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FBI Seizes Library Computers Without Warrant
An anonymous reader writes "Two FBI agents walked into a public library in Maryland, without a warrant, and walked out with two computers. The library director agreed to release the machines to these smooth-talking feds. According to the article, the director of Frederick County Public Libraries indicated that this was the third time in his 10 years there that the FBI had requested records, but the first time they had come without a court order. The director seemed to indicate no regrets, stating 'It was a decision I made on my experience and the information given to me.' He further justified his actions, noting that the agents indicated specific computers they needed (of the several dozen in the library) and further that they 'had an awful lot of information.'" The library director speculated whether the raid may have involved the Bruce Ivins / anthrax case, musing "Obviously it coincided with the events everyone is talking about," but he said the agents hadn't mentioned it.
Honestly, with the amount of dust usually inside those things, i don't envy them. Anthrax is made up anyways!
This is good. The terrorist who checks out the Terrorist's Cookbook and blows himself (and others) up before returning it will still get nabbed.
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
It is just the beginning of a Big Brother Nanny State, where the "Thought Police" violate rights and freedoms left and right. That librarian is a lily livered coffee house hippie liberal who just gave up his/her rights and freedoms and everyone else's to the FBI agents without requesting to see if there was a warrant. Had the librarian been a moderate or libertarian instead, he/she would have read the FBI the riot act and cite the parts of the Constitution that requests a warrant be issued. Had the librarian been a conservative, he would have called the FBI and given them the computers and not thought of rights or freedoms anyway.
Remember, Slashdot does not have a -1 disagree moderation, and no, troll, flamebait, and overrated are not substitutes.
"When there are no external enemies, create one, to unite the people and quell unrest."
The irony of it is, is that the American left does the exact same thing by creating enemies out of American institutions. "Give us money, or [exxon/halliburton/george bush/dick cheney/gm/ford/chrysler/ibm/microsoft/apple/walmart/the big business/the small business/the white guy/the male/the car owner/the gun owner/the machinist/the guy that wants to send his kids to private school/the religious/the successful will get you in your sleep!"
Anything that's worked in America, to make it richer, the left wing not only opposes, but demonizes in order to secure funding for its own existence.
This is my sig.