Outrageous! They Open Our Letters too!!

hotballa · Jan 9, 2006

WTH is going on.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/09/terrorism.mail.reut/index.html

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- U.S. officials are opening personal mail that arrives from abroad when they deem it necessary to protect the country from terrorism, a Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman said Monday.

News of the little-known practice follows revelations that the government approved eavesdropping on U.S. citizens without judicial oversight after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, which sparked concern from civil liberties advocates and some lawmakers, who called for congressional hearings.

"Customs and Border Protection is charged with making sure that terrorists and terrorists' weapons don't enter the country," said Suzanne Trevino, a spokeswoman for the customs agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security.

"One of our areas of responsibility is to inspect international mail coming into our country," she said. "We respect privacy and always keep that at the forefront, but at the same time we need to make sure we do our job in keeping U.S. citizens safe."

Customs and Border Protection's Web site notes that "all mail originating outside United States Customs territory that is to be delivered inside U.S. Customs territory is subject to Customs examination."

Grant Goodman, an 81-year-old retired history professor, drew attention to the policy after a letter he received from a colleague in the Philippines was opened and resealed by Customs and Border Protection, and only then sent on to him.

He said he was shocked and amazed that the letter -- which he received last month from another retired history professor with whom he has corresponded for 50 years -- had been screened.

"It was a big surprise," Goodman, who taught at the University of Kansas, told Reuters. "The public should know that this is being done. Nobody whom I know had any idea that this was going on. And as far as I know, it's never been announced. It's never been revealed that this is being done."

Trevino said she could not comment specifically on Goodman's case because she had not seen the letter and was not sure if it had been examined as he said. She did not say how often officials open mail for security reasons
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Deckard · Jan 9, 2006

hotballa said:

WTH is going on.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/09/terrorism.mail.reut/index.html
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I saw that. I just wasn't ready for 5 more pages of excuses for the Bush Administration doing it. Maybe by posting that, his supporters will just ignore defending more of their rights being trampled into the dirt.

Keep D&D Civil.

rimrocker · Jan 9, 2006

The welcome news is in the letter found; The carrier's not commission'd to expound; It speaks itself, and what it does contain, In all things needful to be known is plain.
--John Dryden

Carrier of news and knowledge, Instrument of trade and industry, Promoter of mutual acquaintance, Of peace and good-will Among men and nations.
--Charles William Eliot
(Inscription on southeast corner of post office in Washington, D.C.)

vlaurelio · Jan 9, 2006

so the anthrax scare makes more sense now

hotballa · Jan 9, 2006

Deckard said:

I saw that. I just wasn't ready for 5 more pages of excuses for the Bush Administration doing it. Maybe by posting that, his supporters will just ignore defending more of their rights being trampled into the dirt.

Keep D&D Civil.
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It's unbelieveable how come peopel just cant see what is going on. Do people not read? These idiots would be making excuses for Stalin if he called himself a Republican.

nyquil82 · Jan 9, 2006

hotballa said:

It's unbelieveable how come peopel just cant see what is going on. Do people not read? These idiots would be making excuses for Stalin if he called himself a Republican.
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Sometimes people will let anyone completely screw with them if it makes them feel safer.

vlaurelio · Jan 9, 2006

so are they patriots or cowards?

thadeus · Jan 9, 2006

vlaurelio said:

so are they patriots or cowards?
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All the cowards are HERO WARRIOR FREEDOM DEMOCRACY PATRIOTS!

Saint Louis · Jan 10, 2006

hotballa said:

It's unbelieveable how come peopel just cant see what is going on. Do people not read? These idiots would be making excuses for Stalin if he called himself a Republican.
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Stalin is the major leagues. George is just in A ball right now.

AMS · Jan 10, 2006

i think it was ben Frank that said it

if you are willing to give up your freedom for safety, then you dont deserve either.

vlaurelio · Jan 10, 2006

adeelsiddiqui said:

i think it was ben Frank that said it

if you are willing to give up your freedom for safety, then you dont deserve either.
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but almighty Bush wants to remove that from history

Orwell could have a case against Bush

In other Patriot Act news, the White House has asked historians to remove Ben Franklin's quote, "They that give up essential liberty for a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety" from history books. "It's wordy and confusing," Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez said. "And one thing this country doesn't need in its fight against terrorism is more confusing words. At least that's what we feel here in the Ministry of Truth."
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Outrageous! They Open Our Letters too!!

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Outrageous! They Open Our Letters too!!

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