From the February 2005 Idaho Observer:

Ex-Stasi "expert" consult with U.S. on homeland security

Is it true that an organization is a reflection of the people in it? If you were a benevolent president and wanted to keep your people safe, would you hire men who spent decades improving their ability to terrorize their own people? What kind of homeland security advice can we expect from the former director of the East German Secret Police?

It was reported last December that former East German Secret Police (Staats Sicherheitsdienst, or Stasi) Director Markus Wolf was being considered for the top post at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The rumor caused such a stir that the Bush administration chose Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Michael Chertoff to replace outgoing Tom Ridge as Director of Homeland Security.

Wolf was, at one time, considered by the U.S. State Department to be a terrorist.

Wolf, who had been consulting with the department, is expected to continue in his capacity as a consultant for the federal agency charged with keeping Americans safe.

Under the directorship of Wolf, the Stasi was one of the most ruthless police forces ever assembled.

According to Wikipedia, "In 1953, at the age of 30, Wolf was among the founding members of the foreign intelligence service within the ministry of East German Stasi.

"As intelligence chief, Wolf achieved great success in penetrating the government, political and business circles of West Germany with spies. The most influential case was that of Günter Guillaume that led to the fall of chancellor Willy Brandt. Wolf retired in 1986.

As a reference, Wikipedia cited the book, "Memoirs of a Spymaster" by Markus Wolf (1997).

Chertoff (pictured at right) is credited with being instrumental in drafting the Patriot Act. Considered a classic Rockefeller Republican, Chertoff is not opposed to certain types of torture being used during the interrogation of terror suspect detainees.

American Free Press reporter Michael Collins Piper claims Chertiff is a protege’ of Irving and William Kristol—extremely pro-Israel neocons whose wishes are being fulfilled with the ongoing and ever-expanding war in the Middle East.

H.R.418: The REAL ID Act of 2005

Below is Title II of HR 418—driver licensing. Title I is entitled "AMENDMENTS TO FEDERAL LAWS TO PROTECT AGAINST TERRORIST ENTRY" and describes a plethora of immigration reforms including how only non-terrorists will be allowed into the country and obtain positive ID from the federal government. Past experience indicates that no real immigration reform is intended and that it’s all window dressing to help Americans accept Title II—a national ID.

TITLE II—IMPROVED SECURITY FOR DRIVERS’ LICENSES AND PERSONAL

IDENTIFICATION CARDS

SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.

In this title, the following definitions apply:

(1) DRIVER’S LICENSE- The term ‘driver’s license’ means a motor vehicle

operator’s license, as defined in section 30301 of title 49, United States

Code.

(2) IDENTIFICATION CARD- The term ‘identification card’ means a personal

identification card, as defined in section 1028(d) of title 18, United States Code, issued by a State.

(3) SECRETARY- The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Homeland Security.

(4) STATE- The term ‘State’ means a State of the United States, the District

of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the

Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and

any other territory or possession of the United States.

SEC. 202. MINIMUM DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS AND ISSUANCE STANDARDS FOR FEDERAL RECOGNITION.

(a) Minimum Standards for Federal Use-

(1) IN GENERAL- Beginning 3 years after the date of the enactment of this

Act, a Federal agency may not accept, for any official purpose, a driver’s

license or identification card issued by a State to any person unless the

State is meeting the requirements of this section.

(2) STATE CERTIFICATIONS- The Secretary shall determine whether a State is

meeting the requirements of this section based on certifications made by the

State to the Secretary. Such certifications shall be made at such times and

in such manner as the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of

Transportation, may prescribe by regulation.

(b) Minimum Document Requirements- To meet the requirements of this section, a

State shall include, at a minimum, the following information and features on

each driver’s license and identification card issued to a person by the State:

(1) The person’s full legal name.

(2) The person’s date of birth.

(3) The person’s gender.

(4) The person’s driver’s license or identification card number.

(5) A digital photograph of the person.

(6) The person’s address of principle residence.

(7) The person’s signature.

(8) Physical security features designed to prevent tampering,

counterfeiting, or duplication of the document for fraudulent purposes.

(9) A common machine-readable technology, with defined minimum data elements.

(c) Minimum Issuance Standards-

(1) IN GENERAL- To meet the requirements of this section, a State shall

require, at a minimum, presentation and verification of the following

information before issuing a driver’s license or identification card to a person:

(A) A photo identity document, except that a non-photo identity document

is acceptable if it includes both the person’s full legal name and date of birth.

(B) Documentation showing the person’s date of birth.

(C) Proof of the person’s social security account number or verification

that the person is not eligible for a social security account number.

(D) Documentation showing the person’s name and address of principal residence.

(2) SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS-

(A) IN GENERAL- To meet the requirements of this section, a State shall

comply with the minimum standards of this paragraph.

(B) EVIDENCE OF LAWFUL STATUS- A State shall require, before issuing a

driver’s license or identification card to a person, valid documentary

evidence that the person—

(i) is a citizen of the United States;

(ii) is an alien lawfully admitted for permanent or temporary residence

in the United States;

(iii) has conditional permanent resident status in the United States;

(iv) has an approved application for asylum in the United States or has

entered into the United States in refugee status;

(v) has a valid, unexpired nonimmigrant visa or nonimmigrant visa status

for entry into the United States;

(vi) has a pending application for asylum in the United States;

(vii) has a pending or approved application for temporary protected

status in the United States;

(viii) has approved deferred action status; or

(ix) has a pending application for adjustment of status to that of an

alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States or

conditional permanent resident status in the United States.

(C) TEMPORARY DRIVERS’ LICENSES AND IDENTIFICATION CARDS-

(i) IN GENERAL- If a person presents evidence under any of clauses (v)

through (ix) of subparagraph (B), the State may only issue a temporary

driver’s license or temporary identification card to the person.

Note: This bill is expected to pass and be signed by the president. The several states will have little choice but to comply. A sophisticated national ID has arrived.