ACLU Sues Pentagon for Monitoring

The American Civil Liberties Union sued the U.S. Defense Department Wednesday to demand information it says the government has collected on groups opposed to the war in Iraq.

The group says the Pentagon has been monitoring antiwar groups and individuals and has compiled lists on people it sees as potential threats but who the ACLU says are exercising their free-speech rights.

The suit was the ACLU's first attempt to force the Pentagon to disclose domestic surveillance and followed similar suits by the organization against the FBI and the Justice Department.

It's absolutely improper for the U.S. military to keep databases on lawful First Amendment activities, said ACLU attorney Ben Wizner. These are peaceful, law-abiding groups and individuals that oppose U.S. war policy but pose no threat to the military.

The ACLU said the Defense Department shared the information with other government agencies through the database, known as the Threat and Local Observation Notice, or Talon.