"ECHELON is a term associated with a global network of computers that automatically search through millions of intercepted messages for pre-programmed keywords or fax, telex and e-mail addresses. Every word of every message in the frequencies and channels selected at a station is automatically searched." -Federation of American ScientistsThis electronic, warantless surveillance expanded, of course, under the administration of Democrat Bill Clinton. The legal reasoning seems to be that if warrants are required for people to search into our lives, then automatic computer snooping is okay through a loophole. The government hasn't actually put forth that argument yet, however, because:
"The US government denies Echelon exists." --UK GuardianSo, Brother, are you human or machine? Are the machines indeed taking over, as futurists predict? The European Parliament investigated the activities of ECHELON, and found:
"The intelligence services of the UKUSA states also helped each other by spying on each other's behalf so that at least local intelligence services could not be accused of anything [unlawful]." "The ECHELON system has moved away from its original goals, which were linked to the Cold War, and this means that it is not impossible that the intelligence gathered may be used for political and industrial purposes..." "ECHELON might indeed present a danger to fundamental freedoms and in this context it raises numerous problems that demand appropriate answers." --European Parliament Report on EchelonSo, my Brother, your computers have tracked me, analysed me, recommended me for further evaluation by a living, breathing surveillance officer of the state: you. Here is what I have to say to you. The government lies, constantly, on nearly every conceivable subject. The entire mythological history of the United States is a pack of lies. I find this immoral. Morality compels people to seek the truth, no matter how ugly, no matter how out of line with the popularized myths of the day. Morality should compel you, as well (Bro), to examine these subjects in an honest, forthright and lawful manner. The US Constitution has been violated by the current and twice unelected regime. These are "high crimes" as specified in the Constitution itself. You, as a rational and reasoning intelligence analyst must know this, deep down in your soul. The government is now committing horrendous criminal acts with impunity. They are not being stopped by the Congress, nor by any law enforcement arm (yours?). As independent citizen bloggers (pamphleteers?), there is little that people of my ilk can do about this, except expose the crimes and complain about them in our communications. But you, Brother, you are in a much more advantageous position. With a system like ECHELON, or "Total Information Awareness" at your fingertips, you can actually dig far more deeply than can someone like me. Justice demands it. Morality commands it. Your own conscience must come into play somewhere in all of this grey area swirling with data and knowledge. We're talking about super-criminals, the pupeteers who arrange for mass casualty terrorism to happen without interference in Lower Manhattan. We're talking about people who kill 650,000 civilians with a stroke of a pen (Bush), or 500,000 innocent children (Clinton). These are very malevolent individuals whose crimes rank with the great names in atrocity and genocide. And in all of this, we have the UN Charter and the "supreme law of the land" clause in the Constitution rendering these acts illegal, war crimes, the "supreme international crime." This isn't self-defense. This is cold blooded, genocidal mass murder. It can be stopped. But it's going to take a lot more effort, the effort of people like you, Brother. The line needs to be drawn somewhere. Our Founders drew it pretty damned well near where it needed to be. Think about that. The crimes of untouchable elite actors need to be exposed. They need to see the inside of jail cells. Nothing short of that will bring peace and prosperity to the majority. And we all know it. This is the resurgence of the Robber Barons, the hyper-capitalists who would sell their grandmothers into servitude if the profit margin was right. They intend to rule through false flag terror operations and neo-fascism, nationalism, militarism. That is not a future that any sane person would prefer. Make the right choice. One of the great 20th century authors explores life under a totalitarian surveillance state ###