Trolling for terrorists: what does that look like?

Mulling over the wonderful story and editorial comments by Jane Howard about the sad court case of the Border Patrol agent in the death of Dr. Ken Petersen....
Howard said she is glad to know that the Border Patrol is there to stop terrorists from coming in through Canada... Well, then, how do those PaTrollers stop those Terrists (as they are called by our Fearless Decider)? Do they recognize them by their assault weapons, or their camouflage gear? Or is it the color of their skin? Or maybe the faintly Arabic cast of their features? Is there some secret sign that they are taught in their Terrist Training? Or is this just one more instance of racist profiling?
It seems that driving up and down the Gunflint Trail is one of the big ways the Border Trollers carry on their fearless hunt. What exactly are they looking to find? Hmm, True looks a little scruffy, like much of Cook County, when he goes off fishing. Is scruffiness a sign of Terrism? A couple of years ago, True's friend Toivo watched a scene in the Grand Marais Harbor parking lot, where a couple of tourist families in vans were having a picnic. Trouble was, those couple of families looked like they might be Middle Eastern. Toivo watched in astonishment as one after another Border Patrol vehicles appeared, slowly TROLLING by the innocent families, obviously trolling for terrists posing as tourists.
It makes True laugh and laugh that the mouthpiece hired to represent Weber quoted bloggers and even our wonderful Sheriff Falk to prove that in Cook County the Border Patrol is perceived as the enemy more than "invisible terrorists." Now why would we ever think that?
Well, silliness aside, at least give those Trollers some Driver Training and don't let them off the hook when they get well-deserved traffic tickets.
Immunity? Because Ms. Weber was diligently pursuing those invisible Terrists she gets to run down and kill a good man?
Honestly, what country are we living in? Maybe a Latin American dictatorship? That's what they do down there, folks, with the blessing of our big corporations like Coca Cola. But that's another story.
True

Treasured life, needless death, a traffic ticket

Nearly six months after the tragic death of Dr. Ken Peterson on Halloween night of 2007 on the Gunflint Trail, a grand jury has decided to charge his killer with two misdemeanor traffic offenses, tickets routinely issued by the Minnesota Highway Patrol in ANY accident, even where there is no damage to life or property.
The few facts so far released to the public (aside from the name and age of the killer, Maranda Weber, 27) provide only negatives: she was not drunk, not on drugs, and not speeding. So, how is it that she killed a man who was trying to remove a downed tree in the middle of the Trail? Hmm, it seems she was "careless."
Careless? What does that mean, a slap on the wrist, a fine of a couple hundred dollars at most?
Well, no way would I or any other driver I know be "careless" enough to slam into a tree across the road!
Dr. Peterson was an exceptional person, evidenced by his last act of trying to remove a hazardous tree blocking the Trail, but even more so by his life of giving so much to the residents of our county.
And is his death so meaningless that the county attorney has chosen not to pursue any fault? And would that be because the killer was a member of the Border Patrol?
CA Tim Scannell has obfuscated the issues, and probably influenced the grand jury (as nearly always happens) with his statement that there was no evidence for "vehicular homicide" and therefore would be no jail time.
HELLO? Jail time? Oh no way, not for a Homeland Security employee. Still, there are lots of options between jail and a traffic ticket. The community as well as Ms. Weber deserve some healing, such as community service in penance or at least some required driver training. Or at best some parole, again commonly prescribed by the courts even in cases not involving the death of a human being, a recognition that there needs to be a period where the perpetrator is held accountable for her actions by society.

