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Civil rights advocates protested Thursday in front of the FBI building against a recent memo warning law enforcement officials across the country that would-be terrorists could use almanacs to plan attacks.

In a bulletin sent over the holidays to about 18,000 police organizations, the FBI said terrorists might use almanacs "to assist with target selection and preoperational planning." It urged officers to watch during searches, traffic stops and other investigations for anyone carrying almanacs, especially if the books are annotated in suspicious ways.

According to the Associated Press, the bulletin states "the practice of researching potential targets is consistent with known methods of al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations that seek to maximize the likelihood of operational success through careful planning."

The bulletin has prompted objections from civil liberties advocates who say it might encourage police to arrest or interrogate people based on their reading habits.

"Basically, it makes it potentially illegal for somebody to walk around with their almanac," said Carol Moore of the D.C. Anti-War Network (DAWN) in Washington. Members of the group marched in front of the FBI building Thursday holding up almanacs.

"DAWN is protesting the absurdity of this almanac warning, which infringes on the liberties and privacy of all Americans," Moore added.

Almanacs contain a plethora of data, such as maps and information on the nation's tallest buildings, landmarks, cities and rivers. The books are also loaded with facts about gardening, recipes and planetary systems.

"Founding Father Ben Franklin probably never imagined that the almanac he created could be the subject of an FBI terrorism bulletin," said Nadine Strossen, American Civil Liberties Union president, in a statement.

The almanac alert was part of the FBI's regular intelligence bulletin sent weekly to law enforcement agencies nationwide. FBI spokesman Paul Bresson declined to comment on the bulletin, saying it is an internal memo for law enforcement officials.

"It's a law enforcement-sensitive communication, and I really can't share with you what's in it," he said. "It was never intended to be public."

Bresson said the agency is always trying to give the law enforcement community the best information possible to help them do their jobs.

"What we have done and will continue to do is apprise [law enforcement officials] of all information that helps protect public safety and...we feel it's necessary to arm them with this information," he said.

COMMENTS

• I am concerned about things such as this because I am a law abiding citizen. And you can go down the litany of obtuse tactics the administration espouses to generate fear in the public. I was brought up to think that freedom loving and law abiding citizens should always have a healthy fear of big brother gone overboard. This healthy fear is what leads to checks and balances in our society and system of governance. I think the worry that a good deal of people have today revolves around how much those checks and balances are subjugated to the White House. The argument about how other organizations or protestors would combat the "terrorists" is hollow. It's not their job. Just as it wasn't everyone's job in 50's to go out and turn in a commie. But when the witch trials got out of hand society did react. We called people communists then, today the word is terrorist. How we handle this threat says more to where we go as a society then many people realize. Kevin Van Kirk Posted January 23, 2004 11:59 AM
• Ignorance has blown this way out of proportion. No legal authority has restricted people from reading almanacs. These people are losing focus on what the issue is really about. Nobody is trying to stop circulation of the almanac. Come on people, let's be real here! No one's freedom is being revoked and if you are a law abiding citizen than you should not be concerned. Jill Johnson Posted January 14, 2004 12:02 PM
• Obviously, some people don't understand what this country is up against. Terrorists are not going to walk around with a terrorist tattoo on their foreheads. The FBI didn't say that anyone carrying an almanac was a terrorist. It is just another piece of the puzzle. Our local law enforcement officers need to have ANY information that may help them make informed decisions. Someone carrying an almanac in and of itself is not necessarily something to worry about. However, if you have someone carrying an almanac and other "red flags" then maybe something is not quite right. DAWN, the ACLU and these other organizations all are quick to scream foul when the government tries to do something about the potential of more attacks, but NONE of them offer any ideas how to protect the country in a manner in which they would approve. Trying to stop the next one Posted January 13, 2004 3:56 PM