Dhimmitude

Earlier this month, the LAPD planned to have its counterterrorism bureau identify Muslim enclaves to determine which might be likely to become isolated and susceptible to "violent, ideologically based extremism." Those plans were called "racial and religious profiling" by Muslim groups and the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, who criticized the plan.

"There was a clear message from the Muslim community that they were not comfortable with it. So we listened," said Mary Grady, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department. She couldn't immediately say when the plan might resume. [snip]

Downing and other city officials had defended the plan, saying the idea was to deepen ties with Muslim communities. The plan would have had data assembled by the University of Southern California's Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events.

There are an estimated 500,000 Muslims in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. (more)

I think this plan has great value. All law enforcement agencies worth their salt, KNOW their communities. They know where white folks, black folks, Korean folks, Japanese folks, Hispanic folks, Arab folks, Catholic, Irish, whatever ... live. What difference should it make to people if law enforcement knows where Muslim folks live and worship? It makes sense to me. However ... Bo Dietl on Fox News this week, said this controversy is all for nothing.

Bo Dietl says that Choice Point has been IMAPing communities and providing this information to governments for some time now. So, no wonder the LAPD backed down on their plans -- they can access the information from Choice Point.

ChoicePoint Government Services provides government organizations with an unmatched combination of information, analysis, and distribution solutions. Our customized solutions combine comprehensive, up-to-date information with sophisticated technology to help our clients make more informed, more timely decisions that positively impact society. These solutions advance the efforts of law enforcement, public safety, healthcare, child support enforcement, entitlement and other public agencies.

I don't care how they get the information. If this will help us prevent terror attacks, profile away. If you don't have anything to hide, what's the problem?

Other reading:
A British court ruled Thursday that radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri could be extradited to the United States to face terrorism charges including trying to set up an al Qaeda training camp in Oregon. Reuters
Iran hands over copy's of blueprints for nuke warheads, Jerusalem post
Hollywood Conservatives? There May be More Than You Think Wake Up America
Truckloads of U.S. weapons have gone missing in Iraq, Times Argus

Venezuela 'attacked Guyana boats', BBC

America’s First Thanksgiving, Peace and Freedom II
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Comments

[David M]

The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the - Web Reconnaissance for 11/19/2007 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2007/11/web-reconnaissance-for-11192007.html

[Jack]

I live in LA. This isn't going away. There are an awful lot of people who are applying pressure to see that the LAPD doesn't completely cave.

[Howard Larson]

I wholly concur. As Kerr pointed out, privacy can nolonger be equated with anonymity.

[Skunkfeathers]

Go LAPD! Other PDs need to take this intelligence-gathering approach and squash the terrorists recruiting grounds here at home.

[Trinity]

Debbie,
When I heard of this my first thought was, "What until the ACLU scream.." sure enough, the squeals began. We know that mosques are used as breeding grounds for money, planning and everything in between. Enough pussy footing around with this civil liberties hog wash. Frankly, I am all for it as most of us here.
But as you say, they can get access anytime they want. Good for the LAPD and good for us for doing it anyway.
If something happened, God forbid, then the questions would be, "Why didn't you know where the places of interest where?"
Great post..

[Angel]

Tom is right..does it get more ridiculous than this Deb!

[Tom the Redhunter]

This is exactly the type of think that the LAPD should be doing. The fact is that isolated Muslim enclaves are suseptible to influence by extremists (mainly from Wahabbist money).

As usual, the ACLU has it's head in the sand.