The mysterious institute that spied on Pa. anti-drilling activists

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The mysterious institute that spied on Pa. anti-drilling activists

POSTED: Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 9:56 PM
Filed Under: Marcellus Shale | News

Last night, Governor Rendell called reports prepared for the state by the Institute of Terrorism Research and Response (ITRR)which covertly monitored the activities of anti-drilling activists (along with such terroristic events as a gay rights parade) — "ludicrous."

He also said the state would not renew its $125,000 contract with the company.

But who and what is the Institute of Terrorism Research and Response? The answer isn't obvious.

The company is based in Philadelphia, and appears to have had some interaction with Philadelphia University; its website says it will host a "Hometown Crisis Management" seminar at the university this October.

Co-directors are listed as Aaron Richman, a former Israeli police captain, and Michael Perelman, a former York police commander.

Although the group claims nonprofit status on its website and is listed as a nonprofit corporation by the Pennsylvania Department of State, a search on websites Guidestar.org and IRS.gov yielded no indication that the organization enjoys tax-exempt status. An email seeking clarification of the group's nonprofit status was not returned.

Co-Director Perelman, when questioned directly about the company's nonprofit status, told CP over the phone only that "We're releasing a statement, and that's all you're going to hear from us."

ITRR's website calls the company "the preeminent Israeli/American security firm providing training, intelligence and education to clients across the globe." It describes its "Targeted Action Monitoring Center" as "no clipping service, but a powerful fusion center of battle-tested operatives, analysts, and researchers who have real-life experience fighting both terrorists and criminal entities [...] distinguished among other agencies by its access to a vast network of on-the-ground key-sources in virtually every region of the world."

Yet records of the exact nature of its work — outside of the recent scandal, that is — are scant.

A LexisNexis news search for the group's name yields little, and there exists virtually no mention of the group anywhere in the mainstream media. What few hits do appear correspond mostly to a small number of reports in trade publications on "lessons learned" from international incidents of terrorism and one report, by an intern, on the use of Twitter by "religious, anarchists, anti-government, and anti-globalization," extremists.

Beyond that, the group appears to have appeared at a 2008 Philadelphia "Emergency Preparedness and Prevention and Hazmat Spills Conference," sponsored by the EPA, which included among its speakers ITRR directors Richman on "counter-terrorism techniques" and Perelman on "unlawful tactics used by eco-terrorists and anarchists."

The only other publicized activity of ITRR appears to be a series of educational trips to Israel the group seems to have put together. An article by an Arizona State University teacher, published in the Journal of Counter-terrorism and Homeland Security International, describes a trip by ASU students to Israel in partnership with ITRR.

"Among the many subjects ITRR introduced to the students was the importance of public-private partnerships. The underlying message was that government alone cannot protect the country; private industry must also play a large role in national security."

Another document — the only document, in fact, under the heading "client feedback" on the ITRR website — appears to be a "student report," apparently by a Philadelphia University student, describing a trip by PU students to Israel with ITRR for a "Mass Casualty and Terrorism Workshop."

Philadelphia University public relations director Deborah Goldberg told CP in a statement that Richman is an assistant professor in the school's Disaster Medicine and Management Program, and that the program:

"... has co-sponsored two educational seminars with ITRR aimed at security professionals. The second meeting, scheduled for Oct. 22, also is co-sponsored by the International Association for Counterterrorism & Security Professionals, a leading international association for security professionals."


Stay tuned to the Clog for updates.


waalter
Posted 2010-09-16 17:05:31
Just when you thought COINTELPRO was a bad thing of the past,you ain't seen nothing yet.Government and corporate entities now have the resources money and technology to out soviet the big bad EVIL EMPIRE.

Tito
Posted 2010-09-16 16:04:44
More proof Mossad owns the US govt and did 911 for its own benefit.

Pennsylvania Homeland Security Employed Israeli Company to Suppress American Political Dissent | Philosophers stone
Posted 2010-09-17 16:22:22
[...] mission to protect public infrastructure. Madsen, citing a story published on late Wednesday by the Philadelphia Citypaper, revealed that the “non-profit” operates not only out of Philadelphia, but Israel as [...] 

nader paul kucinich gravel mckinney
Posted 2010-09-17 17:18:34
Awake from your slumber;  Get 'em with the numbers

Israeli Intelligence Supressing Dissent in the United States «
Posted 2010-09-17 16:05:54
[...] mission to protect public infrastructure. Madsen, citing a story published on late Wednesday by the Philadelphia Citypaper, revealed that the “non-profit” operates not only out of Philadelphia, but Israel as [...] 

Crisis Assistance : : The mysterious institute that spied on Pa. anti-drilling activists… - Cancer Health Center
Posted 2010-09-16 20:43:19
[...] Via [...] 

