Patriot Act
The buzz on the street is the flap about whether the Patriot Acts surveillance techniques, ala telephony monitoring of citizens, is a violation of civil liberties as feared by many, left or right, or the no holds barred version of the administration who justify monitoring overseas communications of certain citizen/non citizens to thwart terrorist plots. Which many, left and right, find comforting. If we were more vigilant prior to 9-11 this blog wouldn't exist. That's a fact!
But what about those citizens who would exercise the proverbial loose lips that can and do sink ships? Are they guilty of an even worse crime against their troops in the field or even the security of their Nation? Some think and act as though they are doing heroic deeds. Others feel they are opportunists blinded by political agendas to the point of national cannibalism.
Bush calls leak 'shameful'
By Joseph Curl, Washington Times
Addressing critics who say the National Security Agency (NSA) program -- created a month after the 2001 attacks -- violates civil liberties, Mr. Bush said he "absolutely" has the "legal authority" to approve the surveillance.
President Bush yesterday called the recent leak about a top-secret U.S. program to spy on suspected terrorists a "shameful act," and rebuked Senate Democrats for their "inexcusable" effort to block renewal of the Patriot Act.
Three days after the New York Times reported about the covert spy program, the president said surveillance of international communications "of people with known links to al Qaeda" is warranted by the September 11 attacks and said he has "the constitutional responsibility and the constitutional authority to protect our country
"Our position is that the authorization to use military force, which was passed by the Congress shortly after September 11, constitutes that authority," Mr. Gonzales said. He called the monitoring "probably the most classified program that exists in the United States government."
One must ask, what degree of threat exists to judge what degree or measure of prevention to take? Is it time of war or peace, does it matter? Under the circumstances most prudent people would want to know what a Muslim American would be talking about when communicating with a Muslim in Afghanistan for example, who just happen to be on a terrorist watch list.
Bush to continue domestic spying - By David Jackson and John Diamond, USA TODAY
Three Democratic senators called for suspension of the formerly top-secret program until Congress can hold hearings on its legality. "He is the president, not a king," said Sen. Russ Feingold (news, bio, voting record), D-Wis., who was joined by Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan and Jack Reed of Rhode Island.
Bush justified the phone-monitoring program under the constitutional requirement that presidents protect and defend the country; he also cited the 2001 congressional authority permitting military force against al-Qaeda, passed after the 9/11 attacks. He said congressional leaders have been briefed on the program more than a dozen times.
It's amazing how quickly one forgets, that not all, have as short a memory as one would like! And I'm sorry, but I remember who voted for war against Iraq and I'll bet there is more recollection of agreement to monitor than is being remembered!
Democrats Say They Didn't Back Wiretapping - By KATHERINE SHRADER, Associated Press Writer
Rockefeller is among a small group of congressional leaders who have received briefings on the administration's four-year-old program to eavesdrop  without warrants  on international calls and e-mails of Americans and others inside the United States with suspected ties to al-Qaida.
The White House brushed aside Democrats' contention that they weren't provided enough information on the program. "They were briefed and informed," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said, repeatedly refusing to address Democrats' specific complaints. "Congress has an important oversight role."
"To say 'unchecked power' basically is ascribing some kind of dictatorial position to the president, which I strongly reject," he said angrily. "I am doing what you expect me to do, and at the same time, safeguarding the civil liberties of the country."
Former Sen. Bob Graham (news, bio, voting record), D-Fla., who was part of the Intelligence Committee's leadership after the 9/11 attacks, recalled a briefing about changes in international electronic surveillance, but does not remember being told of a program snooping on individuals in the United States
But what about those citizens who would exercise the proverbial loose lips that can and do sink ships? Are they guilty of an even worse crime against their troops in the field or even the security of their Nation? Some think and act as though they are doing heroic deeds. Others feel they are opportunists blinded by political agendas to the point of national cannibalism.
Bush calls leak 'shameful'
By Joseph Curl, Washington Times
Addressing critics who say the National Security Agency (NSA) program -- created a month after the 2001 attacks -- violates civil liberties, Mr. Bush said he "absolutely" has the "legal authority" to approve the surveillance.
President Bush yesterday called the recent leak about a top-secret U.S. program to spy on suspected terrorists a "shameful act," and rebuked Senate Democrats for their "inexcusable" effort to block renewal of the Patriot Act.
Three days after the New York Times reported about the covert spy program, the president said surveillance of international communications "of people with known links to al Qaeda" is warranted by the September 11 attacks and said he has "the constitutional responsibility and the constitutional authority to protect our country
"Our position is that the authorization to use military force, which was passed by the Congress shortly after September 11, constitutes that authority," Mr. Gonzales said. He called the monitoring "probably the most classified program that exists in the United States government."
One must ask, what degree of threat exists to judge what degree or measure of prevention to take? Is it time of war or peace, does it matter? Under the circumstances most prudent people would want to know what a Muslim American would be talking about when communicating with a Muslim in Afghanistan for example, who just happen to be on a terrorist watch list.
Bush to continue domestic spying - By David Jackson and John Diamond, USA TODAY
Three Democratic senators called for suspension of the formerly top-secret program until Congress can hold hearings on its legality. "He is the president, not a king," said Sen. Russ Feingold (news, bio, voting record), D-Wis., who was joined by Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan and Jack Reed of Rhode Island.
Bush justified the phone-monitoring program under the constitutional requirement that presidents protect and defend the country; he also cited the 2001 congressional authority permitting military force against al-Qaeda, passed after the 9/11 attacks. He said congressional leaders have been briefed on the program more than a dozen times.
It's amazing how quickly one forgets, that not all, have as short a memory as one would like! And I'm sorry, but I remember who voted for war against Iraq and I'll bet there is more recollection of agreement to monitor than is being remembered!
Democrats Say They Didn't Back Wiretapping - By KATHERINE SHRADER, Associated Press Writer
Rockefeller is among a small group of congressional leaders who have received briefings on the administration's four-year-old program to eavesdrop  without warrants  on international calls and e-mails of Americans and others inside the United States with suspected ties to al-Qaida.
The White House brushed aside Democrats' contention that they weren't provided enough information on the program. "They were briefed and informed," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said, repeatedly refusing to address Democrats' specific complaints. "Congress has an important oversight role."
"To say 'unchecked power' basically is ascribing some kind of dictatorial position to the president, which I strongly reject," he said angrily. "I am doing what you expect me to do, and at the same time, safeguarding the civil liberties of the country."
Former Sen. Bob Graham (news, bio, voting record), D-Fla., who was part of the Intelligence Committee's leadership after the 9/11 attacks, recalled a briefing about changes in international electronic surveillance, but does not remember being told of a program snooping on individuals in the United States
posted by Cu'cullen | 5:48 PM
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