Hallelujah! I Have Another FBI File! The Next Round Is On Me, Boys!
Well, kiddos, it appears that the FBI has been spying on “environmental extremists” in Houston, Texas. And the definition of environmental extremist is people who oppose the Keystone pipeline.
Internal agency documents show for the first time how FBI agents have been closely monitoring anti-Keystone activists, in violation of guidelines designed to prevent the agency from becoming unduly involved in sensitive political issues.
The documents reveal that one FBI investigation, run from its Houston field office, amounted to “substantial non-compliance” of Department of Justice rules that govern how the agency should handle sensitive matters.
One FBI memo, which set out the rationale for investigating campaigners in the Houston area, touted the economic advantages of the pipeline while labelling its opponents “environmental extremists”.
After The Guardian ran the story, Charles Pierce of Esquire Magazine picked it up and wrote —
… it is fair to conclude that what the FBI and TransCanada really were cooking up was a counter-propaganda operation using the investigative auspices of the FBI. In other words, the FBI office in Houston joined in ratfking the opposition to the pipeline. Gordon Liddy must be weeping for joy.
Okay, so why is the FBI conspiring with a foreign government to screw American citizens who oppose the foreign pipeline? Oh yeah, they justify it by asserting that the Keystone pipeline is “vital to the security and economy of the United States.”
The hell you say? It’s not our pipeline. We don’t even get the oil. I would suspect it would provide the same level of security as having a giant leaky x-ray machine in your backyard to check for burglars coming over your fence.
So what do we do about the FBI violating it’s own rules? Two game suspension?
You gotta wonder if they are also monitoring President Obama.
Thanks to Craig for the heads up.
The feds are not trying to take over Texas (again); they’re just spying on law-abiding people who don’t want the Earth to look like the Moon– i.e. “environmental extremists.”
I’ve tried to promote a term for the opposite extremists, who have a (boat)load more money and influence than we do. “Moonscapers” hasn’t caught on yet. We have to win every fight; they have to win only once.
1Congratulations, Mrs B.! You’ve made the big time. Keep on keeping on, until Texas turns blue and the mainstream media feels butt hurt that they are as irrelevant as they are.
2Yoohoo, FBI, here I am, an environmental extremist! Come on over for coffee! Bring the Koch brothers along. I have a couple things I want to say to them.
3“Environmental extremists” = people who seem to believe Earth is the only planet we’ve got, and would like to keep it livable.
4This raises several questions (said the queen of Understatement):
Since when does the FBI strategize with foreign corporations? Don’t they have enough to do?
Why do Americans have to turn to the Guardian, a U.K. paper, for this information?
Why in the hell is the FBI incapable investigating RW nut jobs (you know the people who actually have a proven track record for committing acts of terrorism in this country), but they are Johnny on the spot when it comes to investigating a liberal exercising their right of free speech?
What concerns me most is this isn’t a rogue operation, it’s agency policy. Or at least it is when they aren’t enjoying the favors of Columbian Drug Lords: aka known as prostitutes and parties.
Since 911 the FBI can open investigations into people and groups even if they haven’t got “a suspicion” of wrong doing. Just out of curiosity, what’s the definition of a police state? “Anyone,anyone, Buheler?”
5Deb: “Why do Americans have to turn to the Guardian, a U.K. paper, for this information? ” the same reason we are increasingly turning to Al Jazeera for “fair” news on the teevee.
6I forgot the most pertinent question of all: Just how many FBI files does Juanita Jean, her-own-self, have?
I hasten to add, you go girl!
7The spirit of Hoover lives! The FBI never changes.
8The Guardian online is one of my major news sources, and sometimes I see a story there that the Washington Post should sure as hell print but doesn’t. And The Guardian is still free! Bookmark this, y’all, for the US edition:
http://www.theguardian.com/us
They have good pages on Science and Environment too.
9Rhea: How about “scorched earthers?”
10JJ, you are in some of the best company possible with your FBI file! One of these days I would like to see everyone with such a file have some kind of a class reunion. We would have to rent an entire state to handle that crowd!
11I only got one FBI file. I’m madder’n heck,Eddie Chiles.
12If he were actually sincere about what he says, Ted Cruz would go apoplectic over this story. I suggest all Texans write him and complain. Just to see what happens. All he does is complain so let’s see if he complains about this.
13This should be red meat for Democrats in Congress. There’s dry rot within the FBI and it calls for a thorough committee investigation.
14i emailed the fbi asking if im on any “lists” got no reply. here are a few reasons i was wondering and hoping they were wasting their time on me:
i email the icc about my concerns about gwb and asked what i could do, they responded basically saying: u deal with it in the usa
i have been a paid member and donor to many organizations and political partys is the usa, all legally recognized by the usgov and not on any “terrorist” list as far as i know, these include, but not limited to:
– peta
– socialist party usa
– green peace
– communist party usa
– revolutionary communist party usa
– democratic socialist party usa
– party for socialism and liberation usa
– friends committee on national legislation (quakers)
– etc
and my all time favorite and the one i give to the most, and only one at this time, got to watch some animal welfare and environmentalist orgs are evil:
Americans United for Separation of Church and State: https://www.au.org/
so i wonder comically if i am on a list and would love to find out how to get this info
15I would like to go on record as opposing the Keystone Pipeline.
So now I presume my name goes on the FBI list of environmental extremists. Great! I’m in good company.
Wonder if the FBI really understands that this pipeline brings dirty fuel from Canada through our country to be shipped to other countries. It profits Canadian companies and some US investors, but brings terrible risk to our country’s environment.
16The fuel is not for America. The pipeline is a threat to Americans and our environment.
Too many miles between bomb trains, so they want uninterrupted miles of bomb pipeline threatening our health. We’re the terrorists? We haven’t blown anything up, have no plans to blow anything up, and have not fracked anyone’s water supply. So we want clean water, air and food that hasn’t been poisoned, yet we’re the ‘radicals.’ If not for their complete lack of a sense of irony and humor, might think we need a national play with the Fibbies day.
17Hey, this can’t be true? The nice man who came to my house in the swanky suit and tie and wearing aviator glasses and an ear bud told me he was offering free carpet cleaning!
It was a good deal, should I cancel the appointment? He said he would sweep each room thoroughly.
18Corey,if you have ever been arrested and had a mugshot taken-you have an FBI file. I got mine from serving jail time for contempt of court. It was contempt before I served 30 days,what would it be called after serving time? Even more contempt of court? A larger degree of contempt?
19PKM, to quote a line from one of my favorite films M.I.B
Kay: ” We at the FBI do not have a sense of humor we’re aware of.”
20J. Edgar: the Zombie of the FBI.
21I’ve had an FBI file since Vietnam. Have they nothing better to do? Hey, Fibbies, I marched for the climate — for the PLANET — on September 21st. It was the People’s Climate March, and there were hundreds of thousands of us on the streets. Just to confuse you, I marched with the religious groups (I’m an atheist, but a spiritual person). Jews in front of me and to my left, pagans to my right, Buddhists behind. I even blew a shofar. I was in exactly the right place. Check your video. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: There is no Planet B.
22