Since its inception 100 years ago this week, FBI has been assigned with an increasingly difficult task: protecting the public welfare in a free and democratic society.
Throughout its history, the FBI has achieved moments of glory and succumbed to periods of shame. At its best it has achieved some praiseworthy accomplishments — the enforcement of civil rights, significant disruption of organized crime, and the arrest of violent criminals. But at its worst, it has resembled a force of "political police" targeting those who seek change, whether in the Palmer Raids, the Red Scares, or in the widespread abuses of COINTELPRO and surveillance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and other nonviolent activists.
By Michael German, Senior Policy Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 11:53am
On Tuesday, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell and CIA director Michael Hayden and told the Senate Intelligence Committee they believe the United States is still at great risk - even as they claimed their policies of torture and warrantless wiretapping are making us safer.
By Michael German, Senior Policy Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 10:37am
There's been a lot of confusion of late about just how vital the Protect America Act has been in actually protecting Americans and preventing terrorism. First there were unrealistic claims of each FISA warrant taking 200 man hours to process. Read More»