NickeNitro
Posted 2010-09-16 23:35:25
CIA/Mossad monitoring of any group showing awareness, so they can infiltrate, smear, or otherwise counter to prevent truths from becoming known...these people are nutjobs

Hour of the Time » News 03Feb11
Posted 2011-02-03 18:22:55
[...] The mysterious institute that spied on Pa. anti-drilling activists [...] 

steve
Posted 2010-09-15 21:32:09
Look deeper. The company that did the surveillance for Pennsylvania is part of Blackwater.



TRC = Terrorism Research Center = Owned by Erik Prince and Blackwater



In other words, blackwater is now being paid by the gov't to spy on regular citizens.



Steve

  The mysterious institute that spied on Pa. anti-drilling activists – Philadelphia Citypaper (blog) by Tax Attorney Services Costs
Posted 2010-09-15 22:02:38
[...] The mysterious institute that spied on Pa. anti-drilling activistsPhiladelphia Citypaper (blog)… Pennsylvania Department of State, a search on websites Guidestar.org and IRS.gov yielded no indication that the organization enjoys tax-exempt status. …and more » [...] 

HongPong
Posted 2010-09-16 04:38:34
Solid article - I pulled the stuff off ITRR's site and posted it here for ease of skimmin around - http://www.scribd.com/my_document_collections/2624874

Take note for example of talking about how good they are at collecting grant programs in one document... quite a hustle!

George LoBuono
Posted 2010-09-16 14:31:23
When an Israeli thing is telling us, in this country, about the use of Twitter by "religious, anarchists, anti-government, and anti-globalization," extremists---don't you see what that is? Israel killed dozens on the Liberty in 1967---they knew it was US sailors, and Israel sells US secrets to China while Israel saps us for billions every year so they can ignore US presidents and try to colonize Palestinians, apartheid style. Of course they're trying to foul the nest here.

mackie mccleod
Posted 2010-09-17 01:13:22
to view a partial list of crimes committed by FBI agents over 1500 pages long see

forums.signonsandiego.  com/showthread.php?t=59139



to view a partial list of FBI agents arrested for pedophilia see

campusactivism.  org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=29





also see

ctka.net/pr500-king.html

Pennsylvania Homeland Security Employed Israeli Company to Spy On Americans | Dark Politricks
Posted 2010-09-17 12:00:25
[...] mission to protect public infrastructure. Madsen, citing a story published on late Wednesday by the Philadelphia Citypaper, revealed that the “non-profit” operates not only out of Philadelphia, but Israel as [...] 

Pennsylvania Homeland Security Employed Israeli Company to Suppress American Political Dissent :
Posted 2010-09-17 12:35:37
[...] mission to protect public infrastructure. Madsen, citing a story published on late Wednesday by the Philadelphia Citypaper, revealed that the “non-profit” operates not only out of Philadelphia, but Israel as [...] 

WATCH: Mysterious Wrist Pain Finally Diagnosed | hand bag shopping
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[...] The mysterious institute that spied on Pa. anti-drilling activists :: The Clog :: Blog Archive :: St... [...] 

Hanni
Posted 2010-09-17 22:31:57
'Terrorism Research Center' is not the 'Institute of Terrorism Response and Research'. Unless you can somehow prove it is, there's no point in saying such a thing. The issue of private companies acting in an intelligence capacity for governments and corporations is very important, so try to be accurate and thoughtful about it. 



FOCUS, people. Stop imagining conspiracy theories so that you can actually see what's going on when it happens.

Pennsylvania Homeland Security Employed Israeli Company to Suppress American Political Dissent «
Posted 2010-09-18 06:40:32
[...] mission to protect public infrastructure. Madsen, citing a story published on late Wednesday by the Philadelphia Citypaper, revealed that the “non-profit” operates not only out of Philadelphia, but Israel as [...] 

Pennsylvania Homeland Security Employed Israeli Company to Spy On Americans | NW0.eu
Posted 2010-09-19 01:50:34
[...] mission to protect public infrastructure. Madsen, citing a story published on late Wednesday by the Philadelphia Citypaper, revealed that the “non-profit” operates not only out of Philadelphia, but Israel as [...] 

PA Government Promotes Competition | lpphilly.org
Posted 2010-09-19 18:29:42
[...] ludicrous?  Even PA governor Fat Eddy thinks so.  Libertarians think that nobody should be spying on people, even government agents.  [...] 

From Red Squad to End-the-Fed Squad - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine
Posted 2010-09-20 10:59:18
[...] | September 20, 2010 Thanks to the vigilance of the Institute of Terrorism Research and Response, a  fusion center hired without competitive bidding by the Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security, we now know that [...] 

