Saint Paul 2008

Hello. Please don’t be too alarmed, but I’d like you to know that “they” are watching us. Well, watching me, anyway, for quite some time.

“They” are law enforcement - both the Saint Paul Police Department, and the Minneapolis Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. And they’ve been keeping tabs on this website, and me, and presumably other RNC convention-related websites, since the last week of March, 2007. At least a half-dozen people, at one point or another, are or were involved in this endeavor, would be my educated guess.

Lest you think I’m being particularly paranoid, please know I’m not. I have the server logs to prove a more than passing interest in this website and myself on the part of law enforcement officers. The following IP addresses are ones I’ve identified as being used, so far:

In addition, I’m suspicious about, but can’t confirm government use of, 156.98.210.242 and 156.98.31.96. Also, 156.99.75.2 is a network gateway for the City of St. Paul, and used by a lot of parties, including libraries, schools - and the SPPD.

I, of course, have made no effort to conceal my identity, which has made things very simple for the authorities. On the other hand, I - ongoing 180-day preliminary domestic terrorism investigation notwithstanding - have done absolutely nothing wrong; I have no connection to the anti-war, anti-globalisation, anti-capitalism, or environmental movements. I’ve attended no rallies, no demonstrations. Those of you running websites, mailing lists, or otherwise engaged in planning and preparation for the 2008 RNC convention here in Saint Paul probably have more to hide than I do, and I hope for your sakes that you’ve done so, and well; it’s fairly safe to say that it’s too late to start, now, after almost three months of attention from local and federal law enforcement. If I am worth keeping tabs on, it’s fairly safe to say that others are being kept track of, as well.

Please note, I don’t suggest, let alone recommend, blocking any of the IP addresses listed above. Rather, I simply suggest you check your website logs for visits from these addresses, and decide for yourself what you’d like to do about it. Also, if you’re running a convention-related website, and have any information to share about the related activities of the FBI, SPPD, members of the JTTF, or other law-enforcement agencies, feel free to share.