In regards to the latest terror-related arrests... Officer credited with making case against suspected N.J. terrorists is part of NYPD's secret weapon http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local...ror_squads_finest_secret.html?r=news/ny_crime They are culled from thousands of Police Academy recruits because of their Middle Eastern or Asian descent, their fluency in foreign languages, and life experiences, including military service. They are sworn in - in a secret ceremony - and their families and friends don't know they are NYPD. They view the risky job of undercover not as spying on fellow Muslims but as their duty to weed out terrorists in New York City. The young police officer credited with making the case against two New Jersey men nabbed on their way to Somalia to wage violent jihad is the latest example of the department's use of a special cadre of undercover officers to observe - and infiltrate - extremist groups in the Muslim community. The officer is of Egyptian descent, in his mid 20s and he's been with the department since 2005. Officials would offer no other details. These officers are cloaked in secrecy because of the sensitive nature of their work. The Intelligence Division recruited a few Arabic-speaking cops and civilians who monitored chat rooms and penetrated coded Web sites for a new cyber unit. As it expanded computer investigations, the division expanded its "human program," meaning traditional undercover detective work, and sought candidates in the academy. "Not too many people turn it down" when approached, said one former NYPD investigator with knowledge of the operation. "They are patriotic Americans." Police officials say the undercovers do not target any community as a whole, but act as eyes and ears. They frequent bookstores, mosques and other spots where Islamic extremist views may be shared. One undercover said he was taken from the Police Academy to be "a walking camera" among Muslims. That detective, who came to the U.S. from Bangladesh as a child, testified about radicalization of Muslims during the Herald Square bomb plot trial. The cop in the New Jersey case frequented locations in Brooklyn, and recorded numerous meetings in which the suspects made jihad preparations, using paintball and other tactical training. <script src='http://www.nydailynews.com/js/AC_RunActiveContent.js' type='text/javascript'></script><script type='text/javascript'>AC_FL_RunContent('codebase','http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,28,0','width','485','height','350','title','Video Player','src','http://www.nydailynews.com/swf/video_player/vp_485_single', 'FlashVars', 'embedCode=lnZ2NnMToJzRX9yeSc5VXN6Cj1dC8sq8', 'quality','high', 'play', 'true', 'loop', 'true', 'allowFullScreen', 'true', 'pluginspage','http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash','movie','http://www.nydailynews.com/swf/video_player/vp_485_single' );</script><noscript><object classid='clsid27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000' codebase='http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,28,0' width='485' height='350' title='Video Player'> <param name='movie' value='http://www.nydailynews.com/swf/video_player/vp_485_single.swf' /> <param name='quality' value='high' /> <param name='flashvars' value='embedCode=lnZ2NnMToJzRX9yeSc5VXN6Cj1dC8sq8' /> <embed src='http://www.nydailynews.com/swf/video_player/vp_485_single.swf' quality='high' flashvars='embedCode=lnZ2NnMToJzRX9yeSc5VXN6Cj1dC8sq8' pluginspage='http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash' allowFullScreen='true' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' width='485' height='350'></embed></object></noscript>
Somehow . . . I suspect they may have these types of squads for more than just arabic groups. Perhaps Hispanic, black, white, etc. Rocket River
Well, this is a pretty common practice employed by the FBI against the civil rights movement, Black nationalists and even lefties. I suspect there is a trickle down effect from the feds to the local police forces, especially since most of the big city police departments now have these highly specialized anti-terrorist units. More than anything really, I am always surprised when I hear that some guy was busted after running his mouth at a local mosque. I mean seriously, if you are Muslim, do you not pretty much operate under the assumption that you ARE being monitored not just at the mosque, but also electronically? This is the surveillance state now, this stuff is so commonplace you just got to accept that it is happening. Technology has absolutely wiped out privacy, it is the new reality, there aint no going back. It is old news, but certainly ever since this new focus on terrorism it has been nothing but a boon to the national security state, which is what America has turned into, there is no question about it.
Do you seriously equate having undercover cops looking for terrorists to a police state? This isn't technology, it's the oldest spy game in town. Terrorists have to recruit people, so having people pose as potential recruits is a way to dig out terrorists. Just as police pose as drug buyers, dealers, addicts or other traps. Undercover cops take a massive risk in trying to take down the scum of society, from mobsters to crooked officials to now terrorists. To the man who did the infiltration that led to these men's arrest, I thank you.