True

The helipad in the harbor

Like everybody else True was shocked to learn that the feds have decided to use the Coast Guard station to house their expanded Border Patrol.
This came about after more than a year of secrecy, rebuffs to the press who tried to find out what was going on, and a general "Up Yours" attitude as people continued to wonder where they planned to build their 10-acre compound surrounded by barbed wire fence and enclosing an underground parking bunker, a helipad, and a jail.
Turns out, the Department of Homeland Security, thanks to the machinations of the Bush administration, now owns our historic Coast Guard station. Nyaa, nyaa, too bad for us.
The PR team insists the facility will only be used for "office space." Even so, the harbor parking lot is a favorite tourist spot. Even locals like to have lunch while watching the changing landscape. As County Commissioner Bruce Martinson said, the Homeland Honchos have chosen the "worst possible" site for their military hi-jinks (apologies to Bruce, the honchos and hi-jinks are my own words not his).
But DHS's credibility is sorta in doubt here. Why should we believe what they tell us now after they have lied for so long?
Here is one possible reason: the new satellite surveillance system being imposed as we speak on every citizen in the "Homeland" and described in this week's Washington Post...This could mean there doesn't have to be so many night surveillance flights or Border Patrol staff riding herd on people who don't look like us: the satellite sees all. Are you out on your deck on a summer eveing, enjoying the Milky Way, and perhaps entertaining a friend? Big Brother will take note.
Still, True is not so sure there won't be a high fence around the Coast Guard station and worries about tourists finding their way to our beloved Artist's Point without DHS harassment.
They do it because they can. The community can't stop them. They are the Deciders. They own the property.

New Border Crossing Rules May Cause Problems

Op-Ed jusst in from Rep. Oberstar:

New Border Crossing Rules May Cause Problems
Friday, January 25, 2008

In just a few days, it will become more confusing to cross the border between the U.S. and Canada or Mexico. Because the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is not ready to implement the new Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), DHS is moving ahead with a temporary system to screen travelers and commerce at our border crossings.

Here is what travelers need to know about the new requirements that take effect on January 31:

• Adults traveling to Canada or Mexico will need a government-issued photo ID as well as proof of citizenship.
• To satisfy this enhanced travel requirement, you can present a passport or you can use your driver’s license plus your birth certificate.
• Children under the age of 18 are only required to have a proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate.
• There are also exemptions for members of the U.S. armed forces traveling on orders and youth and school groups.
• For more information, visit http://travel.state.gov before you leave the U.S.

A passport is a good investment if you travel between the U.S. and Canada on a regular basis. For the last year, U.S. airline passengers have needed a passport to fly to Canada or Mexico, and passports will soon be one of the key documents accepted for travel by land. Regardless of the new system that DHS implements, a passport will serve as absolute proof of your U.S. citizenship.

I am disappointed with the way that DHS has developed this temporary screening process. According to a recent report by the General Accountability Office, DHS does not have the resources or manpower to make the plan work smoothly. I am concerned this will result in long lines at the border that will hamper the movement of people and goods and harm the economies of border communities like International Falls.

I have signed a letter with my congressional colleagues to request that DHS suspend its interim program. DHS should focus its resources to implement the new WHTI and developing an alternative, efficient document for those who cross the border frequently.

The current system that allows travelers to make an oral declaration of citizenship gives border agents the ability to use their common sense and experience to screen people. Border agents used this very system to catch the terrorists who were planning the Millennium Plot in Seattle in 2000.

The new WHTI must preserve this ability of our Customs and Border Patrol agents to draw on their judgment and experience. It must quickly identify travelers who do not pose a threat, so resources can be used more effectively. DHS must devise a system that strikes the right balance between protecting our national security and ensuring the economic vitality of border communities.

###

Maureen Dowd | A Vice President Without Borders, Bordering on Lunacy

Here is True's blog pick for today.... Cheney being smarter than Bush (despite flunking out of Yale while Daddy's boy sailed through on Daddy's largesse), he is a much greater danger to the republic and the constitution.....
I wish people would wake up and act against the neocon terrorists who are destroying all that the nation has stood for. It's a replay of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire.
True

Maureen Dowd A Vice President Without Borders, Bordering on Lunacy

GAO Says Homeland Security is Breaking Privacy Laws

What kind of country do we want to live in? I won't be flying to Hawaii like one of our luminous locals who found herself on the No-Fly list due to no fault of her own.
Well, I AM at fault in my unflagging criticism of this administration and its policies that increase terrorism and insecurity and death and dislocation and destruction and torture and hatred in our world. So, if I go, it will be across the border to Canada and I won't be coming back.
True

GAO Says Homeland Security is Breaking Privacy Laws

Ham Lake fire 100 percent contained in U.S.

