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veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,504
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Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA?
#8718047 - 08/02/08 09:52 PM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? August 2, 2008 - Salem-News.com
(LOS ANGELES) - Are members of a disputed mercenary killer group now working with the DEA? A photo from the LA Times shows proof of one of two things; either Blackwater members are now working for the Bush White House's Drug Enforcement Agency, or this semi-illegitimate band of rogue federal cops have worse discipline than any of us ever imagined.
As a U.S. Marine, I would have faced charges for simply wearing my camouflage utility uniform into a store. There are these things called standards that the Corps and other military and police groups are obligated to follow. It is to avoid giving someone the wrong idea about who you are and your application in society. I guess Blackwater and the federal marijuana plant warriors don't care what people think.
The LA Times article suggests that the California pot dispensary raids have put the DEA's tactics in question. Far beyond the idea of these clowns wearing Blackwater shirts, the overall point is that they are operating above the law. California voters firmly stated that they want people to have access to medical marijuana.
Feds Make Mockery out of California Voters
The fact is that in addition to the state's ignored laws making medical marijuana legal, two appellate court decisions in California said federal laws don't take priority. But the DEA operates above the law and they are the ones who should be charged, tried and jailed. In fact, I see this happening in the future as we are probably very close to electing a new President who will reallocate the mission of these agents who needlessly press the pot issue, as the nation's problems with methamphetamine spirals out of control.
We have never had a federal government so out of touch with the realities of the people in this country.
In her article, the LA Times' Sandy Banks states that the flak-jacketed federal agents executing their commando-style raid at the Organica Collective, overtook a pot dispensary with such a mellow vibe that its business card features a dove and a cross.
During their "raid" DEA agents cut open a safe and confiscated boxes of records, a pair of flat screen monitors listing available varieties of weed, and the contents of an ATM. In true form, the federal cops left the place in a total mess.
A customer named Clyde Carey told Times reporter Tami Abdollah that they frightened the customers and employees by storming in "in full combat gear." He said it was "like literally an episode of '24' when they bust in on a terrorist cell."
Someone needs to tell the DEA that there are legitimate crimes taking place in this city. There are killers and robbers and rapists and child molesters and they need to be dealt with. Perhaps they get a real charge out of raiding pot dispensaries. Maybe they like picking on mellow, innocent people because they are not a threat to police. Maybe these agents should be looking at the bigger picture.
An extremely angry employee of the dispensary said the police kept him handcuffed for four hours. He compared the DEA raid to being "robbed by a bunch of thugs downtown."
The feds didn't tell the LA Times why they targeted Organica, a warehouse operation on a industrial stretch of Washington Boulevard located close to Venice Beach. Of course that would not be expected of an agency that operates like this one. One thing is certain; the day will come when these storm troopers will have to behave differently and actually enforce worthy laws rather than working off the interpretation that states in this country do not have rights. Of course that comes all the way down from George W. Bush himself, who could change the course of this madness at any time.
Related article: Pot dispensary raids put tactics in question, LA Times
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Cubenisseur
Mad Props


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Re: Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? [Re: veggie]
#8718153 - 08/02/08 10:40 PM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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Where's the smiley for smacking ones self on the head!!
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ComputerTekGuy
Teh Awesome



Registered: 01/15/07
Posts: 1,150
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Re: Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? [Re: Cubenisseur]
#8718191 - 08/02/08 10:52 PM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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"During their "raid" DEA agents cut open a safe and confiscated boxes of records, a pair of flat screen monitors listing available varieties of weed, and the contents of an ATM. "
AHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a bunch of retards, I could name close to a hundred people that know data isn't stored on a monitor. LOL! Even my grand father knows that it's just a display.
ignorance is bliss though
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FurrowedBrow
Free yourself from yourself



Registered: 10/26/06
Posts: 2,439
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Re: Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? [Re: ComputerTekGuy]
#8718264 - 08/02/08 11:27 PM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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>We have never had a federal government so out of touch with the realities of the people in this country.
Yep, that says it all.
-------------------- Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies - Become a member!
I prefer dangerous freedom to peaceful slavery. ~ Thomas Jefferson
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SuperD
Cacti junky



