Bank Data Secretly Reviewed by U.S. to Fight Terror
And Washington Post article:
Bank Records Secretly Tapped
Administration Began Using Global Database Shortly After 2001 Attacks
*****************AN EXCERPT *******************************************
Terrorism investigators had sought access to SWIFT's database since the 1990s, but other government and industry authorities balked at the potential blow to confidence in the banking system. After the 2001 attacks, President Bush overrode those objections and invoked his powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to "investigate, regulate or prohibit" any foreign financial transaction linked to "an unusual and extraordinary threat."
Levey and other officials emphasized that the government has confined its financial surveillance to legitimate terrorism investigations and tightly targeted searches.
After identifying a suspect, Levey said, "you can do a search, and you can determine whom he sent money to, and who sent money to him."
"The way the SWIFT data works, you would have all kinds of concrete information -- addresses, phone numbers, real names, account numbers, a lot of stuff we can really work with, the kind of actionable information that government officials can really follow up on," Levey said.
He spoke about the program after it became clear the New York Times was planning to publish an article about it. The Times and other news organizations posted articles online last night.
Levey maintained that the government has "put into place very robust controls to make sure we are only using this information for anti-terrorism purposes."
Another disgusting show of partisian news reporting. If Slick $hit was still POTUS in the same scenario, no one would have the slightest inclination to snub their nose at the government's request to please keep this under wrap for the good of all Americans (honest/law abiding ones that is).