This is a developing story that has found its way on to Zero Hedge and Business Insider, two very different sites that I follow for investment news. Hopefully, it is much ado about nothing and that there will a be reasonable explanation–though would you believe the explanation if it came out?
Here is the mother’s side of the story on the Josh Tolley Show:
On January 31, 2012, I did a post on two UKers whom US officials detained at LAX on the basis of some gag tweets that they did. In this case, Brandon Raub has apparently made anti-government statements on his Facebook page.
This is an interesting story for the reasons which Josh Tolley says in the You Tube recording (@9:00) that any of us could become victims of a “soft definition” of terrorism. In all likelihood, my criticisms of the United States government would also qualify as terrorist statements.
Peter, this guy was going a little over-the-top with his threats:
http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a19/grnadmastershek/?action=view¤t=Untitled-4.jpg
http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a19/grnadmastershek/?action=view¤t=BR6.jpg
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They probably expected him to go on some shooting/axe murdering spree. It sounds like it’s good they got him, but maybe the handling could have been different.
Personally, I don’t think those comments alone merit being picked up by the FBI. If those comments were indicative of a conspiracy against the United States AND they could show evidence that he was conspiring against the US sufficient that they could convince a grand jury of his danger to society, that might be one thing. But those Facebook comments are a really stupid prank otherwise. That’s all.
And if he is a little nuts off balance sort of guy with delusions of grandeur, is it a really federal matter if they have no other evidence that he’s involved in a plot against the USA?
Now on the other hand, I have just been the implied target of chilling words from a former employee of the IRS saying that there are certain blogs out there which will go nameless, but I think people here know who I am talking about, who wrote that he had to talk about these blogs of whack jobs to “expose crack pots and those who hate this country and wish us ill for what they are.” I.e., they are a potential terrorist threat because they have websites that disagree with a former IRS agent about FBAR and FATCA. Chilling stuff.
I was reading this story on Friday but didn’t expect it to appear here. It seems the USA is increasing its speed down the proverbial slippery slope. And cheese, geeeze what could possibly be good about arresting a non-resisting former marine, falsely accusing him of resisting (for purposes of charging him with something) and then sending him for psychiatric evaluation against his will? All this for speaking his mind after finally becoming awakened to the reality which is the United States of Aggression. A quiet interview on his doorstep by the SS would have been sufficient to sort out his intentions. This looks like imprisonment for thought crime and is as 1984ish as it gets.
I guess because of the actions of a former marine in the parking lot of a Sikh temple makes all marines suspect? Maybe the US government knows more than we do about the stability of their troops considering it’s taking WAY TOO LONG to have disability and PTSD claims processed. I’m sure many are stressed beyond coping. It’s a shame that underfunded wars have resulted in this and the ballooning of the US deficit that hurts every American.
Yep Peter, it was probably blown a little out of proportion. What do I ALWAYS say on here about the American reaction always being one of OVER REACTION! I was saying it for the 10,000th time just yesterday.
I think I also understood your last paragraph, and know who this person is. I was a little surprised when I saw those words too: the guy was trying to say that anyone who is anti-FATCA is a “tax protester.” WT..? That’s some kind of spin! My complaint, along with many others on here is:
1) Not getting double-taxed;
2) Not being able to open bank accounts or mortgages;
3) Being singled out for discrimination based on where we were born;
We already pay taxes where we live, and in most cases, higher than we would pay in the US. This is a case of being able to live overseas, not really much of a tax issue, for me at least.
Going back to this person. If it is the same one, then I feel extremely disappointed. Seems like he talked one way to your faces, and then embraced the traditionally incorrect stereotypes.
And cheese, geeeze what could possibly be good about arresting a
non-resisting former marine, falsely accusing him of resisting (for
purposes of charging him with something) and then sending him for
psychiatric evaluation against his will?
Did you read those comments? He said he had to sharpen his axe because he’s “going to cut off some heads.” Just based on that, I don’t see anything wrong with sending a couple of uniformed officers to check on him to see if he’s OK. However, as usual, they used a sledgehammer to pound a needle <sigh>. We’ll know more on Monday.
@ geeez, yes you always say the US overeacts, 10,000x indeed! 🙂 It would have sufficed to allow local authorities to deal with him. If they were worried, they could have asked the local police to go check him out. That’s what sane, non-control freaks would do. But the Federal Government has allowed 9-11 to become the excuse for becoming entwined into all kinds of the local affairs.
@ geeeze
There but for the grace of doG go many of us. I don’t think I’ve actually said or written anything advocating violence but in times of sheer exasperation I’ve thought some thoughts. This is not in itself a bad thing because it can actually bring one back to solving problems with logic and empathy. Only the paranoia of state think can reach the false conclusion that dark thoughts always lead to dark actions.
*I’ve never advocated violence, but my writings have been twisted out of context at times and I’ve been told that they were reported to the authorities. In one such situation, a US city was under an alert shortly afterwards. If I remember correctly, I was talking about how the public might react (becoming more pro-war) if a randomly named city was nuked. I was then told that I was threatening the city, that my comment had been reported and then an alert for the given city was issued in the media shortly afterwards. That was a bizarre experience. Around the time, a Muslim OBL-fan in Pakistan was sending me a bunch of annoying Islamic verses trying to convert me and I think that I was communicating in another forum which had a lot of hostility towards the US. My interest at the time was to communicate with everyone in order to learn to understand the cause of 9/11 and I never had any intention of harming anyone. If the alert had had anything to do with any reporting of what I wrote, then the feds must have realized that it was a false alert because I was never questioned on the matter. Or, was it all just a very very strange coincidence? I’ve never had any problems at the border, but I’ve also never blamed the US government for 9/11 other than pointing out that some US policy promotes hostilities towards the US.
