Exclusive: U.S. directs agents to cover up program used to investigate Americans

[waggy]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/05/us-dea-sod-idUSBRE97409R20130805?irpc=932

(Reuters) - A secretive U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration unit is funneling information from intelligence intercepts, wiretaps, informants and a massive database of telephone records to authorities across the nation to help them launch criminal investigations of Americans.

Although these cases rarely involve national security issues, documents reviewed by Reuters show that law enforcement agents have been directed to conceal how such investigations truly begin - not only from defense lawyers but also sometimes from prosecutors and judges.

THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION

The unit of the DEA that distributes the information is called the Special Operations Division, or SOD. Two dozen partner agencies comprise the unit, including the FBI, CIA, NSA, Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Homeland Security. It was created in 1994 to combat Latin American drug cartels and has grown from several dozen employees to several hundred.

Today, much of the SOD's work is classified, and officials asked that its precise location in Virginia not be revealed. The documents reviewed by Reuters are marked "Law Enforcement Sensitive," a government categorization that is meant to keep them confidential.



/snipped


so. the DEA is getting info from NSA spying. thought it was just used to go after potential terrorist and not crime?

 

[ivwshane]

All intelligence agencies should be working together, so it's good in that aspect, what's bad is the lack of transparency of that cooperation.

Our intelligence agencies (the CIA being the top perpetrator) are the biggest threats to our democracy in my opinion. Who is watching the watchers?

 

[waggy]

All intelligence agencies should be working together, so it's good in that aspect, what's bad is the lack of transparency of that cooperation.

Our intelligence agencies (the CIA being the top perpetrator) are the biggest threats to our democracy in my opinion. Who is watching the watchers?

i agree. Though they should not be spying on everyone and useing that to find crimes.

This is a major overstep of its powers.

 

[EagleKeeper]

All intelligence agencies should be working together, so it's good in that aspect, what's bad is the lack of transparency of that cooperation.

Our intelligence agencies (the CIA being the top perpetrator) are the biggest threats to our democracy in my opinion. Who is watching the watchers?

HARVEY is

 

[fskimospy]

Important context:

Wiretap tips forwarded by the SOD usually come from foreign governments, U.S. intelligence agencies or court-authorized domestic phone recordings. Because warrantless eavesdropping on Americans is illegal, tips from intelligence agencies are generally not forwarded to the SOD until a caller's citizenship can be verified, according to one senior law enforcement official and one former U.S. military intelligence analyst.

This is another reason why vigorous oversight is needed to make sure that actually happens, however.

To me this is primarily a story about the DEA massively abusing people's civil rights, it isn't really about the NSA. Not that I imagine they are entirely innocent here, but the real scandal is not allowing people to actually challenge the evidence used against them in court. That's so absolutely wrong it's not even funny. Fuck the DEA.

 

[hal2kilo]

HARVEY is

He's the first person I thought too.

Been very scarce these days. Don't really blame him though.

 

[HumblePie]

Important context:



This is another reason why vigorous oversight is needed to make sure that actually happens, however.

To me this is primarily a story about the DEA massively abusing people's civil rights, it isn't really about the NSA. Not that I imagine they are entirely innocent here, but the real scandal is not allowing people to actually challenge the evidence used against them in court. That's so absolutely wrong it's not even funny. Fuck the DEA.

The OP wasn't even really bashing the NSA. He was bashing all the government spying programs equally. DEA and NSA are mentioned.

 

[fskimospy]

The OP wasn't even really bashing the NSA. He was bashing all the government spying programs equally. DEA and NSA are mentioned.

That's not what the article is about, and there's no reason from that article to bash all spying programs equally.

The issue in the article is that the DEA is not telling people they are arresting where they got the information. That is almost certainly unconstitutional. I think we all WANT US government spying agencies tipping off law enforcement on criminal activity they get through warrantless wiretaps so long as it is not targeting American citizens. If there are indications that this is happening frequently and that evidence is being used, that's a problem.

 

[poofyhairguy]

To me this is primarily a story about the DEA massively abusing people's civil rights, it isn't really about the NSA. Not that I imagine they are entirely innocent here, but the real scandal is not allowing people to actually challenge the evidence used against them in court. That's so absolutely wrong it's not even funny. Fuck the DEA.