Registered: 10/05/03
Posts: 6,648
Loc: The bridgesii bridge
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Re: Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? [Re: veggie]
#8718478 - 08/03/08 01:15 AM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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If someone can get that close to take a picture of these assholes, surely they're also close enough to put a bullet or two in them.
I know, I know, terrible thinking. It's late as fuck and I just can't help myself.
--------------------
   D Manoa said: I need to stop spending all my money on plants and take up a cheaper hobby, like heroin. Looking for Rauhocereus riosaniensis seeds or live specimen(s), me if you have any for trade
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Chemy
Jesus is Lord

Registered: 10/05/07
Posts: 6,276
Loc: A Church
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Re: Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? [Re: veggie]
#8718548 - 08/03/08 02:02 AM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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The 4th amendment to the US Constitution does not guarantee a right to be free from unreasonable search by private citizens or organizations.
This is bad. This is fucked.
-------------------- Alcoholics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous Get help, help is free and available 24/7/365. God bless you all and I hope you receive the help you need to turn away from your lives of sin. Mushrooms and drugs make you gay, you can reverse this homosexual condition with rehab, get help! Stop being gay!
Edited by Chemy (08/04/08 01:25 AM)
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Visionary Tools



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Re: Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? [Re: Chemy]
#8718785 - 08/03/08 07:16 AM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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they got their PTSD mark in Iraq, and now they are back to beat the shit out of you!
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dblaney
Human Being

Registered: 10/03/04
Posts: 7,894
Loc: Here & Now
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Re: Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? [Re: Chemy]
#8718916 - 08/03/08 08:47 AM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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Actually I think they do - I'm pretty sure the 4th amendment applies to all government agents, which would including private organizations and individuals, if they are acting at the request of the police or the feds.
-------------------- "What is in us that turns a deaf ear to the cries of human suffering?" "Belief is a beautiful armor But makes for the heaviest sword" - John Mayer Making the noise "penicillin" is no substitute for actually taking penicillin. "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it." -Abraham Lincoln
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myc0man
Enthusiast


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Re: Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? [Re: dblaney]
#8718974 - 08/03/08 09:16 AM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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Indeed. You have the right to be "secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures..." Private citizens have no more power than the government to violate any of your rights except where explicitly stated by law, but you can surrender your rights to either. (Yes officer you can search my house) . The notion that my neighbor can come in and legally search my house is absurd.
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johnm214



Registered: 05/31/07
Posts: 17,582
Loc: Americas
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Re: Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? [Re: myc0man]
#8719928 - 08/03/08 02:06 PM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
dblaney said: Actually I think they do - I'm pretty sure the 4th amendment applies to all government agents, which would including private organizations and individuals, if they are acting at the request of the police or the feds.
Well, yeah, but chemy is right that there is no per se application of the fourth amendment to private actors.
I share chemy's concerns. For example, if an informant breaks into your house and steals evidence, it is admissable, generally, unless law enforcement told the guy to do that or something.
What I, and I believe chemy, am worried about, is that maybe these guys will start operating autonomously, then when you move to supress their illegal conduct, or sue under 42 sec 1983, they'll claim "we weren't told to break the constitution by the feds, they had no knowledge or control over our actions." and then maybe they'll be able to squeek out of an unconstitutional finding.
Someone should look up the law on that... when can a private actor be held accountable for unconstitutional acts?
Kinda worried, hopefully it will be enough that they were hired by the feds, but maybe not.....
Quote:
Indeed. You have the right to be "secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures..." Private citizens have no more power than the government to violate any of your rights except where explicitly stated by law, but you can surrender your rights to either. (Yes officer you can search my house) . .
As chemy said, this isn't true. The constitutional rights we have restrain government, not citezins.
United States v. Jacobsen, 466 U.S. 109 (1984): "This Court has ... consistently construed this protection as proscribing only governmental action; it is wholly inapplicable to a search or seizure, even an unreasonable one, effected by a private individual not acting as an agent of the Government or with the participation or knowledge of any governmental official." (punctuation omitted).
Quote:
he notion that my neighbor can come in and legally search my house is absurd
Don't cloud the issue, we're talking about constitutionality, not legality, and we're also talking about remedies.
So your neighbor trespasses to obtain evidence to turn you in for growing pot.
What are you going to do about it? Yes it was illegal, as are many things cops do- like speed to pull you over without activating their lights- so what?
The so what is the problem. You can't criminally prosecute someone, and you suing them for trespass or breaking down your door isn't going to get you out of jail.
Great, you get a 1,000$ judgment against your neighbor. Too bad you're doing a year in jail and a few on parole/probation... Is 1g worth that/
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FurrowedBrow
Free yourself from yourself