@swisspinoy
‘pointing out that some US policies promote hostilities towards the US’, puts you in the same company as Congressperson Lynn Woolsey (D-Ca), who has been very outspoken about the damage caused to the US’s image overseas due to US drone strikes. She says ‘we’re making real enemies around the world by continuing with the drone strikes’.
http://thehill.com/video/house/231913-house-members-split-on-drone-strike-policy
*bubblebustin, absolutely! 10 years ago, I argued that US foreign policy was economically damaging and the economy today certainly doesn’t demonstrate otherwise.
@swisspinoy: It is unbelievable! Isn’t it terrifying that a terrorist threat was given to a city based on simple comments of you? Here many of us afraid even to enter the USA for not filing FBAR and we didn’t file FBAR because we never even heard of FBAR until few months back. I hope to file three years of tax returns and relinquish as soon as possible. The scariest thing is how many such draconian laws are still in obscurity and will be used to extract criminal fines from expats. I am not rich and can’t afford to defend my self, even if I inadvertently commit a genuine mistake in tax forms of other obscure US laws (e.g. not knowing as obscure form like FBAR).
Based on what I am seeing, Osama Bin Laden succeeded even more that his wildest dreams. Unfortunately he succeeded not because what he did but due to the over reaction of our Government. Attacking Iraq was a over reaction, which might result in more terrorism from Iraq. The excessive drone strikes in Pakistan may increase terrorism from Pakistan. The US press down playing civilian casualties, while Pakistan press exaggerating the civilian casualties.
Here in India, we have been suffering terrorism coming from Pakistan since 1980s, which indirectly funded by the USA. The US trained Taliban and al-Qaida in 1980s to avenge Russians. The Pakistan diverted substantial funds and arms it received in name of helping Afghanistan’s freedom fighters to brew terror in India. To maintain good terms and continue cooperation, the US never lifted a finger at Pakistan until few years back. This help and funding also helped Pakistan acquire nuclear bombs, which are now real danger of falling into the hands of terrorists, because it is an open secret that the powerful military and al-Qaida has close relationship. What else can explain the safe house of Osama Bin Laden is within few yards from a regional military head quarters?
*Rajesh, I don’t know if the terror warnings had anything to do with my forum writings. I certainly hope not, but it is hard to say since they were having various warnings every few months back then and were paranoid enough to react to anything.
I had never filed any FBARS in the 11 or so years since moving abroad again. This year, I flew to the US twice and filed an FBAR for the first time from within the US the second time. I’ll probably send in some more FBARs in September once the IRS releases more details on what it wants.
swisspinoy: I also filed FBAR this year. I am not saying it is dangerous to travel to the USA (if one fail to file FBAR in the past), but many of us became paranoid and distrustful about IRS and US government. I still could not believe any democratic country set up such trap for expats. How could US treat dual-citizens having normal bank accounts and don’t owe any taxes to IRS no differently than tax cheats deliberately hiding money to evade taxes.
The IRS clearly knows about the genuine ignorance of innocent dual-citizens since 2009 and yet continued to threaten and persecute for not filing FBARS. How can any one be sure what such agency would do? Understanding US tax code is beyond my capability. I can neither afford nor find a US-tax attorney in India. If I find a cheap accountant to file my taxes, he may end up making a mistake that may cost even more. So best way to stay compliant is relinquish US citizenship and try to avoid traveling to the USA.
Here’s an update on Brandon Raub …
https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/on_the_front_lines/rutherford_institute_defends_marine_arrested_incarcerated_in_psych_ward_det
“In a hearing before a special justice on August 20, government officials
again pointed to Raub’s Facebook posts as the sole reason for their
concern and for his continued incarceration. Ignoring Raub’s
explanations about the fact that the Facebook posts were being read out
of context and his attorney’s First Amendment defense, the special
justice agreed that Raub should be incarcerated at a VA hospital for up
to 30 more days. Rutherford Institute attorneys are working to challenge
Raub’s detention and the highly unconstitutional nature of the
government’s actions.”
Another update and this is good news provided the judge’s orders are actually carried out …
http://rt.com/usa/news/judge-marine-facebook-raub-421/
“On the basis that there was zero reason to detain a retired Marine and
commit him to a medical facility for psychiatric evaluation, a Virginia
judge has demanded that Brandon Raub be released from custody
immediately.”
Another recent arrest of a similar nature after threats were made over Facebook, this time in Vancouver. Note the contrast:
‘Ryan Lewis, 32 is charged with uttering threats. He has been released on several conditions, including not being allowed to have access to the Internet.’
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/North+Vancouver+arrested+suspected+threatening+copy+Colorado+theatre+shootings/7058890/story.html#ixzz24PZcCpcb
Former marine Raub comments after his release. Brock’s voice in only one in a growing chorus. Listen, there is a Canadian component to his arrest!
http://rt.com/usa/news/facebook-marine-interview-raub-866/
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