In those heady (for fans of totalitarianism, anyway) days after 9/11, one of the Homeland Security programs being floated was recruiting postal carriers, utility workers and the like to become citizen snoops, ferreting out activity that could be related to terrorism. It was roundly criticized and was cancelled almost as quickly as it was announced.
Except it wasn't.
Terror watch uses local eyes 181 TRAINED IN COLO.
Hundreds of police, firefighters, paramedics and even utility workers have been trained and recently dispatched as "Terrorism Liaison Officers" in Colorado and a handful of other states to hunt for "suspicious activity" — and are reporting their findings into secret government databases...
That's right, it's baa-aack. And what's "suspicious activity"?
"Suspicious activity" is broadly defined in TLO training as behavior that could lead to terrorism: taking photos of no apparent aesthetic value, making measurements or notes, espousing extremist beliefs or conversing in code, according to a draft Department of Justice/Major Cities Chiefs Association document.
What's truly amazing that the DOJ has solved the age-old question: What is art?
As the article notes, some of these TLOs have been out and about. Some of their findings (my comments in parens):
• Thefts of copper that could be used in bomb-making. (Or, more likely in this economy, used for money)
• Civilians impersonating police officers and stopping vehicles — of particular concern with the pending Democratic National Convention in Denver. (Definitely important, especially in Denver which has a history of fake law enforcement officers)
• Graffiti showing a man holding an AK-47 rifle. (Graffiti and and AK-47? Double point score!)
• Men filming the Dillon dam that holds Denver's water. (Because crappy music videos that are probably destined for MySpace help the terrorists)
• Overheard threats. (Terrorists often discuss attacks in places where they are easily overheard)
• Widespread thefts of up to 20 propane gas tanks. (20? That's enough for 20 meth labs! But no, it must be terrorists.)
America's latest domestic spying program has already been deployed in Colorado, California, Florida, Illinois, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., with plans to spread to "dozens" of states.
Watch what you say.
Watch what you do.
Because the guy checking your gas meter sure is.