SEATTLE/ Conservative Monitor -- The ACLU has released a request that its members oppose the Provide Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (PATRIOT) that was recently unanimously approved by the House Judiciary Committee. Specifically they oppose the wiretap and the sharing of confidential information among government agencies.

According to the ACLU website:
"The government must not be given expanded wiretap authority without close judicial oversight. The wiretapping proposals in the PATRIOT Act sound a common theme: they minimize the role of a judge in ensuring that law enforcement wiretapping is conducted legally and with proper justification. Law enforcement authorities -- even when they are required to obtain court orders -- have great leeway under current law to investigate suspects in terrorist attacks. Security and civil liberties do not have to be at odds so long as the checks and balances that have made our democracy strong remain in place."

"Intelligence agencies must not be given broad access to sensitive information about US citizens and residents. While sharing of sensitive or confidential information may be appropriate in the case of international terrorism investigations, it should only be done with strict safeguards. The PATRIOT act would allow intelligence agencies, such as the CIA, to obtain information about US citizens and residents without imposing meaningful limits on the future use or dissemination of that information. Without such limitations, these agencies would be put back in the business of spying on Americans for "intelligence" purposes, as was done during the Vietnam War."

The bill can be reviewed at the Thomas Website.

A Libertarian Party Press release on 3 October also opposed passage of the bill citing the following provisions:

- It Gives any U.S. Attorney or state attorney general the power to install the Carnivore e-mail snooping system in "emergency situations" without obtaining a court order.

- It allows telephone voice mail messages to be obtained by law enforcement with a mere search warrant, which is issued with less court scrutiny than the previously required wiretap warrant.

- It expands the definition of "terrorist" so broadly that it could include non-violent protesters at an anti-war rally.

- It makes it easier for the government to tap multiple phones as part of a "roving wiretap" warrant.

- It allows the government to detain legal immigrants for seven days based on a mere accusation of terrorist activity.

On Saturday, President Bush urged Congress to approve the provisions in the PATRIOT Act, saying it gives law enforcement "every necessary tool" to fight terrorists. Other proponents of the act feel that the provisions of the bill do not violate the right to privacy, nor do they violate Fourth Amendment rights. The consensus seems to be that the rules will strengthen the hand of law enforcement and intelligence agencies even while preserving due process and fundamental guaranteed rights.