People write me to tell me their conspiracy theories all the time. If you permit yourself to do so, you can succumb and become completely drawn into any of hundreds or thousands of them. I have set stringent ground rules for myself in terms of what evidence I need to see before I start even spending the time to look into a theory or accusation. If I did not do this, I would be chasing crazy theories all day long and not writing anything. A healthy skepticism coupled with an ability to sniff out the difference between a theory where there is or is not a likely element of truth is vital for a journalist. The reason I felt the need to introduce this article in this manner is that what is coming out regarding the NSAÂ's domestic spying program is at least as bad as almost any paranoid conspiracy theory out there. The only difference is it is true and acknowledged.
According to Leslie Cauley of the USA Today, http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-05-10-nsa_x.htm the NSA is developing a database that contains information about every call made in the US and that database will have the ability to analyze peopleÂ's calling patterns. The stated purpose is to identify patterns that may point to individuals engaged in or supporting terrorism. The myriad of ways that this is open to abuse would require more pages than War and Peace to describe. Combined with the warrant-less eavesdropping this is no less than Big Brother, Orwell was only off by 22 years. Â'TheyÂ' will know with whom we speak and Â'theyÂ' will be able to listen in at will with no oversight. The amount of faith with which our intelligence services and executive branch are requesting that we put into their operating with maximum goodwill is positively ecclesiastical. Combine that again with a congress that is shirking its oversight duties and we are in real trouble. We need a Democratic congress that will exert its influence by performing needed oversight and investigations of the executive branch and its agencies.
The other troubling issue is how most large telecommunication corporations willingly went along with the NSAÂ's request. Qwest communications and their two CEOs who handled the requests deserve kudos for raising important questions regarding the issue and for asking the issue to be brought before a FISA court. NSAÂ's alleged refusal to bring the matter before the court at QwestÂ's request is troubling and suggests that the NSA was aware that it could not justify its requests on National Security grounds.
This administration is out of control and destroying this country. The President, Vice President and the rest of the executive branch have no respect for the Constitution. They are going to do what they want to do regardless of law, precedent, morals, or whatever other governor ought to exist on behavior. The joke is that they going to attempt to use the fact that certain Democrats want to and will investigate this administration if they gain control of one or both houses of the congress as ammunition against the Democrats in this upcoming election. As far as I am concerned, that is one of the best arguments FOR electing more Democrats to the congress. This administration needs parental supervision, BADLY.
According to Leslie Cauley of the USA Today, http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-05-10-nsa_x.htm the NSA is developing a database that contains information about every call made in the US and that database will have the ability to analyze peopleÂ's calling patterns. The stated purpose is to identify patterns that may point to individuals engaged in or supporting terrorism. The myriad of ways that this is open to abuse would require more pages than War and Peace to describe. Combined with the warrant-less eavesdropping this is no less than Big Brother, Orwell was only off by 22 years. Â'TheyÂ' will know with whom we speak and Â'theyÂ' will be able to listen in at will with no oversight. The amount of faith with which our intelligence services and executive branch are requesting that we put into their operating with maximum goodwill is positively ecclesiastical. Combine that again with a congress that is shirking its oversight duties and we are in real trouble. We need a Democratic congress that will exert its influence by performing needed oversight and investigations of the executive branch and its agencies.
The other troubling issue is how most large telecommunication corporations willingly went along with the NSAÂ's request. Qwest communications and their two CEOs who handled the requests deserve kudos for raising important questions regarding the issue and for asking the issue to be brought before a FISA court. NSAÂ's alleged refusal to bring the matter before the court at QwestÂ's request is troubling and suggests that the NSA was aware that it could not justify its requests on National Security grounds.
This administration is out of control and destroying this country. The President, Vice President and the rest of the executive branch have no respect for the Constitution. They are going to do what they want to do regardless of law, precedent, morals, or whatever other governor ought to exist on behavior. The joke is that they going to attempt to use the fact that certain Democrats want to and will investigate this administration if they gain control of one or both houses of the congress as ammunition against the Democrats in this upcoming election. As far as I am concerned, that is one of the best arguments FOR electing more Democrats to the congress. This administration needs parental supervision, BADLY.
