Pentagon exam calls protests "low level terrorism"

[Guest justme]

Pentagon Exam Calls Protests 'Low-Level Terrorism,' Angering Activists - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

A written exam administered by the Pentagon labels "protests" as a form of “low-level terrorism†— enraging civil liberties advocates and activist groups who say it shows blatant disregard of the First Amendment.

The written exam, given as part of Department of Defense employees’ routine training, includes a multiple-choice question that asks:

“Which of the following is an example of low-level terrorism?â€

— Attacking the Pentagon

— IEDs

— Hate crimes against racial groups

— Protests

The correct answer, according to the exam, is "Protests."

“Its part of a pattern of equating dissent and protest with terrorism," said Ann Brick, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, which obtained a copy of the question after a Defense Department employee who was taking the test printed the screen on his or her computer terminal.

"It undermines the core constitutional values the Department of Defense is supposed to be defending,†Brick said, referring to the First Amendment right to peaceably assemble.She said the ACLU has asked the Defense Department to remove the question and send out a correction to all employees who took the exam. “There were other employees who were unhappy with it and disturbed by it,†Brick said.

Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Les Melnyk said the Defense Department is looking into the matter and expects to provide more information later Wednesday. “We need to determine if it’s something we’re currently doing,†Melnyk said. “A lot of the information in this exam is intended for people stationed abroad. We counsel those people to avoid demonstrations.â€

Anti-war protesters, who say they have been targets of federal surveillance for years, were livid when they were told about the exam question. “That’s illegal,†said George Martin, national co-chairman of United for Peace and Justice. “Protest in terms of legal dissent has to be recognized, especially by the authorities. "It’s not terrorism or a lack of patriotism. We care enough to be active in our government.â€

Bill Wilson, president of the Americans for Limited Government, which supported the Tea Party demonstrations earlier this year, agreed.

"Groups like Al Qaeda and Hezbollah, paramilitary orgainzations that are striking at out at something they oppose or hate, that's terrorism," Wilson said. "To equate that in any degree with citizens being able to express themselves seems to me to be headed down a road where all dissent is suspect and questionable." Ben Friedman, a research fellow at the Cato Institute in Washington, said the U.S. government has a long history of infringing upon citizens’ civil liberties in the name of domestic security.

“It’s the kind of thing that happens when you have large security bureaucracies, which is why they need to be kept in check,†Friedman said. “These things tend to occur in times of panic, like after Sept. 11.â€

The ACLU, in a letter of complaint it sent to the Defense Department, catalogued a list of what it said were recent civil liberties violations by federal authorities, including the monitoring of anti-war protests and the FBI’s surveillance of potential protesters at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York.

Martin said getting information on the extent of the FBI and National Security Agency’s surveillance programs is nearly impossible. “I have been arrested within 100 yards of George W. Bush and spoken out against the policies of our government in more than 100 countries," he said. "But they said they have no record on me. I don’t believe that.â€

During Bush's presidency, the Defense Department was criticized for infringing on citizens’ civil rights through surveillance programs designed to protect the nation against terrorist attacks. Brick said she has seen no indication that there will be a change in policy under President Obama.

“We need to see what they do,†she said. “In a number of areas the Obama administration has not backed off and kept the Bush administration line.â€

[TGO David]

Saw that on Fox earlier and was going to post it here myself. Surprised?

[56FordGuy]

But wait...wasn't Obama just talking about the protests in Iran, saying something about dissent being important? Well now that doesn't make sense...

Where are we going, and why are we in this handbasket? Oh, wait...I remember now...

[Guest justme]

Saw that on Fox earlier and was going to post it here myself. Surprised?

not really.

You know--reading that article should shock me--but it does not....what has become of the nation our founding fathers risked everything for?

[TGO David]

I'm particularly pissed that I found myself agreeing with something someone from the ACLU said.

[ukerduker]

I'm particularly pissed that I found myself agreeing with something someone from the ACLU said.

Weird, isn't it? Maybe the ACLU has finally pulled its head out of its a$$ and realized where the true fights are. But then again, this might be just a rare coincidence.

[Rightwinger]

I just want to thank Uker for finally changing that avatar!

[Guest canynracer]

LOL

[ukerduker]

I just want to thank Uker for finally changing that avatar!

Mullet hater!

[Guest slothful1]

It turns out that on January 20th, dissent stopped being the highest form of patriotism.

[Guest redbarron06]

I'm particularly pissed that I found myself agreeing with something someone from the ACLU said.

yea me too

So last month the DHS called me a potentional violent right wing extreme extremeist and this month I get called a low level terrorist.

Somebody tell me again why i put this uniform on.

[greenego]

yea me too

So last month the DHS called me a potentional violent right wing extreme extremeist and this month I get called a low level terrorist.

Somebody tell me again why i put this uniform on.

If you will recall history the founders of this country were all considered terrorists and traitors by the crown. I think anytime government feels a threat to their power they will try one way or another to stop it.

Thank you for your service.

[Guest bkelm18]

It turns out that on January 20th, dissent stopped being the highest form of patriotism.

Or started being the highest form of patriotism...

[Guest jth_3s]

This is no Surprise. This is the exact reason I hate the PATRIOT ACT so much.

[Guest AeroEngrSoftDevMBA]

But wait...wasn't Obama just talking about the protests in Iran, saying something about dissent being important? Well now that doesn't make sense...

Where are we going, and why are we in this handbasket? Oh, wait...I remember now...

Our slide down the slippery slope started long before Obama. Unfortunately, I fear it will continue after him. There is little real difference between Republicans and Democrats.

[Punisher84]

Somebody tell me again why i put this uniform on.

Chicks man...chicks.

I really am getting tired of being referred to as an "extremist" or "terrorist" at every turn. I'm sorry I want to keep MY money and spend it as I see fit. I'm sorry I believe in the Constitution. I'm sorry I feel I have a right to protect myself and my family. I'm sorry I question my government when they no longer listen to my voice. I suppose I'm just damn sorry, but I reckon they are going to have to get used to people like me...because there are starting to be alot more of us.

[Guest HexHead]

One of these days, we're gonna rack our slides and say "lets rock".

[Guest Rick O'Shay]

not really.

You know--reading that article should shock me--but it does not....what has become of the nation our founding fathers risked everything for?

It died April 9, 1865. Since then it has been a holding action.

[Guest Rick O'Shay]

One of these days, we're gonna rack our slides and say "lets rock".

I pray it is not in my lifetime, but I fear you are right.