Registered: 10/26/06
Posts: 2,439
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Re: Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? [Re: johnm214]
#8720879 - 08/03/08 06:39 PM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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I was hoping you'd come in here john. thanks for the info.
-------------------- Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies - Become a member!
I prefer dangerous freedom to peaceful slavery. ~ Thomas Jefferson
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Chemy
Jesus is Lord

Registered: 10/05/07
Posts: 6,276
Loc: A Church
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Re: Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? [Re: dblaney]
#8720994 - 08/03/08 07:03 PM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
dblaney said: Actually I think they do - I'm pretty sure the 4th amendment applies to all government agents, which would including private organizations and individuals, if they are acting at the request of the police or the feds.
Have you ever heard of bounty hunters, that have the authority to kick your door in and search your residence without a search warrant, and it's legal, and they are acting on behalf of a State or the Federal Government.
As I stated before, and you refuted, the 4th Amendment does not apply to private organizations or citizens, actually the 4th amendment doesn't even apply to state law enforcement, only Federal law enforcement.
Johnm214 made an excellent reply about this, just had to throw in the bounty hunter example.
-------------------- Alcoholics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous Get help, help is free and available 24/7/365. God bless you all and I hope you receive the help you need to turn away from your lives of sin. Mushrooms and drugs make you gay, you can reverse this homosexual condition with rehab, get help! Stop being gay!
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dblaney
Human Being

Registered: 10/03/04
Posts: 7,894
Loc: Here & Now
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Re: Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? [Re: Chemy]
#8721864 - 08/03/08 10:27 PM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Chemy said:
Quote:
dblaney said: Actually I think they do - I'm pretty sure the 4th amendment applies to all government agents, which would including private organizations and individuals, if they are acting at the request of the police or the feds.
Have you ever heard of bounty hunters, that have the authority to kick your door in and search your residence without a search warrant, and it's legal, and they are acting on behalf of a State or the Federal Government.
As I stated before, and you refuted, the 4th Amendment does not apply to private organizations or citizens, actually the 4th amendment doesn't even apply to state law enforcement, only Federal law enforcement.
Johnm214 made an excellent reply about this, just had to throw in the bounty hunter example.
I've always wondered about the legality of what bounty hunters do. You sure they don't need a warrant?
All I was saying about private orgs/citizens is that if they are working for the government, then they gotta follow the rules, though John does raise an important concern.
What's this about state law enforcement not being bound by the 4th amendment?
-------------------- "What is in us that turns a deaf ear to the cries of human suffering?" "Belief is a beautiful armor But makes for the heaviest sword" - John Mayer Making the noise "penicillin" is no substitute for actually taking penicillin. "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it." -Abraham Lincoln
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Chemy
Jesus is Lord

