FBI targeting those who oppose Bush’s war

Massive anti-war rallies broke out across the globe yesterday as thousands of people took to the streets in various nations around the world marking the third anniversary of Iraq war and demanding an end to the U.S.-led invasion.



UK, Basra, New York, Madrid, Rome, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto and Dublin all staged protests, demanding the U.S. and foreign troops withdraw from the war-torn country.

Recently released documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union under the Freedom of Information Act, accused the U.S. government of spying on members of an antiwar activist group in 2002 because of its views.

An FBI agent in Pittsburgh photographed members of the antiwar group, the ACLU, which said that the disclosure marks the latest incident in which the FBI has monitored left-leaning groups, said, according to the Washington Post

The documents show that the U.S. government targeted the Merton Center because of its views, said Mary Catherine Roper, the ACLU attorney who filed the request.

FBI argued that the surveillance was necessary for a criminal investigation of one specific person, not the group.

Members of the Thomas Merton Center were photographed on 2002 as they held protests and handed out leaflets opposing the unjustified U.S. military presence in Iraq, according to an FBI report from November 2002, which also called the group a "left-wing organization advocating, among many political causes, pacifism."

"All we were doing was handing out leaflets, which is a perfectly legal way to spend an afternoon," said Tim Vining, the center's former executive director, who said he participated in the Nov. 24, 2002, protest monitored by FBI agents who took photos of the peace group members.

"All we want to do is exercise our First Amendment rights . . . Is handing out fliers now considered a terrorist activity?"

The FBI claimed in its statement that its agent was "acting with all appropriate investigative authorities" as part of an ongoing terrorism probe, as one of the leaflet distributors "appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent".

This is the latest disclosure by the ACLU involving the government biased stance against antiwar protesters, environmental groups and religious organizations that have been monitored by FBI agents.

The ACLU accused the FBI of misusing ‘terrorism’ investigators to monitor domestic political organizations.

“This isn't about legal recourse. It's not about suing the government,” Catherine Roper said.

“What this is about is exposing the practices of the government so that the people can speak out about whether they want their government to be doing this.”