Clinton comes after the Internet

Well, it was a long time coming, but Bill Clinton has finally made his move on the Internet. Late last week, when reporters and members of Congress were going home for the weekend, he issued one of his now-famous executive orders -- this one on "Internet conduct."

Like almost all such orders, it will sound quite innocuous on a quick first read. But these guys in the Clinton administration are clever. This action sets up a working group of top U.S. officials to study the whole concept of policing the Internet. No, Clinton doesn't use that word, but that's clearly the intent of this order -- the establishment of a national Internet police force.

But if you catch that much -- and few will -- then the wording of this order is designed to make you relax because the working group is simply going to write a report! We all know government reports don't kill people, right? Nobody gets hurt by a government report unless they drop it on you.

However, let's take a look at what's being studied here: No. 1 -- How the federal government can insinuate itself into this revolutionary new medium. And, No. 2 -- How new technology tools, capabilities or legal authorities may be required for effective investigation and prosecution.

Let me repeat that last purpose behind this working group and this executive order in the actual language used by Clinton: "The extent to which new technology tools, capabilities, or legal authorities may be required for effective investigation and prosecution of unlawful conduct that involves the use of the Internet."

Get it? "New technology" equals spying tools. "Capabilities" means surveillance capabilities. And "legal authorities" means Internet police.

You've got to understand the bureaucratic jargon here. Think of me as your Clintonese translator. Remember, this is a man who questions what the word "is" means. You've got to leave this to the professionals -- and that means me.

Now here's the other scary part of this executive order. Normally with these task forces, the president allows a year or more for study and reports. Not this time. Guess what his deadline is?

"The Working Group shall complete its work to the greatest extent possible and present its report and recommendations to the President and Vice President within 120 days of the date of this order," the executive order states.

What! That means the report must be prepared before the end of the year. I would suggest to you that this means the report is already drafted. I would suggest further evidence for that conclusion is that Clinton is also requiring the committee to circulate the report to federal agencies well before it comes to the White House.

Why would he do that? Because the White House has already seen it. The White House has written it.

Who's going to be a part of this working group? The chairman is Janet Reno, and the members are most of the important Cabinet officers. Do you really think those guys and gals could draft a report on policing the Internet in less than 120 days?

Uh-uh.

Something's up here, folks. Something smells really foul.

Now what do you suppose is in that future report? Hillary once told us the Internet needed gatekeepers and controls.

"We are all going to have to rethink how we deal with this, because there are all these competing values," Hillary said last year. She also deplored the fact that the Internet lacks "any kind of editing function or gatekeeping function."

I think Clinton's about to make his move on our last best hope for freedom -- the Internet. Methinks the Internet is about to get an official editor or a government gatekeeper.

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See text of Clinton's latest executive order.

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A daily radio broadcast adaptation of Joseph Farah's commentaries can be heard at http://www.ktkz.com/

link at

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_btl/19990809_xcbtl_clinton_co.shtml

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), August 12, 1999

Answers

Clinton's Electronic Iron Curtain Descending On The Internet

From Ralph 8-9-99

We all knew it had to come, and it appears to have arrived, the ELECTRONIC IRON CURTAIN appears to be descending with this latest treasonous Executive Order from the Clintonista Regime.

See LOIS BEAM @ http://TeamInfinity.com/~ralph/iron.curtain.txt

Ok, nevermind that the EXECUTIVE BRANCH cannot make law. Nevermind that Executive Orders can only be binding on members of the Executive Branch. None of this seems to matter. They even included the word "UNLAWFUL" in the title of this EO, making it appear as if it were law applying to people outside of the EXECUTIVE BRANCH of the US Government.

Here is the Text in its entirety [it is pretty short]: READ IT !

Text of Clinton executive order on Internet conduct

EXECUTIVE ORDER

WORKING GROUP ON UNLAWFUL CONDUCT ON THE INTERNET

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to address unlawful conduct that involves the use of the Internet, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Establishment and Purpose.

(a) There is hereby established a working group to address unlawful conduct that involves the use of the Internet ("Working Group"). The purpose of the Working Group shall be to prepare a report and recommendations concerning:

(1) The extent to which existing Federal laws provide a sufficient basis for effective investigation and prosecution of unlawful conduct that involves the use of the Internet, such as the illegal sale of guns, explosives, controlled substances, and prescription drugs, as well as fraud and child pornography.