Here's breaking news from the Duluth Tribune:

· Duluth News Tribune ·

As fire fighting winds down and our heroes maybe get some family time, I know we will all step up to the plate with kindness and help for those who lost their homes or still have major infrastructure needs.
Kindness is what we are about, same as the Dalai Lama who says, "Kindness is my religion."
True

Quarantined wood imports may contain emerald ash borer

Now, if those pesky border cops would just check out the big corporations to make sure they aren't importing forest-destroying predators from quarantined areas, that might be useful.

Check out this latests Alert from the Duluth News Tribune:
· Duluth News Tribune ·

AlterNet: DrugReporter: U.S. Border Patrol Bars Canadian Psychotherapist with Drug Research Far in His Past

Lest we forget, the Border Patrol is still sending us 50 or so of its finest from the Mexican border to make sure nobody that Homeland Security (read: The Bush Administration) doesn't like gets in here from Canada. No, for the bad guys, like eminent Canadian psychotherapist and Holocaust survivor Andrew Feldmar, a venerable gentleman of a certain age, there won't be any more attending seminars with his colleagues in this lifetime.
Yours truly, whose own brilliant career has some similarities to Feldmar's, figures if he leaves for Canada he better not plan on coming back. Hmm, unless maybe he slaps a "Bush/Cheney" bumper sticker over the old "Kerry/Edwards" one.

And though we expect Boeing to be building its electronic surveillance barrier on behalf of those spendy folks at Homeland soon enough, it really isn't necessary anymore. All the patrol agents have to do is Google you.

Read on for this amazing but True story from Alternet, a modern version of the deportation of John Lennon, that old peacenik, for protesting the Vietnam War and making songs like "Give Peace a Chance."

True

AlterNet: DrugReporter: U.S. Border Patrol Bars Canadian Psychotherapist with Drug Research Far in His Past

Coast Guard urged to drop target-practice plan

Great Lakes Area Tries To Dodge A Bullet
Guard Urged to Drop Target-Practice Plan
By Peter Slevin
Washington Post Staff WriterSunday, December 10, 2006; Page A01
CHICAGO -- U.S. Coast Guard vessels staging machine-gun target practice in the peaceable Great Lakes? George Heartwell does not like the idea, not one little bit. He questions the need, the risk and the appearance.
"I think our Canadian friends see us as trigger-happy cowboys," said Heartwell, mayor of Grand Rapids, Mich. "There simply have to be other ways and better ways."
'http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/09/AR2006120900354.html',

