DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970 | 1970-12-26 Iowa City Press-Citizen Editorial: Reader Comments -- About DIA Protest""

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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970

1970-12-26 Iowa City Press-Citizen Editorial: Reader Comments -- About DIA Protest""

P-C
12/26/70

Reader Comments —
— About DIA Protest

To the Editor:
On Dec. 9, 150 students and nonstudents took part in a sit-in outside the University of Iowa Placement Office. The incident was covered by the area media; yet as usual, little was stated by the media about what the group was protesting against.
The prpose of the sit-in was to peacefully obstruct the entrance of a recruiter from the Defense Intelligence Agency so as to keep him from recruiting on campus. Because few people know of the DIA and therefore do not understand the action, I would like to take this opportunity to explain what the DIA is and does.
The DIA is the head of all military intelligence including the Army, Navy and Air Force. its purpose, according to its own recruiting material, is in "collecting, analyzing, evaluating, interpreting, and disseminating information which affects our national security." Working under this guise, the DIA has reportedly:
—Compiled files on over 8 million Americans (NBC's First Tuesday show),
—Undercover agents working on campuses, within GI movements, and in many other radical and liberal groups (Des Moines REgister and Tribune, Dec. 4),

Letter to the Editor
—Infiltrated the 1968 Democratic and Republican national conventions and snooped on political candidates, the activities of local officials, political contributors, newspaper reporters, lawyers, and church figures (Associated Press Special Report—Press Citizen Dec. 17).
On the foreigh front, the DIA is responsible for all Pentagon intelligence and preparations for the war in South East Asia. This includes reconnaissance and intelligence gathering for all U.S. bombing and aiding in the planning of the troop assaults on Cambodia and North Vietnam.
In conclusion, I would like to ask if any readers have ever taken part in a demonstration, rally, or moratorium; belonged to any group that might be considered politically liberal or radical (to the left of Nixon and Agnew), expressed disapproval of U.S. involvement in South East Asia, run for office, or worked for a political candidate?
If you can answer yes to any of these, you may be included in the DIA's contingency plan in preparation for the declaration of martial law. Is freedom of speech or voicing opposition to Nixonian policy and the blood-letting in South East Asia worth the risk of being put away in a concentration camp if and when martial law is declared?
Frank Leone
12 Princeton Court

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P-C 12/26/70 Reader Comments — — About DIA Protest To the Editor: On Dec. 9, 150 students and nonstudents took part in a sit-in outside the University of Iowa Placement Office. The incident was covered by the area media; yet as usual, little was stated by the media about what the group was protesting against. The prpose of the sit-in was to peacefully obstruct the entrance of a recruiter from the Defense Intelligence Agency so as to keep him from recruiting on campus. Because few people know of the DIA and therefore do not understand the action, I would like to take this opportunity to explain what the DIA is and does. The DIA is the head of all military intelligence including the Army, Navy and Air Force. its purpose, according to its own recruiting material, is in "collecting, analyzing, evaluating, interpreting, and disseminating information which affects our national security." Working under this guise, the DIA has reportedly: —Compiled files on over 8 million Americans (NBC's First Tuesday show), —Undercover agents working on campuses, within GI movements, and in many other radical and liberal groups (Des Moines REgister and Tribune, Dec. 4), Letter to the Editor —Infiltrated the 1968 Democratic and Republican national conventions and snooped on political candidates, the activities of local officials, political contributors, newspaper reporters, lawyers, and church figures (Associated Press Special Report—Press Citizen Dec. 17). On the foreigh front, the DIA is responsible for all Pentagon intelligence and preparations for the war in South East Asia. This includes reconnaissance and intelligence gathering for all U.S. bombing and aiding in the planning of the troop assaults on Cambodia and North Vietnam. In conclusion, I would like to ask if any readers have ever taken part in a demonstration, rally, or moratorium; belonged to any group that might be considered politically liberal or radical (to the left of Nixon and Agnew), expressed disapproval of U.S. involvement in South East Asia, run for office, or worked for a political candidate? If you can answer yes to any of these, you may be included in the DIA's contingency plan in preparation for the declaration of martial law. Is freedom of speech or voicing opposition to Nixonian policy and the blood-letting in South East Asia worth the risk of being put away in a concentration camp if and when martial law is declared? Frank Leone 12 Princeton Court