U.S. spy programs within U.S. expanded

http://washingtontimes.com/upi/20051...3658-4941r.htm

Nov. 27, 2005 at 12:50PM

The Defense Department has expanded programs aimed at gathering and analyzing intelligence within the United States, it was reported Sunday.

The moves create new agencies, add personnel and seek additional legal authority for domestic security activities in the post-9/11 world, the Washington Post said.

The White House is reported considering expanding the power of a little-known, three-year-old Pentagon agency called the Counterintelligence Field Activity, or CIFA. In addition to coordinating Pentagon security efforts, CIFA would have authority to investigate crimes within the United States such as treason, foreign or terrorist sabotage or even economic espionage.

The Pentagon has pushed legislation on Capitol Hill that would create an intelligence exception to the Privacy Act, allowing the FBI and others to share information gathered about U.S. citizens with other intelligence agencies if related to foreign intelligence.

The proposals have drawn complaints from civil liberties advocates and a few members of Congress.