Spies « The Proverbial
Posted 2010-09-23 10:26:41
[...] to protect public infrastructure. Madsen, citing a story published on late Wednesday by the Philadelphia Citypaper, revealed that the “non-profit” operates not only out of Philadelphia, but Israel as [...] 

PsiOp Radio » PisOp Radio 129 – 100926 with guest Keith Chester on WW2 UFOs
Posted 2010-09-25 16:24:43
[...] The mysterious institute that spied on Pa. anti-drilling activists http://citypaper.net/blogs/clog/2010/09/15/the-mysterious-agency-that-spied-on-pa-drilling-activists... [...] 

Tea Party dupes spied upon by ITRR Israeli network cabal « Shariah The Way
Posted 2010-09-26 01:29:46
[...] The mysterious institute that spied on Pa. anti-drilling activists [...] 

Domestic espionage reaches new fever pitch | eats shoots 'n leaves
Posted 2010-09-26 22:12:47
[...] Thompson of the Philadelphia City Paper describes a similar trip conducted for students of Philadelphia University: Another document — the only document, in fact, [...] 

feds radiating americans : : police state updates: surveillance & apple pie - Hit Stuff!
Posted 2010-09-30 04:07:10
[...] expand war of terror, raid antiwar activists*  spying on its citizens: as american as apple pie*  the mysterious institute that spied on pennsylvania anti-drilling activists*  pennsylvania’s homeland security chief goes in hiding*  counter-terror operation stops [...] 

police state updates: surveillance & apple pie | ClipsNewsNetwork
Posted 2010-09-30 14:45:09
[...] expand war of terror, raid antiwar activists*  spying on its citizens: as american as apple pie*  the mysterious institute that spied on pennsylvania anti-drilling activists*  pennsylvania’s homeland security chief goes in hiding*  counter-terror operation stops [...] 

El día del estreno de dos documentales sobre Mumia Abu-Jamal en Filadelfia, se anuncia un nuevo desarrollo legal « Zapateando
Posted 2010-09-30 14:47:21
[...] Ah sí, y el más reciente de varios escándalos que han marcado el trayectoria política de Ed Rendell se base en las actividades de espionaje contra grupos pacíficos por su Departamento Estatal de Seguridad de la Patria. Con la demagogia de siempre Rendell golpeó el podio y gritó “¡QUÉ VERGÜENZA! ¡YO NO SABÍA!” Claro que no. Por supuesto que no. ¿Cómo hubiera posible sospechar que el israelí-americano Instituto para la Investigación y Respuesta al Terrorismo hubiera sido capaz de enviar boletines a las autoridades, los policías y los “contratistas” (es decir, mercenarios) diciendo cosas como “las protestas contra el uso de caballos para jalar carruajes podrían crear un espacio fértil de reclutamiento para los activistas a favor de los derechos de animales” o que “los partidarios del asesino de policías Mumia Abu-Jamal podrían sentirse desesperados y atacar a las personas que ellos consideran enemigos después de que el nuevo fiscal de Filadelfia juró lograr su ejecución”. Al decir sólo un poquito sobre el interés de Ed Rendell en lograr la muerte de Mumia Abu-Jamal, también surgen dudas sobre la confiabilidad de los otros participantes en Barrel of a Gun. http://citypaper.net/blogs/clog/2010/09/15/the-mysterious-agency-that-spied-on-pa-drilling-activists... [...] 

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Posted 2010-10-03 10:29:31
[...] The mysterious institute that spied on Pa. anti-drilling activists http://citypaper.net/blogs/clog/2010/09/15/the-mysterious-agency-that-spied-on-pa-drilling-activists... [...] 

Thanks a lot, Harrisburg :: The Clog :: Blog Archive :: Staff Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper
Posted 2010-10-05 16:35:24
[...] Another “procedural problem”: The bill would also narrow the citizenry's ability to obtain records about government contractors — you know, like the kind the state recently contracted with the spy on activists. [...] 

"Coal Country" Inspiring Terrorist Acts? — the330.com
Posted 2010-10-06 14:09:26
[...] The organization has been controversial,, and its non-profit status questioned. [...] 

