National Guard dismantles unit accused of spying on protesters

[Thom Little]

The California National Guard has dismantled a unit under legislative investigation for allegations it illegally spied on anti-war activists during a Mother's Day rally last year.

Guard officials said the intelligence unit did nothing improper and merely monitored news media coverage of the Capitol rally at the request of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's press office.

But state Sen. Joe Dunn, D-Garden Grove, said the unit's activities may have violated the law. Guard officials said they were exonerated by a U.S. Army Inspector General's Office investigation, but the full investigative report has never been made public and Dunn said questions remain.

.......

"It means that at least for now, the Guard leadership won't be tempted to engage in domestic surveillance activities in California, which are barred by federal law," said Dunn, who oversees the Guard's funding as chairman of a Senate budget subcommittee.

.......

The unit "needed to be nipped in the bud," said Ruth Robertson of Palo Alto, a member of the group Raging Grannies, whose members participated in the rally at the state Capitol. "It needed to be dismantled."


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CA_GUARD_INTELLIGENCE_UNIT_CAOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-12-02-14-09-39

[Hobarticus]

1. A stark reminder: overzealous servicemen work for the people of the US

All that stuff about defending freedom and the Constitution don't mean a thing if we pull your funding, pal.

[rodeodance]

2. you hear ARNIE!! the guard does NOT work for you!

[Village Idiot]

3. Spying on A MOTHER'S DAY rally?

Sheesh!