In the name of defending the United States against terrorists, the Coast Guard proposes live-fire zones in all five Great Lakes, where gunners could perfect their skills on M-240B machine guns to be mounted on Lakes vessels. The weapons can fire hundreds of 7.62mm rounds a minute and send lead 2.3 miles downrange.
The Coast Guard, at a series of public hearings this fall, defended the 34 proposed zones as essential to its mission. Each zone, located at least five miles offshore, would be used perhaps two or three times a year for a few hours. Civilian boaters would be warned to stay away.
Yet opposition to the proposal is formidable and growing, led by an alliance of 80 mayors from eight states and Canada who called on the Coast Guard last month to drop the plan. More than a dozen environmental groups have asked for changes in the project and a deeper study of the effect on the ecosystem of hundreds of thousands of lead bullets.
Toronto Mayor David Miller, speaking for the organization of mayors, called the live-fire proposal "totally contrary to the long history of peaceful relations and environmental cooperation between the United States and Canada on the Great Lakes."
The decision to install machine guns on Coast Guard vessels in the U.S. waters of the Great Lakes was sensitive enough that the Bush administration sought to assure the Canadians that the weapons would not violate the spirit of an 1817 agreement limiting armaments on the lakes, home to 21 percent of the fresh water on the Earth's surface.
Asserting the need for the guns, a State Department diplomatic note in April 2003 cited "the potential for a tragic outcome" if the border's integrity were breached.
The Coast Guard began live-fire training earlier this year, conducting 24 exercises before a public outcry forced a suspension. The Coast Guard held nine public hearings and extended the comment period by two months to explain the plans and overcome the suspicion that they had acted dismissively.
Chief Petty Officer Robert Lanier, a spokesman for the Coast Guard's regional headquarters in Cleveland, described the training. Gunners in the 34 zones would shoot at floating targets in exercises lasting four to six hours at a time.
"To be proficient on the weapon, we have to practice," Lanier said. "There's a tremendous difference between operating any type of weapon on land versus operating it on water, where you've got the motion of the Great Lakes, the wind current, the sun."
Opponents, however, suggest using a simulator or sending Coast Guard members to train on the ocean.
"To be honest with you, we don't feel we're ready for this militarization of the Great Lakes," said F. Ned Dikmen, Chicago-based chairman of the Great Lakes Boating Federation. "The waterways, the pristineness, the enjoyment, takes on a different picture."
Dikmen continued. "My biggest fear is a poor fisherman that is not very radio-friendly and might not even know exactly what hit him. Are you going to call them on the phone? How are they supposed to know they are 2.3 miles out from the firing range?"
Kevin Crawford, mayor of Manitowoc, Wis., is among the critics who believe the Coast Guard acted badly.
"That's our freshwater supply. We fish out of there. We recreate out of there," said Crawford, who is also skeptical of federal projections that the lead in the Coast Guard's bullets will do no harm. "The idea that continuous activity of the Coast Guard over time won't have an effect is untrue, or least we don't know it to be true."
One of Crawford's worries is the safety of passengers on the S.S. Badger, a steam-powered ferry that churns between Manitowoc and Ludington, Mich. Another concern is the potential for unease among tourists who gravitate to the lake.
"You never know what's going to set off a change in the visitor economy," said Crawford, who added that he was not concerned about the prospect of terrorists on the Great Lakes. "There just doesn't seem to be that kind of a threat out there."
Not everyone is speaking against the Coast Guard project. Among the supporters is Dexter Nelson, captain of the 34-foot, twin-engine Fishin' Luhrs, who figures he has spent more than 17,000 hours afloat in Lake Superior, catching lake trout, walleye and salmon. He is confident the Coast Guard will find ways to notify boaters and fishermen, and he believes the training is necessary.
"I just think leave them alone and let them do what they need to do," said Nelson, who is based in Duluth, Minn. "If something happens, it's good if they're well-trained."
The Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council proposes reducing the 14 proposed Lake Michigan zones by half and moving them farther offshore. In a vast lake that stretches about 120 miles at its widest point, the proposal would mean a zone perhaps 40 miles from the shoreline, compared with the current five-mile minimum.
"It's really nothing for the average angler to go 10 or 15 miles offshore to fish," said Dan Thomas, president of the Chicago-based council, which counts 300,000 members. He supports the Coast Guard and considers the live-fire zones a minor inconvenience worth tolerating.
"They're putting their lives on the line to protect your butt and my butt," Thomas said. "There need to be some adjustments, but at the same time, I'm telling my guys, 'Get a life.' "
The Coast Guard is reviewing its plans, with no announced date for a decision.

2009: Canada calls for border fence

Hi, True,

I read this on Truthdig and thought you would find it interesting.

Barry Golson: Stop U.S.-Canada Immigration Now!

The editor of ForbesTraveler.com pens a satirical take on U.S.-Mexico border relations, envisioning a scenario in which 'Minute Mounties' protect the Canadian border from Americans desperate to fill jobs that our neighbors to the north are too rich to perform.

Link to:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20061114_barry_golson_us_canada_immigration/

CCF reminders: EDA meeting, Border Security conference

There will be a regular EDA meeting, Tuesday, November 14th, at 4pm at the Grand Marais City Hall. Please attend if you are able!

Also, Commissioner Jim Johnson will attend a conference on Border Security in Grand Forks, ND on November 18th. He has asked for citizen's questions and comments to take along with him. Please email your questions, comments (and thanks) to him at sonjohn@boreal.org, or call him at 218-387-2254.Thanks and keep up the good work!

SLD

Plagiarize this post!

