[StatenIsland]

This is what passes for journalism in the world of Kenneth Bazinet. Notice that the media exposed a "secret Bush administration project", as if the program was designed to protect only those within the administration - and not the whole country.

Note also the inaccuracy as he claims it was a project to "look into financial transactions of Americans as part of the war on terror." Clearly false, this is in the lead paragraph.

In the middle of the story he feels the need to remind his readers of the hysteria involving the "domestic wiretapping" story.

Finally, in the next-to-last paragraph, literally a throw-away, he contradicts his earlier assertions by admitting "The program did not include looking at everyday transactions by ordinary Americans."

Quite a writer that Kenneth, eh?

Now contrast this with an editorial in the SAME paper on the SAME day:

"Following the Money on Terror Trail

Actually, we find it comforting to learn that our terrorist-tracking officials are keeping a good sharp eye on international financial transactions. Actually, we'd be sort of horrified if we learned they were not doing this. Wouldn't you? Certainly seems sensible that the Treasury Department got access to a Belgian database of money matters worldwide, including wire transfers between folks suspected of bankrolling terrorists. Tapping into this database - Swift, it's called, for Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication - is good police work.

So we'll not pay a lot of attention to howls that our precious civil liberties are being stolen away. These are coming from the people who wanted you to think the NSA electronic surveillance program meant Big Brother was listening every time you picked up the phone. They wanted you to think the Patriot Act meant snoopers were lurking every time you checked out a library book. They wanted you to think subway searches were about the most totalitarian thing ever. Now they want you to think you're being watched at the ATM.

Massachusetts Rep. Ed Markey, co-chair of the Congressional Privacy Caucus, charges that the administration has "concocted" justifications for the financial-info lookout. And our own Rep. Carolyn Maloney gasps at the "possible invasion of privacy." Maloney concedes there may be no particular illegality involved here. But she wants immediate congressional hearings anyway. Sigh.

Speaking of vigilance, hats off to the feds re this Miami bunch busted for plotting attacks on U.S. soil. Granted, these guys appear to be more delusional morons than serious terrorists, but if you're going to go around pledging allegiance to Osama Bin Laden and scheming to blow up the Sears Tower, law enforcement is going to take an interest. Always good to see that the War on Terror is being fought."

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/429413p-362061c.html

That's the NY Daily News for you. Common sense editorials, nonsense news articles.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Isn't this something the 911 commission followup report criticized the US for not now doing?

[wolfpat]

The reporting of this bothers me. But what bothers me more is that there is(are) a mole(s) in the government that is leaking this. That's who needs to be skinned alive.

[Coldwater Creek]

It looks like to me that it would be relativity easy to catch the government workers that are feeding the media out top secrets.

Just put a few false rumors out and see where they emerge from.

A short trial and then a public hanging.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

---What I find most disturbing about these stories is the fact that some of the news media take it upon themselves to disclose vital national security programs, thereby making it more difficult for us to prevent future attacks against the American people," Cheney grumbled at a GOP fund-raiser in Illinois. "That offends me."--

And me too!

[JLAGRAYFOX]

Simple as the nose on your face: The entire Democrat Party and the Mainstream media are traitors to our country and both are guilty of treason and betrayal. The American people, unfortunately will only wake up when their loved ones and children are being slaughtered, because the Dems and MSM aided and abetted our enemies. The USA is going down, and the journey down the chute will be painful and horrific, but it will have been caused by the American people themselves. Time to wake up folks, the enemy is among us in more ways than one (Democrat Party/MSM).

[Neoliberalnot]

Is this a surprise. How else can the left-wing media help the enemy of America then to expose their covert operations. This is valuable info to the enemy and the Old Media know it.

[tomnbeverly]

Liberal Lips Sink Ships

[GreyFriar]

"Now they want you to think you're being watched at the ATM."

Ah, yes, let us DEMAND that all cameras at ATM machines be taken out. I have a right to my privacy when I make a withdrawl at an ATM machine and should not be photographed. And also the withdrawl should not be recorded to my account, I should just be given the money from a central fund that is federally created to dole out money to ATMs without any identifying personal information or connection. (scarcasm off)

[no dems]

Cheney "Trashes" Media? Since when is exposing the truth "trashing" someone?

[jimbo123]

[kddid]

We started the program after 911. It has been ongoing for almost 5 years. The program is covertly exposed to the terrorists and their enablers - by the foreign financial institutions. We discover it has been compromised and is no longer useful. We dispatch a "leaker" to the media organizations which we know to be enemies (they will surely publish it). We give them something whine about which keeps their prying eyes away from the programs that have not been exposed. Distraction and deception. Since many in the press and Democrat party are actively working against our interests, the operation succeeds in keeping them busy for weeks. The leaker is not prosecuted or discovered because we dispatched him/her. It sounds like a master plan to me.

Okay, so I'm only on my first cup of Kenya AA, I'll finish it and be all better in a few minutes.

[silverleaf]

Cheney states he is disturbed about leaks and offended that they occur. Quite an understated and gentlemanly series of comments.

And yet the hysterical headline reads: "Cheney TRASHES the Media" .... WAAAAAA!

Frankly, the lamestream media has BECOME trash. And possesses all the maturity and reasoning power of an angry over-indulged 14 year old in full rebellion against adult authority. Publishing national security secrets during wartime? Hey, if it will discredit BUSH or CHENEY or CONDI, go for it.

What sad times for our Republic, to be served thusly by our so-called free press.

But Thank the Lord for the mass communications capabilities of the internet as an alternative.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Earlier report :

US defends secret money tracking

And

ACLU Says Government Spying on Bank Records is Further Abuse of Power

[Waco]

He should remind all that the "media" may wery well get a hellava lot of LIBS killed. Er Ah, wait, Hmmm Gotta thimk this over sum more.

[Dustbunny]

Dubya, in his haste to be a President that gets along well in both political parties, allowed Clinton people to stay. Big mistake.

Rush says there is a 'shadow government' of Clinton people out to destroy dubya and could care less what damage it causes this country's ability to protect it's citizens.

I believe Rush has nailed it.

[longtermmemmory]

The NYT owners are scared their income tax avoidance schemes will be exposed.

[Thom Pain]

Arrest 'em 7 throw 'em in jail until we win the war on terrorism. Even if that takes decades.

[Bommer]

That was utterly worthless! Hey Cheney, you and Bush stop being a bunch aof wusses and grow a set! Round up Pinch and his gang and try them for Teason and Sedition!

[b4its2late]

The ACLU needs to be broken up. That's first. The media types that decided to go with this, after the administration AND members of congress on both sides of the aisle asked them not to, need to be charged.

But the kicker is is that congressional members in the committee (though committee leaders knew about this operation a long time ago I believe) were briefed on this a couple weeks ago. That's where an investigation as to who gave this to the press should come from. Could be from staffers or it could be from one of the horses mouth.

[LittleMoe]

You want answers?
I think I'm entitled.
You want answers?!
I want the truth!
You can't handle the truth!