The NSA comes in when its their data that is used by the DEA.

 

[fskimospy]

The NSA comes in when its their data that is used by the DEA.

Right, and that's a good thing as we all want the DEA to use NSA data so long as they aren't using it against people protected by the 4th amendment.

 

[Harvey]

All intelligence agencies should be working together, so it's good in that aspect, what's bad is the lack of transparency of that cooperation.

Our intelligence agencies (the CIA being the top perpetrator) are the biggest threats to our democracy in my opinion. Who is watching the watchers?

HARVEY is

ivwshane;35343015, you're question is spot on, and EK, you say the nicest things. :thumbsup:

For those who don't get the connection, words are everything so I'd like to explain with a little song. 😎

Who's Watching Over Who's Watching Over You?

Words and Music by Harvey Rubens
Copyright © 2006

Verse 1:

I see men looking over their shoulder,
Running hard just trying to stay alive,
And they say that it's gonna get colder before it gets better.

At the time of the crime, who believed us?
We all took a fall on the ride,
When the powers that be had deceived us to leave us the debtor.

And who's watching over who's watching over you?
Tell me who's telling who's telling you what to do what to do?

Verse 2:

All the forces of war were compelling,
And blacker than Colin, the Knight,
And the lies they were telling, they sell in the name of their savior.

And they silence the voices arising,
From those who would show us the light,
With their guys with their spies in the skies watching you and your neighbor.

And who's watching over who's watching over you?
Tell me who's telling who's telling you what to do what to do?

Verse 3:

I see men who are trying to squeeze us,
And taking whatever they can,
While they buy those who try to appease us with scraps from their table.

It gets harder each day to break even.
This wasn't a part of my plan.
Time is right to be fighting or leaving this tower of Babel.

And who's watching over who's watching over you?
Tell me who's telling who's telling you what to do what to do?

I hate to say, "I told you so." Second thought, no, I don't, but sometimes, it really sucks to be so right. :'(

 

[poofyhairguy]

Right, and that's a good thing as we all want the DEA to use NSA data so long as they aren't using it against people protected by the 4th amendment.

I want the DEA to do nothing but fuck themselves to death with a parking cone. Bunch of power hungry assholes that fight any attempts to reform the law and erode their powers, even as our prisons are having to release people on the streets due to overcrowding. Every time they fail its a victory for the American people.

Things that are acceptable for NSA data to be used for:

1. To prevent violent acts of terrorism.

2. Nothing else.

 

[fskimospy]

I want the DEA to do nothing but fuck themselves to death with a parking cone. Bunch of power hungry assholes that fight any attempts to reform the law and erode their powers, even as our prisons are having to release people on the streets due to overcrowding. Every time they fail its a victory for the American people.

Things that are acceptable for NSA data to be used for:

1. To prevent violent acts of terrorism.

2. Nothing else.

While I share your opinion of the DEA, that's simply not the purpose of the NSA by statute, so that's probably not going to happen.

 

[poofyhairguy]

While I share your opinion of the DEA, that's simply not the purpose of the NSA by statute, so that's probably not going to happen.

If this becomes a big enough scandal, maybe the NSA scope will be altered (or at least the access to the NSA's resources be changed).

 

[PingSpike]

We're lucky if this is the only off label use of this data that is occurring. Corporate espionage and manipulation of the political system are the two juiciest uses. So juicy that regardless of original intent of the system that it being used extensively for those things is inevitable and probably already occurring.

 

[fskimospy]

If this becomes a big enough scandal, maybe the NSA scope will be altered (or at least the access to the NSA's resources be changed).

Well I don't really want the NSA to only deal with terrorism. There are lots of foreign governments and organizations they should be spying on as well.

I mean they are all spying on us, seems only right that we return the favor.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Well I don't really want the NSA to only deal with terrorism. There are lots of foreign governments and organizations they should be spying on as well.

I mean they are all spying on us, seems only right that we return the favor.

Which is fine as long as that data isn't even on the same dataserver as the data about American citizens. And the DEA, IRS, someotherthreeletteragency can't get their hands on any of it.

