- The latest Big Brother police state measure emanating
from the Bush administration, with virtually no press coverage, is NSPD
59 (HSPD 24) entitled http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080605-8.html
- Biometrics for Identification and Screening to Enhance
National Security [Complete text of NSPD 59 (HSPD 24) in Annex below]
-
- NSPD is directed against US citizens.
-
- It is adopted without public or Congression debate. Its
relevant procedures have far-reaching implications.
-
- NSPD 59 goes far beyond the issue of biometric identification,
it recommends the collection and storage of "associated biographic" information,
meaning information on the private lives of US citizens, in minute
detail, all of which will be "accomplished within the law":
-
- "The contextual data that accompanies biometric
data includes information on date and place of birth, citizenship, current
address and address history, current employment and employment history,
current phone numbers and phone number history, use of government services
and tax filings. Other contextual data may include bank account and credit
card histories, plus criminal database records on a local, state and federal
level. The database also could include legal judgments or other public
records documenting involvement in legal disputes, child custody records
and marriage or divorce records."(<http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=66795>See
Jerome Corsi, June 2008)
-
- The directive uses 9/11 as a all encompassing justification
to wage its witch hunt against dissenting citizens, establishing at the
same time an atmosphere of fear and intimidation across the land.
-
- It also calls for the integration of various data banks
as well as inter-agency cooperation in the sharing of information, with
a view to eventually centralizing the information on American citizens.
In a carefully worded text, NSPD 59 "establishes a framework" to
enable the Federal government and its various police and intelligence agencies
to: "use mutually compatible methods and procedures in the collection,
storage, use, analysis, and sharing of biometric and associated biographic
and contextual information of individuals in a lawful and appropriate
manner, while respecting their information privacy and other legal rights
under United States law."
-
- The Directive recommends: "actions and associated
timelines for enhancing the existing terrorist-oriented identification
and screening processes by expanding the use of biometrics".
-
- Other Categories of Individuals
-
- The stated intent of NSPD 59 is to protect America from
terrorists, but in fact the terms of reference include any person who is
deemed to pose a threat to the Homeland. The government requires the ability:
-
- "to positively identify those individuals who may
do harm to Americans and the Nation... Since September 11, 2001, agencies
have made considerable progress in securing the Nation through the integration,
maintenance, and sharing of information used to identify persons who may
pose a threat to national security.
-
-
- The Directive is not limited to KSTs, which in Homeland
Security jargon stands for "Known and Suspected Terrorists":
-
- "The executive branch has developed an integrated
screening capability to protect the Nation against "known and suspected
terrorists" (KSTs). The executive branch shall build upon this success,
in accordance with this directive, by enhancing its capability to collect,
store, use, analyze, and share biometrics to identify and screen KSTs and
other persons who may pose a threat to national security.
-
- The executive branch recognizes the need for a layered
approach to identification and screening of individuals, as no single
mechanism is sufficient. For example, while existing name-based screening
procedures are beneficial, application of biometric technologies, where
appropriate, improve the executive branch's ability to identify and
screen for persons who may pose a national security threat. To be
most effective, national security identification and screening systems
will require timely access to the most accurate and most complete biometric,
biographic, and related data that are, or can be, made available throughout
the executive branch."
-
- NSPD 59 calls for extending the definition of terrorists
to include other categories of individuals "who may pose a threat
to national security".
-
- In this regard, it is worth noting that in the 2005 TOPOFF
(Top officials) anti-terror drills, two other categories of individuals
were identified as potential threats: "Radical groups" and "disgruntled
employees", suggesting than any form of dissent directed against Big
Brother will be categorized as a threat to America.
-
- In a previous 2004 report of the Homeland Security Council
entitled http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/
- report/2004/hsc-planning-scenarios-jul04.htm
- Planning Scenarios, the enemy was referred to as the
Universal Adversary (UA).
-
- The Universal Adversary was identified in the scenarios
as an abstract entity used for the purposes of simulation. Yet upon more
careful examination, this Universal Adversary was by no means illusory.
