If It's Not That Easy . . . Just Change the Rules!

           Let's say you're trying to accomplish a task for work. Unfortunately there are rules and regulations that make that a bit difficult. What can you do? You can sit and brainstorm ways to get around those rules and regulations. Maybe ask someone you work with if they dealt with this before and how they handled it? Or, you can do what the FBI did. Just change the rules.
           The FBI recently updated the 2008 Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide. This was the guide they had to reference when investigating domestic matters of National Security. It governed the paperwork they needed to fill out and in what order they had to proceed with everything. Well, apparently the FBI thought the current rules in place were making things a little too difficult. So, they changed them.
           In the past the FBI needed to have probable cause to pursue a subject in question. They needed evidence of wrong doing that would link a person or organization to a crime. You know, pretty standard stuff. With the updated Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide, they don't need any of that anymore. An FBI agent can do what you see them do in the movies, and just go with his gut.
           Yes, you heard that right. They are now allowed to search commercial and law enforcement databases for anyone they want. That includes any organizations they feel might be doing something wrong. In the past they had to open official assessment inquiries. Now they don't need to document anything. They can walk right in, search for whomever they wish, and walk back out. Without telling anyone what or who they were looking for. Crazy huh?
            This also extends to lie detector tests. They are now allowed to administer lie detector tests without having anything more than a hunch. Meaning if I were an FBI agent and had a dream about Jim from down the block, I could bring him in for a lie detector test. No questions asked. They are also allowed to, without any evidence of wrong doing, search the garbage or anyone they please. They sited a bunch of stuff about making it easier to know if someone is a threat to them or to put pressure on someone to further their investigations. I have to say it all sounds pretty cool to me.
             Just to fill you in on everything. There are also new rules about an informants rights to attend up to five meetings of an organization they are gathering information on without any kind of documentation. The rules regarding an informants rights to attend religious events has changed. Also the special provisions that were in place with respect to the investigation of public officials has be altered. Mainly in cases where the public official is a victim or a witness. If they are the target of an investigation, there is still a special provision that must be followed.
             So how do you feel knowing that the FBI can just change their rules to make it easier on them? I'm sure their guideline book is a little longer than my blog, but you get the idea. I for one think it's awesome. The FBI is tired of jumping through hoops and filling out useless paperwork to investigate people they think might be doing something wrong. Yea, it might make it easier for some agents to unjustly "investigate" their ex-wives or their daughter's new boyfriend. But when you look at the big picture, if these new provisions allow them to arrest one or two more bad guys that would have previously slipped through the cracks, than I think it's worth it. I mean they should be allowed to investigate however they want. They are the FBI for crying out loud. Federal Bureau of INVESTIGATION. If they came to my work and made me take a lie detector test because they were digging through my garbage, I wouldn't have a problem with it. The crazy part is, I didn't even mention the most important rule change. And it involves all of us.

            "Investigations into members of the press and academic scholars are also considered sensitive, and call for extra supervisions. The new rules make a distinction between bloggers as members of the press: "Prominent bloggers would count, but not people who have low-profile blogs," but the details of that distinction are unclear. The new rules also "limit academic protections only to scholars who work for institutions based in the United States.""

             If you read that correctly that means we need to take "Hand-jobs for Ham Sandwiches" to the prominent blog level status. Why you ask? Because I want to be considered a member of the press. I know what you're thinking. And yes, that is completely selfish. However, it's not everyday the FBI changes rules that make it possible for me to be considered a member of the press. Why do I want to be a member of the press? Why not? It would be one more thing I can put on my resume that won't help me get a job. So I want to take this opportunity to get everyone on board and take HJfHS to the next level. Tell your friends, tell them to tell their friends. Let's make all the Hand-jobs I've gotten for Ham Sandwiches worth something more than a funny story to tell my kids.