NCJ Number
61817
Journal
Nation Volume: 226 Issue: 19 Dated: (MAY 20, 1978) Pages: 590-594
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
STEPS ARE CRITICIZED WHICH WOULD EXPAND INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES IN AMERICA UNDER THE GUISE OF INCREASING LEFTIST-ORIENTED TERRORIST THREATS.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH AMERICAN SOCIETY IS FREER AND MORE OPEN TODAY THAN IT WAS 10 AND 15 YEARS AGO, INTELLIGENCE AS A MEANS OF CONTAINING MOVEMENTS OF CHANGE IS TOO POWERFUL A WEAPON IN A HIGHLY CONSERVATIVE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ORDER TO BE EASILY ABANDONED. THE RESURGANCE OF INTENSIVE INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS IN AMERICA REQUIRES THE TARGETING OF A THREAT TO LIFE AND THE ESTABLISHED ORDER SUCH AS LEFTIST TERRORISM. A BILL WAS SUBMITTED BY SENATORS THURMOND AND EASTLAND WITH THE INTENTION OF AMENDING (AND REVITALIZING) THE DORMANT INTERNAL SECURITY ACT OF 1950 BY INSERTING A NEW TITLE DEALING WITH TERRORISM. THE SUBSTANTIVE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL ARE PREFACED BY PROPOSED CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS THAT THE ENTIRE WORLD, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, IS THREATENED BY A CONSPIRATORIAL NETWORK OF TERRORIST GROUPS WHICH RECEIVE TRAINING AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FROM MARXIST-LENINIST GOVERNMENTS AND AID FROM SUBVERSIVE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAS ALSO MOUNTED TRAINING AND STRATEGIES AGAINST TERRORISM, WITH INTELLIGENCE-GATHERING BEING A PRIME ELEMENT IN COUNTERSTRATEGY. HOWEVER, NO EVIDENCE EXISTS THAT SUCH AN ORGANIZED CONSPIRACY IS OPERATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES. IN THE ABSENCE OF A REAL THREAT, GROUPS TARGETED BY INTELLIGENCE GATHERERS HAVE BEEN THOSE INVOLVED IN PRISON REFORM, ECOLOGY, HEALTH CARE, AND REDUCTIONG OF UTILITY RATES, THE ABUSES OF INTELLIGENCE POWER IN CHILLING AND REPRESSING LEGITIMATE DISSENT FAR OUTWEIGH ITS PROTECTIVE BENEFITS. BECAUSE THE STIMULATION OF AUTHORITARIAN REPRESSION IS ONE OF THE GOALS OF EUROPEAN-STYLE TERRORISTS, WHO HOPE TO POLARIZE SOCIETY AND PRECIPITATE CONFLICT, TO PLAY INTO THE HANDS OF SUCH A STRATEGY BY EXPANDING DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES WOULD SERIOUSLY THREATEN THE SURVIVAL OF DEMOCRACY IN THE UNITED STATES. (RCB)