 

[BoberFett]

ivwshane;35343015, you're question is spot on, and EK, you say the nicest things. :thumbsup:

For those who don't get the connection, words are everything so I'd like to explain with a little song. 😎



I hate to say, "I told you so." Second thought, no, I don't, but sometimes, it really sucks to be so right. :'(

Except you wrote that about Bush, fool. You've been eerily silent since Obama won. I guess a little fascism is OK, as long as he's the right color.

 

[fskimospy]

Which is fine as long as that data isn't even on the same dataserver as the data about American citizens. And the DEA, IRS, someotherthreeletteragency can't get their hands on any of it.

Yes, I agree that any data collected by those agencies without warrants should be off limits.

 

[Linux23]

well, i just had my bags searched today while going to work in the NYC subway system, so yeah, i'm practicing for the day when all of my civil liberties are completely taken from me. 😛

 

[Harvey]

Except you wrote that about Bush, fool. You've been eerily silent since Obama won. I guess a little fascism is OK, as long as he's the right color.

YOU are the fool in so many ways:

1. I actually wrote what ended up being the first and third verses of the song in 1973 about Nixon, Watergate and the Nixon criminals break in of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office following the release of the Pentagon Papers.

2. It took George W. Bush, another repugant wannabe tyrant, and his criminal cabal of traitors, murderers, torturers, war criminals, and war profiteers to inspire what ended up as the second verse of the song. I still have my legendary "macros" saved as a text file so if you need me to substantiate all of those charges, you know I can.

3. I probably wouldn't have bothered posting, here, if my name hadn't been brougth into the discussion by others so, either you still have some rude bug up your butt about me, or you're still so stuck in that same wingnut mindset that you can't understand that, as pointed out by the OP, ivwshane and EagleKeeper, the biggest problem is that we still have the same problem under Obama.

4. Every time you've tried to stick the fact that it has continued under Obama in my face, I've replied that I'm not happy about that either.

Bottom line - Keep your hostility toward me to yourself, or enjoy a large helping of FOAD! :hmm:

 

[chucky2]

Holy sh1t, your sh1tty song has been around that long?!?! And you're still pimping it??? If you renamed it to Partisan Hack Whine maybe it'd take off?

 

[BoberFett]

2. It took George W. Bush, another repugant wannabe tyrant, and his criminal cabal of traitors, murderers, torturers, war criminals, and war profiteers to inspire what ended up as the second verse of the song. I still have my legendary "macros" saved as a text file so if you need me to substantiate all of those charges, you know I can.

....

4. Every time you've tried to stick the fact that it has continued under Obama in my face, I've replied that I'm not happy about that either.

So, Bush is a criminal with a cabal of murderers, traitors, torturers and war profiteers, while you're "not happy" with Obama.

Yeah, there's no bias there...

 

[waggy]

YOU are the fool in so many ways:

1. I actually wrote what ended up being the first and third verses of the song in 1973 about Nixon, Watergate and the Nixon criminals break in of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office following the release of the Pentagon Papers.

2. It took George W. Bush, another repugant wannabe tyrant, and his criminal cabal of traitors, murderers, torturers, war criminals, and war profiteers to inspire what ended up as the second verse of the song. I still have my legendary "macros" saved as a text file so if you need me to substantiate all of those charges, you know I can.

3. I probably wouldn't have bothered posting, here, if my name hadn't been brougth into the discussion by others so, either you still have some rude bug up your butt about me, or you're still so stuck in that same wingnut mindset that you can't understand that, as pointed out by the OP, ivwshane and EagleKeeper, the biggest problem is that we still have the same problem under Obama.

4. Every time you've tried to stick the fact that it has continued under Obama in my face, I've replied that I'm not happy about that either.

Bottom line - Keep your hostility toward me to yourself, or enjoy a large helping of FOAD! :hmm:

lol your fucking insane.

you go batshit crazy over Bush but keep silent on Obama.

 

[LightPattern]

Leave Harvey alone!1!

But really, he should update his sig. Democrats in power post 9/11 are proving to be quite comparable to Republicans in power post 9/11.