If, like me, you support third parties...Missouri law enforcement agencies may consider you a terrorist.

A document compiled by the Missouri Information Analysis Center for Missouri law enforcement agencies had some sketchy information about warning signs for domestic terrorists.

The Feb. 20 report called "The Modern Militia Movement" mentions such red flags as political bumper stickers for third-party candidates, such as U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, who ran for president last year; talk of conspiracy theories, such as the plan for a superhighway linking Canada to Mexico; and possession of subversive literature.

The document was leaked by Infowars.com which is generally a conspiracy website and easy to discount.

It might be easy to discount if a spokesman for the Missouri law enforcement, Lt. John Hotz, hadn't come forward to defend the document and downplay its importance.

"All this is an educational thing," Hotz said of the report. "Troopers have been shot by members of groups, so it's our job to let law enforcement officers know what the trends are in the modern militia movement."...

...But Hotz said using factors in the report to determine whether someone could be a terrorist is not profiling. He said people who display signs or bumper stickers from third-party groups are not in danger of harassment from police.

"It's giving the makeup of militia members and their political beliefs," Hotz said of the report. "It's not saying that everybody who supports these candidates is involved in a militia. It's not even saying that all militias are bad."

So a document released to law enforcement specifically states that support of third parties is a red flag for potential domestic terrorism and to look out for said red flags...but acting on that information wouldn't be profiling. No. Not at all.

So who exactly is this organization that compiled the document?

Lt. John Hotz of the Missouri State Highway Patrol said the report comes from publicly available, trend data on militias. It was compiled by the Missouri Information Analysis Center, a "fusion center" in Jefferson City that combines resources from the federal Department of Homeland Security and other agencies. The center, which opened in 2005, was set up to collect local intelligence to better combat terrorism and other criminal activity, he said.

A "fusion center". In February the ACLU released information about a Texas "fusion center" that they claimed was an example of inappropriate police intelligence operations targeting political, religious and social activists for investigation.

The North Central Texas Fusion System bulletin states that it is “imperative for law enforcement officers to report” the activities of lobbying groups, Muslim civil rights organizations and anti-war protest groups in their areas.

“This memo is not a plea for legitimate intelligence, and seems to endorse discrimination against Muslims,” said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. “The idea that the tolerance advocated by the groups being targeted would be treated as a menace to American security demonstrates a disregard for civil liberties and a disdain for democracy itself. The kind of indiscriminate and unlawful investigations this bulletin calls for always results in a chilling effect on free speech and association.”

So don't support third parties in Missouri, and if you are Muslim and/or anti-war...stay the hell out of Texas.

Actually, you might not be safe in other states. The ACLU release notes that there are currently 70 fusion centers across the United States. That gives a comforting thought don't you think?

I'm not a Libertarian. Not by a long shot. Nor am I in any way right-wing. But this is America. People should be allowed to believe whatever political philosophy they want to believe...without government harassment.

To be honest, these "fusion centers" would probably have a field day with most of the blogs on the internet, and many posts from this one. I've made it clear that I am anti-war...should I be profiled for that?

Would you think it fair to be pulled over because of something you wrote on a blog? For a bumper sticker? Because you wore a political T-Shirt that was critical of the government?

America shouldn't be policing people's political views. That's not freedom. That's not right at all.
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