It included the following categories of potential "conspirators":
-
- "foreign [Islamic] terrorists" ,
-
- "domestic radical groups", [antiwar and civil
rights groups]
-
- "state sponsored adversaries" ["rogue
states", "unstable nations"]
-
- "disgruntled employees" [labor and union activists].
-
- According to the DHS http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/report/2004/hsc-planning-scenarios-jul04.htm
- Planning Scenarios Report :
-
- "Because the attacks could be caused by foreign
terrorists; domestic radical groups; state sponsored adversaries; or in
some cases, disgruntled employees, the perpetrator has been named, the
Universal Adversary (UA). The focus of the scenarios is on response capabilities
and needs, not threat-based prevention activities." (See http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/report/2004/hsc-planning-scenarios-jul04.htm
- Planning Scenarios )
-
- Under NSPD 59, biometrics and associated biographical
information will be used to control all forms of social dissent.
-
- Domestic radical groups and labor activists envisaged
in various counter terrorism exercises, constitute in the eyes of the Bush
administration, a threat to the established economic and political order.
-
- In the text of NSPD 59, these other categories of people
have been conveniently lumped together with the KSTs ("known and suspected
terrorists"), confirming that the so-called anti-terror laws together
with the Big Brother law enforcement apparatus and its associated data
banks of biometric and biographic information on US citizens are intended
to be used against all potential domestic "adversaries" including
those who oppose the US led war in the Middle East and the derogation of
the Rule of Law in America.
-
- It is worth noting that NSPD 59 was issued on June 5,
2008, 4 days prior to the publication of Rep. Dennis Kucinich's <http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=9293>Articles
of Impeachment of President George W. Bush by the House of Representatives.
Article XXIII of the Articles Impeachment underscore how in derogation
of the Posse Comitatus Act, which prevents the military from intervening
in civilian law enforcement, President Bush:
-
- "a) has used military forces for law enforcement
purposes on U.S. border patrol;
-
- b) has established a program to use military personnel
for surveillance and information on criminal activities;
-
- c) is using military espionage equipment to collect intelligence
information for law enforcement use on civilians within the United States"
-
- In Article XXIV the president is accused on Spying
on American Ctizens without a court-Ordered Warrant , In Violation
of the Law and the Fourth Amendment.
-
-
- ANNEX
-
- http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080605-8.html
- Biometrics for Identification and Screening to Enhance
National Security [Complete text of NSPD 59 (HSPD 24) in Annex below]
-
-
- National Security Presidential Directive and Homeland
Security Presidential Directive
-
-
-
-
- NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE/NSPD --
59
- HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE/HSPD --
24
-
- SUBJECT: Biometrics for Identification and Screening
to Enhance National Security
-
- Purpose
-
- This directive establishes a framework to ensure that
Federal executive departments and agencies (agencies) use mutually compatible
methods and procedures in the collection, storage, use, analysis, and sharing
of biometric and associated biographic and contextual information of individuals
in a lawful and appropriate manner, while respecting their information
privacy and other legal rights under United States law.
-
- Scope
-
- (1) The executive branch has developed an integrated
screening capability to protect the Nation against "known and suspected
terrorists" (KSTs). The executive branch shall build upon this success,
in accordance with this directive, by enhancing its capability to collect,
store, use, analyze, and share biometrics to identify and screen KSTs and
other persons who may pose a threat to national security.
-
- (2) Existing law determines under what circumstances
an individual's biometric and biographic information can be collected.
This directive requires agencies to use, in a more coordinated
and efficient manner, all biometric information associated with persons
who may pose a threat to national security, consistent with applicable
law, including those laws relating to privacy and confidentiality of personal
data.
-
- (3) This directive provides a Federal framework for
applying existing and emerging biometric technologies to the collection,
storage, use, analysis, and sharing of data in identification and screening
processes employed by agencies to enhance national security, consistent
with applicable law, including information privacy and other legal rights
under United States law.
