Rendell: "Deeply embarrassed" over spying on peaceful groups

[Emit]

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell apologized Tuesday to groups whose entirely lawful events were the subject of regular anti-terrorism reports provided by a Philadelphia-based Israeli-American outfit to state law enforcement agencies, the AP reports:

An embarrassed Gov. Ed Rendell apologized Tuesday to groups whose peaceful protests or events, from an animal rights demonstration to a gay and lesbian festival, were the subject of regular anti-terrorism bulletins being distributed by his homeland security director.

Rendell said that the information was useless to law enforcement agencies and that distributing it was tantamount to trampling on constitutional rights. ....

"This is ludicrous," Rendell said. "And I apologize to any of the groups who had this information disseminated about their activities. They have the right to protest."

~snip~

Here's a link to the firm, which has contracts with several other law enforcement agencies across the country.

A 2008 Jewish News of Greater Phoenix article promoted on the firm's website says: "ITRR, which has offices in Jerusalem and Philadelphia, was founded in 2004 by co-directors Michael Perelman and Aaron Richman to provide counterterrorism training, education and security expertise in dealing with terror threats such as weapons of mass destruction and suicide bombings to corporate and government entities. Seminars are conducted either in Israel or in the United States. In addition to offering training primarily to American first responders, ITRR also provides clients with international intelligence information."

A further article on the firm's website, dated September 2008, states that all of the intelligence information the firm collects in the United States is sent for analysis to Israel. "All of the information ITRR's staff creates is sent to its monitoring center in Jerusalem, where it is analyzed and verified with other local sources."

~snip~

http://www.politico.com/blogs/laurarozen/0910/Rendell_Deeply_embarrassed_over_spying_on_peaceful_groups.html

[bluestateguy]

1. He could have at least used those powers to spy on the teabaggers

nt

[Curmudgeoness]

2. What a waste of my tax dollars. I'm paying this quasi-organization

to put together a list of peace demonstrators, people who spoke out against Marcellus Shale drilling, and other unsavory rebels. I want to get that list in my hands to see how many times I am listed. God knows I am dangerous.

[Lorien]

3. They never monitor groups on the Right

only anti-war, environmental, GLBT, animal rights and other organizations on the Left who have no representation of any kind in Washington.

[Canuckistanian]

4. Good point

What about all these groups threatening abortion doctors and clinics? Or the "militia units" that collect weapons?

[gratuitous]

5. It is indeed ludicrous, Mr. Rendell

And thank you for simple recognition of that fact, something that has eluded any number of people who should know better. Now, what steps are you going to take to try to make sure it doesn't happen again? Any heads going to roll? Any new reporting policies (with teeth for violations) about future surveillance you care to propose or implement?

[howaboutme]

6. What differentiates between spying, subversion, espionage?

This was an Israeli spy organization ITRR that Rendell hired according to this article and their website. Does that make you feel good about America and your rights? What actually differentiates between spying, subversion and espionage? One big parameter is when it is done by another country.

http://mondoweiss.net/2010/09/israeli-intel-firm-behind-pennsylvanias-terror-bulletins-on-peace-environment-lgbt-groups.html

[Ichingcarpenter]

7. They went after people who saw the movie 'Gasland' and

The 12-page bulletin included a list of municipal zoning hearings on Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling, a forestry industry conference and a screening of the documentary "Gasland" as events likely to be attended by anti-drilling activists.

Aside from the drilling-related events, the bulletin mentioned other potential security concerns that it said could involve "anarchists and Black Power radicals."

It listed demonstrations by anti-war groups, deportation protesters in Philadelphia, mountaintop removal mining protesters in West Virginia and an animal rights protest at a Montgomery County rodeo.

It also included "Burn the Confederate Flag Day," the Jewish high holidays and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan as potential sources of risk.





Mike Perelman, a co-director of the institute, would not respond to questions about the contract or the bulletins, saying by telephone Tuesday that he does not discuss client matters.



Read more: http://www.thirdage.com/news/institute-terrorism-research-and-response-embarrasses-pennsylvania-governor_9-15-2010#ixzz0zi0xDcmt

Doesn't Perelman's name ring a bell somewhere?
It sounds familiar to my readings on this sort of affair.