Linkmeister

"I can hear you"

USA Today:

The National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans, using data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth, people with direct knowledge of the arrangement told USA TODAY.

The NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans — most of whom aren't suspected of any crime.

Ah, but there's nothing wrong with that, says President-for-Life GWB.

Making a hastily scheduled appearance in the White House, Mr. Bush did not directly address the collection of phone records, except to say that "new claims" had been raised about surveillance. He said all intelligence work was conducted "within the law" and that domestic conversations were not listened to without a court warrant.

"The privacy of all Americans is fiercely protected in all our activities," he said. "Our efforts are focused on Al Qaeda and their known associates."

Who knew there were tens of millions of Americans associated with Al-Qaeda?

The man has concluded that he's beyond the reach of law, no matter what he says about this being within it.

Update: By the way, we'll block any investigation (even by the Justice Department itself) of this process, simply by denying clearances.

An investigation by the Justice Department ethics office into the conduct of department lawyers who approved the National Security Agency's domestic surveillance program has been closed because investigators were denied security clearances, according to a letter sent to Congress on Wednesday.

What country is this again?

Posted by Linkmeister at May 11, 2006 10:28 AM | TrackBack