-
- (4) The executive branch recognizes the need for a layered
approach to identification and screening of individuals, as no single
mechanism is sufficient. For example, while existing name-based screening
procedures are beneficial, application of biometric technologies, where
appropriate, improve the executive branch's ability to identify and
screen for persons who may pose a national security threat. To be
most effective, national security identification and screening systems
will require timely access to the most accurate and most complete biometric,
biographic, and related data that are, or can be, made available throughout
the executive branch.
-
- (5) This directive does not impose requirements on State,
local, or tribal authorities or on the private sector. It does
not provide new authority to agencies for collection, retention, or dissemination
of information or for identification and screening activities.
-
- Definitions
-
- (6) In this directive:
-
- (a) "Biometrics" refers to the measurable
biological (anatomical and physiological) and behavioral characteristics
that can be used for automated recognition; examples include fingerprint,
face, and iris recognition; and
-
- (b) "Interoperability" refers to the ability
of two or more systems or components to exchange information and to
use the information that has been exchanged.
-
- Background
-
- (7) The ability to positively identify those individuals
who may do harm to Americans and the Nation is crucial to protecting the
Nation. Since September 11, 2001, agencies have made considerable
progress in securing the Nation through the integration, maintenance, and
sharing of information used to identify persons who may pose a threat to
national security.
-
- (8) Many agencies already collect biographic and biometric
information in their identification and screening processes. With improvements
in biometric technologies, and in light of its demonstrated value
as a tool to protect national security, it is important to ensure agencies
use compatible
- methods and procedures in the collection, storage, use,
analysis, and sharing of biometric information.
-
- (9) Building upon existing investments in fingerprint
recognition and other biometric modalities, agencies are currently
strengthening their biometric collection, storage, and matching capabilities
as technologies advance and offer new opportunities to meet evolving threats
to further enhance national security.
-
- (10) This directive is designed to (a) help ensure a
common recognition of the value of using biometrics in identification
and screening programs and (b) help achieve objectives described in
the following: Executive Order 12881 (Establishment of the National
Science and Technology Council); Homeland Security Presidential Directive-6
(HSPD-6) (Integration and Use of Screening Information to Protect Against
Terrorism); Executive Order 13354 (National Counterterrorism Center);
Homeland Security Presidential Directive-11 (HSPD-11) (Comprehensive Terrorist
Related Screening Procedures); Executive Order 13388 (Further Strengthening
the Sharing of Terrorism Information to Protect Americans); National Security
Presidential Directive-46/Homeland Security Presidential Directive-15 (NSPD-46/HSPD-15)
(U.S. Policy and Strategy in the War on Terror); 2005 Information
Sharing Guidelines; 2006 National Strategy for Combating Terrorism; 2006
National Strategy to Combat Terrorist Travel; 2007 National Strategy for
Homeland Security; 2007 National Strategy for Information Sharing; and
2008 United States Intelligence Community Information Sharing Strategy.
-
- Policy
-
- (11) Through integrated processes and interoperable systems,
agencies shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, make available
to other agencies all biometric and associated biographic and contextual
information associated with persons for whom there is an articulable and
reasonable basis for suspicion that they pose a threat to national security.
-
- (12) All agencies shall execute this directive in a lawful
and appropriate manner, respecting the information privacy and other legal
rights of individuals under United States law, maintaining data integrity
and security, and protecting intelligence sources, methods, activities,
and sensitive law enforcement information.
-
- Policy Coordination
-
- (13) The Assistant to the President for Homeland Security
and Counterterrorism, in coordination with the Assistant to the President
for National Security Affairs and the Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy, shall be responsible for interagency policy coordination
on all aspects of this directive.
-
- Roles and Responsibilities
-
- (14) Agencies shall undertake the roles and responsibilities
herein to the fullest extent permitted by law, consistent with the policy
of this directive, including appropriate safeguards for information privacy
and other legal rights, and in consultation with State, local, and tribal
authorities, where appropriate.
