2001, had approximately 1,700 members. Since the 9/11 tragedy, InfraGard has grown to 26,000 members. Some members are typical American citizens like you and I. On the other hand, 350 of our nation's Fortune 500 companies have representatives involved, leaving open the possibility of even more favoritism during a crisis. I would hope that all American citizens take the responsibility of reporting suspicious activity and that all American citizens are treated equally during a crisis. This 'special' organization is reminiscent, to me, of Nazi Germany, where families' would turn in their innocent neighbors, to save themselves. And, jeez, the thought that I might be on somebody's secret shit list because I've written this very blog-post....well, if I turn up missin.....you all will know why. I hope I'm kidding. If you would like to learn more about this elitist, secret, and FBI supported organization, I encourage you to visit the following websites:


www.fbi.gov/
www.infragard.net/
www.infragard.net/chapters/sacramento
www.progressive.org/mag_rothschild0308
www.alternet.org/
www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Home