Posted on 02/18/2008 8:53:50 AM PST by RKBA Democrat
Well, the sky has not yet fallen. The country was not invaded by terrorist cells over the weekend. Even though the expanded electronic surveillance powers the government granted itself last August expired the end of last week, the United States has not lost the ability to listen in to those phone calls and internet transmissions needed to gather necessary intelligence on al-Qaeda and other adversaries.
Still, the drumbeat of fear from the Administration continues. Essentially, the president is claiming that if the expanded surveillance powers are not renewed, the country will be left defenseless and unable to listen in to conversations involving known or suspected terrorists. This is simply not the case.
The government had this ability before the law was expanded in August 2007, and it has the power now. What the government does not have any longer is the legal power to listen in to any international phone call or e-mail transmission made to or from any person, so long as one party is not in the United States - no suspicion of illegal or terrorist activity; just a suspicion that one person is outside the country. This level of potential surveillance goes far beyond what the government needs to legitimately and constitutionally gather necessary foreign intelligence.
Whether the Congress, which has been browbeaten in the past into passing legislation giving the federal government unnecessarily expansive powers to invade citizens’ privacy, will again allow itself to be thus intimidated, remains to be seen when the House and Senate reconvene following their President’s Day recess. But for now, at least, Uncle Sam cannot lawfully listen in to your international phone calls or a-mails, without at least some articulable reason for doing so.
They're probably already here. Give it a few months Bob.
seems like a waste of resources, if fighting terrorism is the goal.
If keeping an eye out to make sure you can nail the guy who tells off the MTA employee is the goal, well then, that's money better spent.
Imad Mughniyeh, RIH: His Relatives and Operatives’ Relatives Thrive in Dearbornistan
The ignorance and stupidity of the writer of this piece is breath taking. Just like most left wingers...they know all and you are a better person if you allow them to control what you think and trust their judgment. He has on his own decided that we are far safer now. He on his own decided the government can not be trusted in using this "surveillance" to protect the country..what an a$$wipe.
Sounds like the attitude a certain defunct computer company had when we asked the Security Chief why so many of our cars were getting broken into in the parking lot but they were putting up the cameras all through the plant. He said, “we’re here to make the place safe from you, not for you.” There’s money in them thar cameras at the intersection.
It’s a danged shame what things have come to, when those concerned for the security of the country are labeled fearmongers.
Echelon and Carnivore were Clinton era programs that I agreed with.
just this weeks rendition of political expediency in the media.
The ‘Rats better pray nothing happens...
Agreed. If there's any justice in this world, I hope the last words he hears just before his head rolls off his shoulders is "I told you so!"
That's because just about every jurisdiction, public and private, have video cameras
mounted almost everywhere to monitor our every move.
Don't you feel safe?
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -- Benjamin Franklin, 1759
don’t forget, Barr was an impeachment era GOP hero for being tough on the Toon. He got primaried out of the House when his district was melded to another with an unbeatable, long-term GOP rep., as I recall it. He’s been bitter about it ever since, it seems to me.
Why's that? We could have 9/11 part 2, Beslan-style school raids, and dirty bombs going off, all linked directly to the inability to monitor international calls, and the Republicans wouldn't have the brains or balls to use it against the rats.
Several States are objecting to the unfunded Fed mandate requiring States to provide facilities and personnel for implementing the National ID but providing no funding. Unfunded Fed mandates seem to proliferate now and then but some States are wise to the ploy now.
True, but it's not GOP pols and apparatchiks the 'Rats need to worry about. It's the rest of us.
Miz America and her idiot minions in the House just rolled the dice, in effect saying we don´t think anything will happen during the time that we choose to anger Republicans and actually get around to doing our job to protect this country.
This woman is a danger to the USA and needs to be removed.
The Administration’s rationale for wanting to be able to listen in on conversations without first obtaining a FISA warrant is that it’s obviously impossible to do so before a given call ends. True enough. But it seems a little hasty to go from there to concluding that due process is impossible. Why not tap the line with the conversation recorded but sealed, then ask for a warrant and if one is forthcoming unseal the record and listen to the conversation?
Remember, any power we grudgingly but with some measure of trust give this Administration will be available to President Clinton or Obama or McCain as well. (Ugh, almost makes me gag typing that)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.