The Intelligence Community

Ancient aboriginal curse put on Australian Prime Minister Howard

Aborigines invoked an ancient curse on Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Tuesday by "pointing the bone" at the conservative politician to protest against his decision to scrap a top aboriginal body.
Aborigines believe that to point a kangaroo bone at someone is to bring that person ill fortune, and the black magic is strong enough to cause death.
An aboriginal woman dressed in possum skin and traditional tribal makeup confronted Howard on Tuesday after he made a speech in a rural town and pointed a 2,5cm bone at the politician to place a silent curse on him.
IOL

Scalia Apologizes for Seizure of Reporters' Audio

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has apologized to the two reporters whose audio recorders were seized during a speech that the Justice gave last week at a high school in Hattiesburg, Miss.
In a letter to Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Executive Director Lucy Dalglish, Scalia said he didn't approve of the actions by a U.S. Marshal, who seized the recorders and ordered the recordings erased. "You were correct that the action was not taken at my direction; I was upset as you were," Scalia wrote. "I have written to the reporters involved, extending my apology."
Editor and Publisher

Court Opens Door To Searches Without Warrants

It's a groundbreaking court decision that legal experts say will affect everyone: Police officers in Louisiana no longer need a search or arrest warrant to conduct a brief search of your home or business.
New Orleans Police Department spokesman Capt. Marlon Defillo said the new search power, which is effective immediately, will be used judiciously. "We have to have a legitimate problem to be there in the first place, and if we don't, we can't conduct the search," Defillo said.
WDSU, New Orleans

TIC exclusive; TheIntelligenceCommunity.com presents "The Most Controversial Peace Rally of the Year"

Everybody come to see "The Most Controversial Peace Rally of the Year" with hero's Ralph Nader and Alex Jones this Saturday in Crawford Texas, March 20th, the 1st Anniversary of "The War" aka "The War on Iraq", aka "Operation Iraqi Freedom, (which is all part of a larger "War on Terror" which began with the Invasion of Afganistan, which was officially called "Operation Ending Freedom"....er, oops, sorry, that's "Operation Enduring Freedom"). Festivities begin 4 pm with Ralph Nader and Alex Jones at 7 pm. Also there will be musical guests Shanghai 5 and a performance by The Intelligence Community. That's March 20, 2004, in Crawford Texas, 4 pm to 9 pm!
MAP

Bush to Limit Interview with 9/11 Panel to an Hour

The panel investigating the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States will get one hour to ask President Bush what he knew about events leading up to the suicide airline hijackings, the White House said on Friday.
"They are looking at an hour as you pointed out," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said when asked by a reporter whether he could confirm reports that Bush was limiting the meeting to an hour.
Rather than sitting down with all 10 members of the so-called 9/11 commission, Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have only agreed to meet privately with its chairman, Thomas Kean, and the vice chairman, Lee Hamilton.
The panel would prefer that Bush meet with all of the members.
Created by the U.S. Congress, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States is charged with examining lapses in intelligence and national security in the months before the attacks. Strikes by hijacked airplanes on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon killed about 3,000 people.
The White House initially opposed setting up the commission and until recently openly resisted its extension.Reuters

Dallas City Council condemns USA Patriot Act

Dallas on Wednesday became one of nation's largest cities to formally condemn sections of the federal USA Patriot Act as unconstitutional and a threat to the civil liberties it says it defends.
The vote came after a highly emotional two-hour debate among council members and audience members.
"They say the majority of people support the Patriot Act," council member James Fantroy whispered into his microphone. "But I remember when the majority was for slavery. I remember when the majority was for segregation.
"The majority is not always right."
"I never expected it to pass," added Randeep Walia, a Dallas resident who attended the debate. "This will give more momentum to the larger effort."
The council will transmit the resolution to leaders such as President Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft.
Dallas Morning News

Rhode Island Governor's Proposed Homeland Security Bill Under Fire

Legislation intended to strengthen the state's security measures drew criticism from a civil rights group that said the proposed law threatens free speech and academic freedom.
Gov. Don Carcieri's new homeland security law would create new felony charges, require annual safety audits of every public school and close some public records, including those that show whether businesses comply with state Fire Safety Code requirements.
The bill, which Carcieri introduced last week, also resurrects World War I-era laws that make it illegal to "speak, utter, or print'' statements in support of anarchy; speak in favor of overthrowing the government; or to display "any flag or emblem other than the flag of the United States'' as symbolic of the U.S. government.
The director of the Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, Steven Brown, called the proposal "extraordinarily dangerous'' and "a return to McCarthyism, when people had to be careful what they said or what organization they belonged to.''NBC News Providence RI

Bush 'troubled' by same sex marriages

President Bush said Wednesday he was "troubled" by same-sex weddings in San Francisco, California, and by legal decisions in Massachusetts that could clear the way for same-sex marriage. But he declined to say whether he is any closer to backing a constitutional ban on such vows.
"I have watched carefully what's happening in San Francisco, where licenses were being issued, even though the law states otherwise," Bush said. "I have consistently stated that I'll support law to protect marriage between a man and a woman. Obviously these events are influencing my decision."
"I am watching very carefully, but I am troubled by what I've seen," Bush said.CNN

Dallas Residents: Oppose the USA PATRIOT Act

Send a message to John Ashcroft: Dallas opposes the USA "PATRIOT" ACT!
THe Dallas City Council will finally vote February 25 to decide if Dallas will join more than 230 American cities to formally oppose the Patriot Act. Join the BORDC Dallas and The Intelligence Community, Wednesday Feb 25th, 8:45 am, Dallas City Hall.
Volunteers are needed to man phonebanks and help sway a handful of swing votes on the city council.
If you are available for service contact Joy at the ACLU, 214-770-4176 or defiant@ruffkat.com.

Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act only a few weeks after the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Many parts of this sweeping legislation remove checks on law enforcement and threaten the very rights and freedoms that our country is struggling to protect.  A resolution pending before the Dallas City Council responds to the Act's shortcomings and defends the rights of Dallas residents.
The resolution -- co-sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem John Loza and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill, along with Councilmembers Steve Salazar, James Fantroy, and others -- reaffirms the City of Dallas's commitment to protecting civil rights and civil liberties for all Dallas residents, including the right to engage in activities protected by the First Amendment without fear of government spying. 
ACLU

N.Y. City Council Passes Anti-Patriot Act Measure
New York City, site of the country's most horrific terrorist attack, Wednesday became the latest in a long list of cities and towns that have formally opposed the expanded investigatory powers granted to law enforcement agencies under the USA Patriot Act.
Washington Post
New York City Bill of Rights Defense Campaign

Part of Patriot Act Ruled Unconstitutional

For the first time, a federal judge has declared unconstitutional a section of the USA Patriot Act that bars giving expert advice or assistance to groups designated foreign terrorist organizations.
In a ruling handed down late Friday and made available Monday, U.S. District Judge Audrey Collins said the ban is impermissibly vague in its wording.
AP