True,
Here is my opinion e-mail to the Coast Guard regarding the "safety zones" (Ha!)
Let your readers freely plagiarize it, or just use it to inspire their own comments in the last three days. Let our voices be heard: E pluribus unum.
Nancye Belding


U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
United States Coast Guard
Chief Rob Lanier
E-mail: http://dms.dot.gov/.Docket #25657
Fax: Docket Management Facility at (202) 493-2251

Friday, November 10, 2006

Dear Chief Lanier:

I am writing to express my objection to the proposal for live gunfire exercises on the Great Lakes in the so-called “safety zones,” a misnomer if ever I heard one.

There are many reasons for my urgent concern, among them:

1. First, the use of lead and other toxic metals in the firing exercises violates existing regulations; lead causes harmful effects to fish, wildlife and even humans who may consume lake products. Fishermen are no longer permitted to use lead sinkers, and for good reason.

2. Second, mayors on both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border are appalled by the proposal. It violates a long-standing treaty between the U.S. and Canada outlawing weapons of war along the longest peaceful border in the world. It insults our friends and terrifies our own citizens.

3. Third, the exercises are entirely unnecessary; there has never been a single terrorist who has entered the country from any point along the border or the Great Lakes. In the unlikely event that some were to arrive, they would almost certainly have proper documentation and simply cross the border legally.

4. Fourth, the exercises will threaten the lives of small boaters who will not be aware of the postings intended for large vessels and will, sooner or later, certainly fall victim to the barrage of gunfire.

5. Fifth, my extensive reading from many news sources about present military and Homeland Security policies has revealed that the U.S. is planning to send some Coast Guard ships to the Middle East in preparation for war with Iran. This will surely be opposed by huge segments of our population, who would rightly view another U.S. war of aggression as a signal for other world powers to join the fray and create a new world war on an unprecedented scale. In short, this is no excuse to train the Coast Guard to kill in peaceful territory.

6. Finally, my most important reason for opposing these war games is that they create a climate of fear and aggressiveness where now there is only peaceful enjoyment of our waters and friendly relations with our Canadian neighbors.

Please, reconsider this dangerous and disastrous proposal, and continue the long and noble Coast Guard tradition of guarding the safety of our waterways in a peaceful manner that is respectful of the environment and all living creatures.

Sincerely,
Nancye Belding
Grand Marais, Minnesota

Jim Johnson wants feedback for Homeland Security presenters

Jim Johnson wrote:
Homeland Security: I will be attending a meeting in Grand Forks on
November 16. Presenters include the chief of the US Border Patrol,
Immigration & Customs, TSA, and their Canadian counterparts. It
will include the mayors of both International Falls and Fort
Francis. Tourism officials, Attorney Generals, and Consulates of
both countries will also be represented. Please forward any
questions you would like me to ask, or comments you would like me to
convey on your behalf. I will bring them to the conference so that
they can be part of the discussion.

Phone: 218-387-2254
Email: sonjohn@boreal.org

CITIZEN GROUP THREATENS SUIT AGAINST COAST GUARD LIVE-FIRE

Citizens for Environmental Enforcement
P.O. Box 3080; Duluth, Minnesota 55803-3080

CITIZEN GROUP THREATENS SUIT AGAINST COAST GUARD LIVE-FIRE

Contacts: Curt Leitz, Executive Director, 218-728-9447
Marc D. Fink, Attorney, 218-525-3884

Duluth, Minnesota, October 19, 2006 - Citizens for Environmental Enforcement today
notified the United States Coast Guard of its intent to file a Clean Water Act citizen suit
over the live-fire machine-gun training exercises on the Great Lakes, including Lake
Superior. The Coast Guard began weapons training exercises on the Great Lakes in
January, 2006, and has conducted 24 live-fire exercises this year.

In September, the Coast Guard fired thousands of bullets from machine guns into Lake
Superior, approximately 8 miles offshore from Two Harbors, Minnesota. The Coast
Guard now wants to establish permanent “safety zones” across the Great Lakes to
continue its weapons training.

The bullets used by the Coast Guard are comprised of lead, copper, and zinc, and the
weapons training would discharge as much as 6,900 pounds of lead each year into the
Great Lakes, including Lake Superior.

“At a time when so much money and resources are being devoted to cleaning up the
Great Lakes, we now have the Coast Guard firing substantial amounts of toxic metals
into the Lakes,” stated Curt Leitz, the Executive Director of Citizens for Environmental
Enforcement, a non-profit organization based in Duluth.

