An analysis of the Political Motivations and Implications behind the MIAC's Strategic Report on the Modern Militia Movement.

On March 12, 2009 the following article authored by internet reporter Kurt Nimmo was published on Alex Jones' www.infowars.com website as well as the Truth News internet news site, ( http://www.truthnews.us/?p=2720 ):

"Alex Jones has received a secret report distributed by the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) entitled "The Modern Militia Movement" and dated February 20, 2009. A footer on the document indicates it is "unclassified" but "law enforcement sensitive," in other words not for public consumption. A copy of the report was sent to Jones by an anonymous Missouri police officer.

The MIAC report specifically describes supporters of presidential candidates Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin, and Bob Barr as "militia" influenced terrorists and instructs the Missouri police to be on the lookout for supporters displaying bumper stickers and other paraphernalia associated with the Constitutional, Campaign for Liberty, and Libertarian parties.

"Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) provides a public safety partnership consisting of local, state and federal agencies, as well as the public sector and private entities that will collect, evaluate, analyze, and disseminate information and intelligence to the agencies tasked with Homeland Security responsibilities in a timely, effective, and secure manner," explains the MIAC website. "MIAC is the mechanism to collect incident reports of suspicious activities to be evaluated and analyzed in an effort to identify potential trends or patterns of terrorist or criminal operations within the state of Missouri. MIAC will also function as a vehicle for two-way communication between federal, state and local law enforcement community within our region."

MIAC is part of the federal "fusion" effort now underway around the country. "As of February 2009, there were 58 fusion centers around the country. The Department has deployed 31 officers as of December 2008 and plans to have 70 professionals deployed by the end of 2009. The Department has provided more than $254 million from FY 2004-2007 to state and local governments to support the centers," explains the Department of Homeland Security on its website. Missouri is mentioned as a participant in this federal "intelligence" effort."

In response to the recent MIAC report, Missouri 5th District State Representative Jim Guest authored the following editorial entitled, "Are you a Militant?":

"An unclassified/ Law Enforcement sensitive report was released from the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) describing anyone who questions the authority of the Federal Government as being a part of a modern militia movement. They also identify individuals as "Persons of Interest" to be tracked or watched and on this list is anyone who believes in sovereignty as a citizen or as a state, those who are militant anti-abortionist, those of us who believe in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. MIAC also includes those who are against the chipping of Americans with Radio Frequencies Identification Devices or (RFID), those who believe our federal government is out of control and not listening to our citizens, are listed as part of this movement.

It is profiling to the highest degree to identify citizens of this country who display bumper stickers or other labels as being part of a modern militia movement. This includes members of any 3rd party, such as, the Constitution Party or Libertarian party. The idea that free speech and free press are under surveillance by our law enforcement is in violation of the 1st amendment.

I also believe there is a movement to stop our rejection of the Real ID Act and pending state legislation to protect our 2nd amendment rights. I and others will not be intimidated by this threat to our freedom but I believe it will energize Missourians to stand up for their constitutional protected rights. This assault on Americans by profiling us as militant instead of profiling those who are here illegally, or terrorists, amazes me.

As President George Bush said on 9/11, "An attack on one is an attack on all". In other words an attack on ones freedoms is an attack on all our freedoms!

- Rep. Jim Guest (R-King City) , Missouri District 5"

On March 20th, 2009 television station KRCG-Channel 13 published an article on their website stating that Governor Nixon was defending the MIAC report, quoting Governor Nixon as saying:

"Getting information, especially public information, out of our fusion center out to local law enforcement agencies is what we do every day and we're going to continue to do," said Nixon. "Any way they take that information and can analyze what the threat levels are is important to make sure the public stays safe."

Perhaps the most interesting part of this newly published MIAC document is not the symbols that are published in it's "Political Paraphernelia" segment, but the symbols that aren't published on it.

There are a number of variations of U.S. and U.S. civil and historical flags that are listed in the report.

