[gondramB]

" Anything going out over the information conduits can be overheard by the Witcheta lineman."

Yep and it's worse than that on the internet.

[norraad]

..all's fair in love an war."

The sooner we learn that, the sooner this war will be over, it is after all, a war of and on intelligence (in more ways than one!).

[RightWhale]

Internet keeps its own records. Data mining is an ultramodern technical tool that an intelligence agency would naturally employ. Now that even telephone, TV and radio are going digital, it would require a deliberate effort to avoid keeping content records. If the NYT is worried about a focus on a few hundred individuals, they are missing the big picture.

[CommandoFrank]

Anything going out over the information conduits can be overheard by the Witcheta lineman."

Yep and it's worse than that on the internet.

Who needs the Witcheta lineman? One good receiver and you've got all cell phones covered.