Registered: 10/05/07
Posts: 6,276
Loc: A Church
Last seen: 14 years, 2 months
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Re: Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? [Re: dblaney]
#8721974 - 08/03/08 11:06 PM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
dblaney said:
I've always wondered about the legality of what bounty hunters do. You sure they don't need a warrant?
What's this about state law enforcement not being bound by the 4th amendment?
The bill of rights that binds the Federal Government, do not extend to separate sovereign Governments, like oh let's say state Governments, just like double jeopardy does not apply to those tried on the state level, and are tried for the same offense on the federal level.
In a related matter, 4th amendment protections are extended to the states through the 14th amendment in Mapp v. Ohio. However, that is irrelevant since each state has it's own constitution, with it's own search and seizure protections afforded to it's citizens, and a state can offer more protection through it's constitution, than the bill of rights allows, but not less.
Bail bondsmen do not need an arrest warrant to arrest someone on bail, or "revoke a bond", so to speak, nor do they need a search warrant to search the residence listed as the defendants residence, or another residence they believe a fugitive is hiding in.
Quote:
Florida Constitution Article I Section 12 Searches and seizures.--The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and against the unreasonable interception of private communications by any means, shall not be violated. No warrant shall be issued except upon probable cause, supported by affidavit, particularly describing the place or places to be searched, the person or persons, thing or things to be seized, the communication to be intercepted, and the nature of evidence to be obtained. This right shall be construed in conformity with the 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution, as interpreted by the United States Supreme Court. Articles or information obtained in violation of this right shall not be admissible in evidence if such articles or information would be inadmissible under decisions of the United States Supreme Court construing the 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
History.--Am. H.J.R. 31-H, 1982; adopted 1982. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?Mode=Constitution&Submenu=3&Tab=statutes#A01S12
Now you see, the Constitution of the State of Florida, Article I, Section 12, protects me from unreasonable searches by FDLE and/or Miami-Dade County Sheriffs Office, the 4th Amendment of the Bill of Rights, protects me from the United States Department of Justice, a Federal law enforcement organization.
-------------------- Alcoholics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous Get help, help is free and available 24/7/365. God bless you all and I hope you receive the help you need to turn away from your lives of sin. Mushrooms and drugs make you gay, you can reverse this homosexual condition with rehab, get help! Stop being gay!
Edited by Chemy (08/03/08 11:56 PM)
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ThirdEyeOpening
Lost In My Head




Registered: 08/24/04
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Re: Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? [Re: veggie]
#8722631 - 08/04/08 02:33 AM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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This is truly scary.
Even if you try to uphold your constitutional rights, there are enough loop holes for the government and states to 'legally' ignore them.
One more barrier crossed in the pursuit to make the US a police state.
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Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity. Im not too sure about the former. -Einstein Of course the rules need to be enforced, but the goal of law and order should be to create a just society, not to enforce laws. -Unknown “I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.” -Stephen Roberts
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Seuss
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Re: Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? [Re: Chemy]
#8722873 - 08/04/08 05:28 AM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Bail bondsmen do not need an arrest warrant to arrest someone on bail, or "revoke a bond", so to speak, nor do they need a search warrant to search the residence listed as the defendants residence, or another residence they believe a fugitive is hiding in.
If I catch somebody in my house without invitation and without a legal warrant, then they are leaving my house with one or more of my bullets in their body.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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johnm214



Registered: 05/31/07
Posts: 17,582
Loc: Americas
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Re: Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? [Re: Chemy]
#8724955 - 08/04/08 03:11 PM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Chemy said:
Quote:
dblaney said: Actually I think they do - I'm pretty sure the 4th amendment applies to all government agents, which would including private organizations and individuals, if they are acting at the request of the police or the feds.
Have you ever heard of bounty hunters, that have the authority to kick your door in and search your residence without a search warrant, and it's legal, and they are acting on behalf of a State or the Federal Government.
As I stated before, and you refuted, the 4th Amendment does not apply to private organizations or citizens, actually the 4th amendment doesn't even apply to state law enforcement, only Federal law enforcement.
Johnm214 made an excellent reply about this, just had to throw in the bounty hunter example.
yep, this is the problem.
There isn't an effective remedy.
Sure you could try and get the bondsman prosecuted- but you think anyone cares that you, with a warrant out for your arrest, were kidnapped by some guy and turned into the court? Hell, no.
And most states allow citizen arrests anyways.
Quote:
FurrowedBrow said: I was hoping you'd come in here john. thanks for the info.
Thanks
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