-
- (15) The Attorney General shall:
-
- (a) Provide legal policy guidance, in coordination with
the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Homeland Security and the Director
of National Intelligence (DNI), regarding the lawful collection, use, and
sharing of biometric and associated biographic and contextual information
to enhance national security; and
-
- (b) In coordination with the DNI, ensure that policies
and procedures for the consolidated terrorist watchlist maximize the use
of all biometric identifiers.
-
- (16) Each of the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Homeland
Security, the Attorney General, the DNI, and the heads of other appropriate
agencies, shall:
-
- (a) Develop and implement mutually compatible guidelines
for each respective agency for the collection, storage, use, analysis,
and sharing of biometric and associated biographic and contextual information,
to the fullest extent practicable, lawful, and necessary to protect national
security;
-
- (b) Maintain and enhance interoperability among agency
biometric and associated biographic systems, by utilizing common information
technology and data standards, protocols, and interfaces;
-
- (c) Ensure compliance with laws, policies, and procedures
respecting information privacy, other legal rights, and information security;
-
- (d) Establish objectives, priorities, and guidance to
ensure timely and effective tasking, collection, storage, use, analysis,
and sharing of biometric and associated biographic and contextual information
among authorized agencies;
-
- (e) Program for and budget sufficient resources to support
the development, operation, maintenance, and upgrade of biometric capabilities
consistent with this directive and with such instructions as the Director
of the Office of Management and Budget may provide; and
-
- (f) Ensure that biometric and associated biographic
and contextual information on KSTs is provided to the National Counterterrorism
Center and, as appropriate, to the Terrorist Screening Center.
-
- (17) The Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security, the Attorney General, and
the DNI, shall coordinate the sharing of biometric and associated biographic
and contextual information with foreign partners in accordance with applicable
law, including international obligations undertaken by the United States.
-
- (18) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy, through the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), shall
coordinate executive branch biometric science and technology policy, including
biometric standards and necessary research, development, and conformance
testing programs. Recommended executive branch biometric standards are
contained in the Registry of United States Government
-
- Recommended Biometric Standards and shall be updated
via the NSTC Subcommittee on Biometrics and Identity Management.
-
- Implementation
-
- (19) Within 90 days of the date of this directive, the
Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretaries of State, Defense,
and Homeland Security, the DNI, and the Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy, shall, through the Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs and the Assistant to the President for Homeland
Security and Counterterrorism, submit for the President's approval an action
plan to implement this directive. The action plan shall do the following:
-
- (a) Recommend actions and associated timelines for enhancing
the existing terrorist-oriented identification and screening processes
by expanding the use of biometrics;
-
- (b) Consistent with applicable law, (i) recommend
categories of individuals in addition to KSTs who may pose a threat to
national security, and (ii) set forth cost-effective actions and associated
timelines for expanding the collection and use of biometrics to identify
and screen for such individuals; and
-
- (c) Identify business processes, technological capabilities,
legal authorities, and research and development efforts needed to implement
this directive.
-
- (20) Within 1 year of the date of this directive,
the Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretaries of State, Defense,
and Homeland Security, the DNI, and the heads of other appropriate agencies,
shall submit to the President, through the Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs and the Assistant to the President for Homeland
Security and Counterterrorism, a report on the implementation of this directive
and the associated action plan, proposing any necessary additional steps
for carrying out the policy of this directive. Agencies shall provide
support for, and promptly respond to, requests made by the Attorney General
in furtherance of this report. The Attorney General will thereafter report
to the President on the implementation of this directive as the Attorney
General deems necessary or when directed by the President.
-
- General Provisions
-
- (21) This directive:
-
- (a) shall be implemented consistent with applicable
law, including international obligations undertaken by the United States,
and the authorities of agencies, or heads of such agencies, vested by law;
-
- (b) shall not be construed to alter, amend, or revoke
any other NSPD or HSPD in effect on the effective date of this directive;
-
- (c) is not intended to, and does not, create any rights
or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable by law or in equity
by a party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities,
or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
-
-
- Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the
sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those
of the Centre for Research on Globalization.
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