U.S. Spy Net on Israel Snares Congress

The Wall Street Journal ^ | December 29th, 2015 | By Adam Entous and Danny Yadron

[Mariner]

President Barack Obama announced two years ago he would curtail eavesdropping on friendly heads of state after the world learned the reach of long-secret U.S. surveillance programs.

But behind the scenes, the White House decided to keep certain allies under close watch, current and former U.S. officials said. Topping the list was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The U.S., pursuing a nuclear arms agreement with Iran at the time, captured communications between Mr. Netanyahu and his aides that inflamed mistrust between the two countries and planted a political minefield at home when Mr. Netanyahu later took his campaign against the deal to Capitol Hill.

The National Security Agency’s targeting of Israeli leaders and officials also swept up the contents of some of their private conversations with U.S. lawmakers and American-Jewish groups. That raised fears—an “Oh-s— moment,” one senior U.S. official said—that the executive branch would be accused of spying on Congress.

White House officials believed the intercepted information could be valuable to counter Mr. Netanyahu’s campaign. They also recognized that asking for it was politically risky. So, wary of a paper trail stemming from a request, the White House let the NSA decide what to share and what to withhold, officials said. “We didn’t say, ‘Do it,’ ” a senior U.S. official said. “We didn’t say, ‘Don’t do it.’ ”

[Phinneous]

I thought we already had reports of NSA’s disgruntled operators spying on their girlfriends’ conversations (back when these stories were breaking....)

[SoFloFreeper]

...the White House decided to keep certain allies under close watch, current and former U.S. officials said....Topping the list was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Valerie and her charge Hussein hate the Jews.

[Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America]

The average American would CRINGE if they knew who controls our gubmint. It ain't US or anyone with America's best interests in mind. See my tagline.

If the Islamo-Fascist U.N./NWO were in COMPLETE CONTROL of our gubmint, EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST 7 YEARS WOULD'VE HAPPENED JUST AS IT HAS HAPPENED: 1) Give Islamists/ISIS control of the Middle East, 2) WEAKEN U.S. businesses 3) Overwhelm the American population with would-be DEMOCRAT voters from 3rd world countries. 4) Attack Christians and Christianity while promoting Muslims and Sharia Law, 5) Strain the entitlement system to the breaking point 6) PUNISH/KILL Veterans by denying them health care while signing up illegals to entitlement programs, 7) blah blah blah blah blah..

[Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America]

If only ValJar could be put up before a Congressional committee comprised of the few TRUE patriots such as Jeff Sessions, etc..

[SkyPilot]

The NSA is a criminal organization.

Our own Gestapo.

[SkyPilot]

PUNISH/KILL Veterans by denying them health care while signing up illegals to entitlement programs

Unfortunately, that is a true statement.

[SkyPilot]

All of the information gathered by NSA here was gathered without warrant.

And the liberals wearing judges black robes could care less. They are political whores of immense personal immorality.

[houeto]

See my tagline?

[Mr. M.J.B.]

A completely lawless government...not just omuslim and not just osodomite’s administration, but the government.

A ‘disabled’ vehicle with hidden license plate scanner parked on the shoulder just outside the bluffdale gate should net good info. What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Putin in 2016.

[Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America]

Okay well, ‘handle’.

[Mariner]

Go to Drudge and click the article there.

WSJ lets Drudge past the paywall.

[Mariner]

"The NSA would not need a warrant to record phone calls outside the country, even if the calls involved one participant inside the U.S. "

Correct, under the Patriot Act.

However, it is forbidden to obtain that info for any reason besides National Security.

And, I'm pretty sure Congress believes the executive cannot use it for any other purpose.

[Alberta's Child]

Congress has nobody to blame but themselves. They fell all over themselves to give this unprecedented power to the executive branch when George W. Bush was in the White House. Lot of folks right here on FreeRepublic warned that it was a bad idea.

[Lil Flower]

***I am positive it is bigger.
I suspect this is the sword Obama is holding over the GOP-e***

You may very well be right. However, if all or almost all of the GOP can have something “held over” them, then they are just as corrupt as Obama. Either way we’re screwed.

Elections will not save this country.

Wait I forgot. We have no borders.

Elections will not save us. We have to save ourselves.

[lavaroise]

So the NSA spies on my representatives and fellow citizens?

[Vermont Lt]

Let’s see what Hillary thinks of this. There is no way she was not briefed on these things. They should drag Kerry’s pompous ass up to Capital hill and find out what he knew.

This is a big deal if they were listening to Congressmen.

[Vermont Lt]

Elections for anything above school committee are a sham.

Why people bother to vote is a mystery to me.

We stopped fighting terrorists a long time ago. We would be better off droning the cartels in Mexico. What the hell, we invaded Iraq for less reason. How many lives would be spared, and how much money would we save.

I am just happy that the revolution will probably be televised. That will be fun.

[StoneWall Brigade]

Treason!

[SaveFerris]

There’s a reason the Iran deal was made. It’s going to help make it all possible. For not good reasons, but we know where it’s going.

[rodguy911]

All too often we forget who we are dealing with. The Obama regime is a criminal organzation formerly based in chicago. This is what they do. Criminals break the law. Criminals lie all the time,its what they do. If we haven’t impeached the sob by now it’s on us.