The toxic effects of lead on human health are well established, and lead has long been
prohibited from gasoline and paint. Lead has also been banned in shotgun shell pellets
for waterfowl hunting due to adverse affects to waterfowl, and a number of states have
banned small lead tackle as result of the lead poisoning of loons.

The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of pollutants into lakes without a permit
issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Coast Guard does not have a
permit for its live-fire weapons training. “We recognize that the Coast Guard needs to be
prepared,” said Marc Fink, attorney for the citizens’ group, “but the Coast Guard is not
above the law.”

The Coast Guard held a public hearing regarding its proposed permanent training zones
on Monday, October 16, 2006, in Duluth, and citizens expressed concerns over public
safety and the potential threat of the toxic metals to fish, wildlife, and public health.
The sixty-day notice letter sent today to the Coast Guard is required prior to filing suit
under the Clean Water Act. The letter warns the Coast Guard that if it does not take
corrective steps, the citizens’ group intends to file suit in federal court.

MPR: The Border Patrol and Grand Marais

MPR: The Border Patrol and Grand Marais

MPR Story and Homeland Security update

[Concerned Citizens For Cook County] MPR Story & Update
On 11/1/06, ccfcookcounty wrote:
The proposed Homeland Security Facility continues to draw local and regional media coverage. It has also been one of the frequent topics discussed during the local political forums and debates.
A big thank you to all who have been asking questions and speaking out!MRP Reporter Stephanie Hemphill interviewed Mark Sandbo, Matt Geretschlager, Marco Good and Staci Drouillard about the proposed HSbuilding last month. Her report will be aired tomorrow, Thursday,November 2nd on MPR, 89.7fm. An exact time was not set, but the story will be run periodically throughout the day. The story will also be on the web with pictures and links to relevant sites. Tune in if you can!
There is still no news from the Government Services Agency (GSA) on the final two site selections. However, rumor has it that the developer of Cobblestone Condos is one of the private land owners being considered by the GSA as well as another privately owned parcel of land "near Hedstrom's" lumber mill. It has also been confirmed that county land directly south of the airport is a contender.
All sites, whether private or public, will have to be reviewed by the County Board.
Commissioner Bob Fenwick, who is running unopposed this term, stated recently that the process regarding the Homeland Security proposal "must be transparent" from here forward. (Cook County Star,Oct. 20, 2006) Commissioner Fenwick is also on the Airport Commission.Contact him at bfenwick@boreal.org.
Also, here's an early reminder of the regular EDA meeting, Tuesday, November 14th, 4pm at City Hall. The Board recently met regarding a possible conflict of interest of one board member who is a broker for one of the outside developers. Board chair Mary Sanders relayed that this issue will be addressed at this regular board meeting. We may also have news from the GSA on site selection, so if you can attend, please be there to witness the meeting or speak at the public forum, which begins at 4 pm.
Thanks and on behalf of the group, keep up the good work.
SLD

U.S. Coast Guard Continues Receiving Public Comment About Great Lakes Safety Zones

Note from True:
Here is the link that explains how to submit public comment with the correct website address, and the official closing of the public comment period. The wrong address and ending comment date were recently printed in the Cook County Star (Monday, October 30). The comment period closes on November 13 and comments can be-emailed but don't wait too long! There are many reasons to oppose this plan: danger to small boaters, negative impact on fish, wildlife and clean water, opposition from mayors on both sides of the border, violation of a long-time treaty with Canada, and unnecessary warlike buildup and militarization of the peaceful and beautiful Great Lakes.

U.S. Coast Guard Continues Receiving Public Comment About Great Lakes Safety Zones

Coast Guard live fire games update

True,

You should look at and probably post this link: http://www.mecprotects.org/

There was a story on CNN tonight regarding the Coast Guard live fire program. The Michigan Environmental Council (MEC) seems to be taking a lead on this.

A reader

U.S. Firing Plans for Great Lakes Raise Concerns - New York Times

Dear readers,
Follow the link to this excellent story from NY Times.
True


U.S. Firing Plans for Great Lakes Raise Concerns - New York Times