NSA: May 2006 Archives
Via AP/Yahoo:
USA Today reported last week that three of the four major phone companies provided information on the calling records of millions of Americans. Two of the companies — Verizon Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corp. — have since disputed key assertions that they provided vast amounts of customer data to the NSA.
In an interview, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., a former FBI agent and intelligence committee member, said: "I can assure you there are no customer records involved. None." But he would not elaborate on the briefings he received.
But it came from an unnamed source. Doesn't it have to be true?
"I think it was inaccurately reported and completely overblown about what is and what isn't available to the NSA," he said.
Oh, my. What's the left gonna do without victims?
Added - Sad thing is, USA Today will probably get a pulitzer anyway, as a reward for making the administration look bad and because they thought they were publishing classified information. It wasn't their fault it wasn't true...
After all, it's the thought that counts...
Over the last few days, several things have happened:
Congressional Panels to Get NSA Briefings
And I'm sure that just as the limited briefings produced a bipartisan crowd that a) wants the programs to continue and b) doesn't complain about legality, this new round of briefings will have a similar effect. Ain't truth wonderful?
Hatch Says Court Briefed on Surveillance
Way back in 2001. Who wants to float the theory that the administration is afraid of courts now?
BellSouth Denies It Gave NSA Call Data
Verizon Denies Giving NSA Phone Records
Hang on - I thought that unnamed sources were always reliable?
If the trend continues, some books may sell better in the humor category.
Uh, that would be Joseph Nacchio.
I wouldn't be surprised if that isn't the only bad decision he's ever made.
Via AP/Yahoo:
Congress Demands Phone Records Answers
WASHINGTON - Congressional Republicans and Democrats demanded answers from the Bush administration Thursday about a government spy agency secretly collecting records of ordinary Americans' phone calls to build a database of every call made within the country.
Presumably this has been discussed with key members of the intelligence committees as the terrorist surveilance program was. I suspect we'll get the same level of silence from those members. And once again, there will be calls for hearings, but no one will call for the program to end.
I don't believe that Congressional Republicans are as loyal to the President as the left suggests. Shoring up my belief that the NSA terrorist surveilance program was legal was the low number of complaints from the right. If the "R" crowd in congress really thought the President broke the law, they'd throw Bush under the bus in a heartbeat. And it would help them gain (instead of lose) seats this fall.
Watch what congress doesn't do. That will tell you more than the pandering statements made to the press.