(2) The extent to which new technology tools, capabilities, or legal authorities may be required for effective investigation and prosecution of unlawful conduct that involves the use of the Internet; and

(3) The potential for new or existing tools and capabilities to educate and empower parents, teachers, and others to prevent or to minimize the risks from unlawful conduct that involves the use of the Internet. risks from unlawful conduct that involves the use of the Internet.

(b) The Working Group shall undertake this review in the context of current Administration Internet policy, which includes support for industry self-regulation where possible, technology-neutral laws and regulations, and an appreciation of the Internet as an important medium both domestically and internationally for commerce and free speech.

Sec. 2. Schedule. The Working Group shall complete its work to the greatest extent possible and present its report and recommendations to the President and Vice President within 120 days of the date of this order. Prior to such presentation, the report and recommendations shall be circulated through the Office of Management and Budget for review and comment by all appropriate Federal agencies.

Sec. 3. Membership.

(a) The Working Group shall be composed of the following members:

(1) The Attorney General (who shall serve as Chair of the Working Group).

(2) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

(3) The Secretary of the Treasury.

(4) The Secretary of Commerce.

(5) The Secretary of Education.

(6) The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(7) The Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

(8) The Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

(9) The Chair of the Federal Trade Commission.

(10) The Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration; and

(11) Other Federal officials deemed appropriate by the Chair of the Working Group.

(b) The co-chairs of the Interagency Working Group on Electronic Commerce shall serve as liaison to and attend meetings of the Working Group. Members of the Working Group may serve on the Working Group through designees.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON

THE WHITE HOUSE, August 5, 1999.

Members of the Working Group may serve on the Working Group through designees.

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), August 12, 1999.

I have no idea Al.

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), August 12, 1999.

Very terrifying. But you are right, Andy, it was a long time coming. "Controlling" the Internet will be a (continuous) task of epic proportions - in my opinion it will be impossible. Still, an oppressive administration can certainly make things uncomfortable for us who do not use the largest network in the world for illegitimate purposes. The birth / growth of an IT legal legion alone will be enough to make any attorney-hater hurl in disgust.

-- Klar (klarbrunn@lycos.com), August 12, 1999.

"Stroke of the pen...law of the land...kinda cool".

Rahm Emanuel, former administrative advisory counsel for WJC.

-- Charles R. (chuck_roast@trans.net), August 12, 1999.

This administration knows where the majority of their opposition gathers. I was going to run my generator in order to plug in the rope warmer. It's awfully cold in January, but NOW....they will have to suffer with chilly, stiff ropes! Slap that mount! They don't even get to have one last 'chaw' of Skoal. I may even suggest putting the 'pointy end' behind them! (still laughing about that, Robert)

:)

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), August 12, 1999.

This will probably hurt Gore the most since he invented the internet!

-- Johnny (JLJTM@BELLSOUTH.NET), August 12, 1999.

In the couple of days since I first read this information on this forum, I have had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, much like the one I have about Clinton's gun control ambitions. But the question that logically comes to mind is: what do Americans do about these infringements on our freedoms? Who will combat it? Where is the leader who will stand up against the NWO intentions which appear to be evidencing themselves in these controls?

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), August 12, 1999.

forgive my ignorance, but what would it take for us to create our own "internet" i.e.

is it beyond comprehension to consider whether private individuals could invest enough of their own resources to buy/build the infrastructure necessary to create self-standing, autonamous nodes that would allow an "internet-of-sorts" to be constructed, used and not be controlled by anyone else?

I'm thinking of primarily of solar powered wireless; etc.

[Or is it just as easy and lots cheaper to go back to short wave?]

to be able to communicate with others of like mind on a world basis in real time is a truly remarkable thing; somehow, there must be a way that we who use it, could create a means by which it can be useable, without being controlled by others.

Thoughts, anyone?

time's getting very short - we'd need to start now.

-- Perry Arnett (pjarnett@pdqnet.net), August 12, 1999.

It's a done deal Perry.

Take this scenario.

bank runs, a banking holiday declared, rollover, civil disturbences, rioting, martial law declared prior to or at rollover, internet will be spiked by the NSA or somesuch so that the only news will be from abc, cnn, nbc etc. i.e. what Clinton and goons want you to hear...

the internet down will be blamed on terrorism and/or y2k - guaranteed...

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), August 12, 1999.