The other domestic spying program?
About two years ago my boss, a former postal inspector, went to a reunion of sorts with his postal inspector friends. He told me that many of his friends still employed as postal inspectors were complaining about their work load. Why? Because they were given lists of people and addresses and were ordered to hold all mail addressed to those people and turn it over to federal authorities (I assume the FBI, but he wasn't specific). Later the authorities would return the mail, which would then be delivered as usual without the target being aware of the process. I didn't hear any concerns about privacy (my boss--former boss now--is a staunch Republican) but rather with the inefficiency of the process--it was felt to be a massive amount of work that was unlikely to turn up much, if any, useful information.
Naturally I wanted to grill him, ask him if there were warrants and if these were citizens and so forth, but I was afraid of scaring him silent. At the time I planned to investigate the matter on my own and, if it panned out, to write an article about it. But I was a new dad for the second time on top of working 80-hour weeks and eventually forgot all about it.
Until I read about the Ashcroft hospital incident and the unwillingness of anyone to confirm which domestic spying program was in question that night.
I promptly wrote to tips@tpm, thinking they had the resources to follow up on the story better than I did. I never heard back. But I've yet to see anyone mention that this is (was, possibly, I don't know that the program still exists) going on, which seems like a big deal to me--even if the targets are foreign nationals and the authorities do have warrants. I haven't been able to turn up anything about it with Google.
TPM readers, does this sound like a story to you? I'm in a good position to investigate now, but I have nagging doubts that this isn't really news, or that it has already been covered elsewhere. I am entirely confident my boss wasn't making the story up--he's not a stickler for the truth but nor is he at all creative. Lie to gain the upper hand in a business deal, sure; spin stories out of the ether? No way.
Are you kidding? A story that describes the depth of the roots of the sea change in American life that has occured in the last six years? Hell yes it is a story. Think Norman Rockwell meets M.C. Escher! Or better yet go watch Fellini's Amarcore again and drink in the delicious foolishness of Italian Fascism as Fellini portrayed it. Please write a long long story, maybe a book. It would become a classic.
June 20, 2007 12:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, Larry, my thoughts were along the same lines. I sent this story to a few different prominent political bloggers, thinking I would hear something, anything back, but I got not so much as a "Go away, kid, I'm busy" in response, leaving me to wonder if I was missing something.
I will update my TPM blog as things develop.
June 20, 2007 12:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bloggers are not the audience to poll to judge the value of a story of this scope. Other than Arthur Silber I know of no blog site that takes the "long view." Blogs respond to instances of the larger dynamics of our time but shy away from all but the most obtuse references to those dynamics. Commenters often do address matters at that level as is evidenced by many of the posts and comments here at the cafe. For example someone could take the collection of posts and exchanges offered by Ticia, Pardee and Mills and publish them in a book titled "The Warrior Next Door" and it would be an excellent read.
The postal service is an iconic American institution. I've been a letter carrier and a clerk and of course I've read Bukowsky. If you want I'll write a precise for your novel. I wish I had your contacts because it is a story that does not require expertise, only reportorial skill. I have no such skill but the subject you have in your hand is worth every effort toward the telling.
I don't mean to be a glib taskmaster. I can understand the commitment of time and effort this subject would require. I would just like to encourage you to give the whole matter your serious consideration. And of course you have my best wishes for success if you choose to tackle it.
June 20, 2007 7:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Try John Conyers or Henry Waxman. Certainly a question worth asking of someone testifying to committee.
June 20, 2007 8:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why don't you contact Naomi Wolf? Her mail has disappeared and has been tampered with.
November 10, 2008 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink