Bill Would Allow Warrantless Spying

This is just a continuation of the reformation of the US intelligence services.

However given some of their past records, this does not comfort me. They have already engaged in this type of activity, and their poor information has contributed to at least two wars. (No WMD, No Tonkin incident).

What will this lead to?

Those willing to give up a little liberty for a little security deserve neither security nor liberty

Friday, March 17, 2006; A05

The Bush administration could continue its policy of spying on targeted Americans without obtaining warrants, but only if it justifies the action to a small group of lawmakers, under legislation introduced yesterday by key Republican senators.

The four senators hope to settle the debate over National Security Agency eavesdropping on international communications involving Americans when one of the parties is suspected of terrorist ties. President Bush prompted a months-long uproar when he said that constitutional powers absolve him of the need to seek warrants in such cases, even though the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act requires warrants for domestic wiretaps.

The program, begun in 2001, was first publicized late last year.

The bill would allow the NSA to eavesdrop, without a warrant, for up to 45 days per case, at which point the Justice Department would have three options. It could drop the surveillance, seek a warrant from FISA’s court, or convince a handful of House and Senate members that although there is insufficient evidence for a warrant, continued surveillance “is necessary to protect the United States,” according to a summary the four sponsors provided yesterday. They are Mike DeWine (Ohio), Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.), Chuck Hagel (Neb.) and…

Posted by scooter
A Financial Markets employee When taking action, remember that without a strategey for AFTER, then ya'll just be pissin in the wind... I am also very apathetic.

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