U.S. cities, states linking intelligence 'fusion' sites

[Judi Lynn]

Jan. 2, 2007, 12:37AM
U.S. cities, states linking intelligence 'fusion' sites
Police-led efforts reflect frustration with feds, but are rights threatened?

By MARY BETH SHERIDAN and SPENCER S. HSU
Washington Post

WASHINGTON — Frustrated by poor federal cooperation, states and cities are building their own network of intelligence centers led by police to help detect and disrupt terrorist plots.

The new "fusion centers" are now operating in 37 states and another covers the Washington area, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The centers, which have received $380 million in federal support since the 2001 terrorist attacks, pool and analyze information from local, state and federal law enforcement officials.

The emerging "network of networks" marks a new era of opportunity for law enforcement, according to U.S. officials and homeland security experts. Police are hungry for federal intelligence in an age of homegrown terrorism and more sophisticated crime.

For their part, federal law enforcement officials could benefit from a potential army of tipsters — the 700,000 local and state police officers across the country, as well as private security guards and others being courted by the centers.

But the emerging model of "intelligence-led policing" faces risks on all sides. The centers are popping up with little federal leadership and training, raising fears of the overzealousness associated with police "red squads" that spied on activists decades ago.
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/4438063.html

[izzie]

1. Well Osama won. He has every one nuts.

Now that we do not have USSR to arm for we have to have some one so about 2000 nuts types who have been around doing this for the last 100 years is what we have to arm for now.