Scary things tucked away in the Patriot Act

When you get a chance, Google for "House Report 109-333 - USA PATRIOT IMPROVEMENT AND REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005", and then scan down to section 605.

Here's one link to it, for the lazy, although I'd prefer you find it yourself so you know I'm not pointing you to some bogus site. (link)

This small item tucked away in the re-authorization of the Patriot Act creates a permanent police force to be known as the "United States Secret Service Uniformed Division".

It's jurisdiction is, for the most part, where you'd expect the Secret Service, providing protection: At the White House, Treasury Building, anywhere the President or Vice President and their families happen to be, etc. Also included in their jurisdiction is "An event designated as a special event of national significance." The referenced statute defining such a "special event of national significance" says that this is any event so designated by the President, who is supposed to provide a report to Congress each year on what events during the previous year were so designated and why.

It goes on to say that this new force is authorized to make arrests without warrant for any offense against the United States committed in their presence, or for any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing such felony (bolding is mine)

There is no definition provided for "offense against the United States". What might qualify? Burning a flag? Protesting an unpopular policy? Disagreeing with the President?

As with so many things, it is possible that this is simply a poorly worded bill with good and reasonable intent. However, as phrased, it essentially creates a private Presidential police force, that he can send anywhere he deems appropriate, and that can arrest people without warrant on the basis of suspicion of committing undefined offenses against the United States, which presumably the President also gets to define.

In the wrong hands, this could be used to designate an anti-war rally as a "special event" and dissenting speech as "giving aid or comfort to the enemy" and therefore an "offense against the United States".

In a country where an American citizen can be arrested and held without trial or charges for about three years (in blatent violation of that citizen's Constitutionally guaranteed rights, and if you don't know what I'm talking about, read my previous writings about Jose Padilla), this is eerily reminiscent of something the politburo in the old Soviet Union might have had.

Liam.