Spying on journalists and writers critical of the government is one of the hallmarks of totalitarianism. But thanks to the "war on terror", its now happening in America:
New documents reveal that the federal Counter-Terrorism Unit is creating reports and maintaining files about the writing, interviews, and lectures of journalists who are critical of the government’s repression of political activists.Ostensibly, this is being done to prevent terrorist attacks. In reality, it seems that any activity critical of the government is being redefined as "terrorism" so it can be spied on, policed and discouraged. Yet another way in which the "war on terror" is fatally undermining US democracy.The documents, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request in coordination with the Center for Constitutional Rights, raise a wide range of civil rights concerns... These documents show that the unit, which operates through the federal Bureau of Prisons, regularly maintains files on explicitly First Amendment activity.
