[IP] FBI Issues Alert Against Almanac Carriers

[Dave Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Delivered-To: dfarber+@ux13.sp.cs.cmu.edu
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2003 13:13:51 -0500
From: Hiawatha Bray <watha@monitortan.com>
Subject: RE: [IP] FBI Issues Alert Against Almanac Carriers
To: dave@farber.net, ip@v2.listbox.com

Sigh.

Wanna try reading the AP story again?  The FBI did NOT publicize this.  They
sent a bulletin to cops.  The AP got hold of it.  Such things happen, and
life goes on.  But it's hardly the same as the Feds issuing a press release.
It was a heads-up to those who needed to know, not an announcement to the
world's bad guys.

In addition, the FBi takes pains to point out that merely possessing an
almanac isn't evidence of bad intent.  It's supposed to be thrown on the
scale along with other possibly hinky behavior.

Again, note the specificity of the bulletin.  It cites almanacs--not copies
of street guides or a Lonely Planet travel book.  I may be reading too much
into this, but it suggests to me that they've been tipped off that the bad
guys like almanacs.  Some Guantanamo inmate probably gave it up under
questioning.

And yes, we can raise legitimate concerns about police abuse of power.  Call
me back when they actually bust someone merely for carrying an almanac, and
I'll yell as loud as anybody.  Till then, give it a rest.


Hiawatha

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