For instance; according to the report, displaying the U.S. flag upside down ( an act that represents an international distress signal or is used as a form of political protest) makes one a suspect of the MIAC and flying the Gadsden flag, an historical flag created by General Christopher Gadsden and used during the Revolutionary War makes you a suspected "militia member".

One can only speculate why traditional U.S. historical flags made the MIAC "hit list" perhaps it is an attempt to dissuade the populace from upholding the Constitutional beliefs and ideals that America were founded upon, or as an acquaintance recently shared with me, perhaps Governor Nixon has received his "marching orders" from the Obama administration, after all, a number of "upside down" U.S. flags appeared after his election.

The most baffling aspect of the MIAC report is that not one flag of the Confederate States of America appears on it. It is odd considering that the political left never misses an opportunity to malign and misrepresent the heritage and historical significance of the flag. After all it was merely 5 short years ago that another governor (Bob Holden) took his "marching orders" from a Washington D.C. elitist (Democratic Representative Richard Gephardt) and ordered the removal of the Confederate Battle Flag from the Higginsville Confederate Cemetery and the Second National Confederate Flag from Fort Davidson State Historic site in Pilot Knob, Missouri.

So what has changed?

One possibility is that there are many more traditionally minded Southern voters in Missouri, who have made an impact at the voting booth, the defeat of Governor Holden and Senator Talent at the polls kept them from serving second terms in the Governor's mansion and the U.S. Senate, both men made it known publicly that the Confederate flag was "divisive".

In 2007 a Missouri legislative committee pondered the question of whether to issue a formal apology for slavery, but did not act on it (after massive public outcry by the public). This at a time when such Deep South states as Alabama and North Carolina were issuing slavery apologies.

During the 2008 Republican presidential primary , both Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson denounced the Confederate flag as "divisive". In the contest for Missouri, Thompson showed a dismal result of only 3,102 votes, while Romney's showing was more impressive 172,329 both candidates fell behind Mike Huckabee who garnered 185,642 votes.

The state ultimately went to McCain in both the primary election and the general election but is it a coincidence that Huckabee, the former Governor of Arkansas who stated, in a Jan. 17, 2008 CNN. com news article, "You don't like people from outside the state coming in and telling you what to do with your flag. In fact, if somebody came to Arkansas and told us what to do with our flag, we'd tell them what to do with the pole, that's what we'd do." , beat out favored candidates Thompson and Romney?

By not including the Confederate flag on their "watch list" of "political paraphernalia" the MIAC and Governor Nixon, through his defense of the report, have committed a de-facto admission that there is nothing wrong, dangerous or militant about the flags of our Southern heritage.

Since the MIAC and Governor Nixon are inadvertently admitting that there is nothing wrong with the flags that Governor Holden removed from the Higginsville Confederate Cemetery and Fort Davidson State Historic Site, in Pilot Knob Missouri, they should be restored to their former place of honor. In addition to the flag, the pole at Higginsville will have to be replaced as well, because former Governor Matt Blunt ordered it removed. Blunt, of course, chose not to run for a second term after being bogged down in an email scandal.

If the past four elections are of any indication, 2012 will be a bad year for Governor Nixon. Through his actions (or should I say inactions) Nixon has united Missouri's traditional Southern voting block with political third parties and constitutionalists. Simply put, he has really "stepped in it" with the voters. By defending this piece of political profiling the Governor has chosen to roll the "political dice" and the odds are not in his favor.

Clint E. Lacy

Is a Southern Author and Activist. He resides in the Ozark Foothills of Southeast Missouri. He is a member of the John T. Coffee Camp #1934 Inc., Sons of Confederate Veterans and currently serves on the Board of Alderman for the City of Marble Hill.

Related:

http://www.jimguest.com

http://www.coffeecamp.net/march_release_9

Rep. Jim Guest radio interview with Alex Jones regarding the MIAC report:

http://www.prisonplanet.com/the-alex-jones-show-l-i-v-e-march-18-with-jim-guest.html