State of Pennsylvania contracted Israeli ‘security’ firm to collect data on would-be dissidents « 800 Pound Gorilla
Posted 2010-10-10 17:00:02
[...] The above article can be found here: http://citypaper.net/blogs/clog/2010/09/15/the-mysterious-agency-that-spied-on-pa-drilling-activists... [...] 

ms justice
Posted 2010-10-11 15:43:57
If it were me and I wanted to get to the bottom of it..start listening to private citizens. You would be surprised who may be implicated and are not even aware of it. There are so many covert private investigators and security companies now that prey on the "cheating spouse type business" to gain access to those who they feel warrant being spied on . Most certain the reason is that those who are being spied on can bring down the heart of it if the information were to ever be taken seriously. The main tactic of the perps is that they instill and teach that the common reply to any accusations is assassination of character through mental instability. Then proceed to follow that up with little strange actions that blows any credible existence a person might employ. You basically get a husband or wife to suspect the cheating and you filter information that are random lies or exaggerated truths you have gained the confidence of that person and that person will become loyal to the security people as opposed to their spouse. By gaining their resources it allows any communications to be tampered with and placed instantly a fall guy to be written off as one being crazy and the other being jealous. All it would take is 5-10 security companies here or abroad to employ just a bad investigators and then network them all in on a bot net type mechanism. So to even complicate it more you have added at least four layers to your advance warning some one is on to you. Second, look to people who rent out their ceiling space for wi-fi ...apparently its a lucrative business, flies below the radar on criminal surveillance and the middle man being the one who rents the space to the people has usually no idea what is transpiring among them.This is a new technique being used by pedophiles as well.It's not going to be obvious in any means and will require a free mind to think out of the norm. Freshen up your information regarding encryption and read what you can about the Venona project and how the names, addresses, phone numbers, car tags, screen names all relate to some clandestine part that they play. Street names will become peoples last name, the last four of the street address often will be the last four of the telephone or postal code. It will be groups with certain roles and the only identifying aspect will be a guarded code that they recognize as a certain role to the organization. 



The biggest problem with the law is that for protection they do not get to the bottom. They find their answer often at the top and never finish the job. As technology becomes so advanced....we really need new laws that protect victims AND the law enforcement personnel who will listen

World Untainted News » Blog Archive
Posted 2010-11-15 20:49:12
[...] at what happened to the Peace activists in Pennsylvania Homeland Securitycontracted a private firm to spy on and look for terrorists, this [...] 

Donald Gilliland « Antiwar Radio with Scott Horton and Charles Goyette
Posted 2010-11-22 00:06:11
[...] protecting infrastructure, the outsourcing of surveillance to American/Israeli security contractor ITRR, arguments between privacy advocates and the “if you have nothing to hide there’s [...] 

robin
Posted 2010-11-22 10:31:33
There are activities which border on treason -

A foreign company spying on American citizens in the United States - undermining our constitutional rights...  These creeps are out to intimidate Americans - what kind of 'homeland security' is this?



What about New Jersey Gov. MeGreevy - appointing his Israeli toyboy as Chief of New Jersey Homeland Security?



What about New York Gov Spitzer - buying 'services' from an Israeli citizen-megapimp? - potentially compromising more than his 'career'

Antiwar Radio: Donald Gilliland | ScottHortonShow
Posted 2010-11-27 13:00:00
[...] protecting infrastructure, the outsourcing of surveillance to American/Israeli security contractor ITRR, arguments between privacy advocates and the “if you have nothing to hide there's nothing to [...] 

United Corporate-Police States of America : Infowars Ireland
Posted 2010-12-12 07:20:11
[...] “oversee” and run them, as turned out to be the case in Pennsylvania when a private US-Israeli firm was caught profiling activists. This is a tyranny of the corporations, by the corporations, for the [...] 

Joe Lieberman, MEK Murder in Iran, and the Mythology of a Righteous Almighty America « Mark Dankof’s America
Posted 2010-12-21 17:41:29
[...] will Kitat Kohenut be signing some State and Federal contracts to assist the Israeli-affiliated Institute of Terrorism Research and Response (ITRR) in the endangerment of the lives and Constitutional rights of every person in this [...] 

Live Free Austin 1/1/10 featuring Catherine Bleish | Live Free Austin
Posted 2011-01-05 18:42:28
[...] Pennsylvania natural gas protestors spied on by secretive Israeli surveillance firm:  http://citypaper.net/blogs/clog/2010/09/15/the-mysterious-agency-that-spied-on-pa-drilling-activist... [...] 

Jesse Ventura: America’s growing police state MUST WATCH | The Paradise Post
Posted 2011-01-13 23:54:06
[...] “oversee” and run them, as turned out to be the case in Pennsylvania when a private US-Israeli firm was caught profiling activists. This is a tyranny of the corporations, by the corporations, for the [...] 

Liberty Voice Podcast with Catherine Bleish | The Liberty Voice
Posted 2011-02-07 06:39:42
[...] Pennsylvania natural gas protestors spied on by secretive Israeli surveillance firm:  http://citypaper.net/blogs/clog/2010/09/15/the-mysterious-agency-that-spied-on-pa-drilling-activist... [...] 
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